Reverse Drury is an artificial bid of 2C used by a passed hand when his partner opens one of a major in the third seat. Some partnerships apply this to the fourth seat as well. By bidding 2C responder is showing a limit raise in the major suit and is asking his partner to describe the strength of his hand. A bid of 2 of the major is asking for a sign-off since it shows a light opening. Any other bid is encouraging.

Note: Some partnerships reserve the 2D response to show an opening hand and specify that a 2H response denies a full opener but shows 5/4 shape. My "preference" is that any response other than 2 of the major suit opened shows an opening hand or better.

Hand #1

	AJ8 KQ84 J743 64

	KQ975 AJT7 AQ 98

North	East	South	West
Pass	Pass	1S	Pass
2C*	Pass	2H	Pass
4S	Pass	Pass	-

South opens the bidding 1S. This partnership has agreed to play Reverse Drury.

North has a limit raise in spades. Since South opened in the third seat North must determine if his partner opened light. He does this by bidding an artificial 2C* . When his partner shows a full opener -- North bids game knowing they have a double fit.

Hand #2

	K932 KJT2 A96 64

	AQJ74 876 K7 J87

North	East	South	West
----	Pass	1S	Pass
2C*	Pass	2S	Pass
Pass	Pass	-	-

South opens the bidding 1S in the third seat. This partnership has agreed to open light in the third seat so they play Reverse Drury.

Since North has a limit raise for his partner in Spades he bids an artificial 2C* (Reverse Drury) asking his partner if he has a full opener.

When South rebids his spades he is denying a full opener so North passes content to play in a part-score.

References: Karen Walker's Bridge Site Sue's Web Site