[mikl_plkcc]

Playing in a relatively new partnership as a new member in the club, I ruined the night because of Drury twice. I know what it is but I didn't use it in the past because I didn't know why it is useful.

First misunderstanding:
I passed, partner opened 1H, I held 3=2=4=4 and bid 2C. Partner threw an alert card. He bid 2H which I thought as a standard Standard American waiting bid without a suitable rebid. We hadn't made an agreement at that point and I bid 2NT naturally, wanting to invite to 3NT. He corrected to 3H and I raised to 4H, ended up down 2 with 6-2 fit when all others were in partscore.

After that round, I asked what he meant by the 2C, and he used to play Drury. As I was not against the use of this, I agreed to play it, but then after a few rounds, I made a misbid again.

I held 1=3=4=5, 8 HCP with ♣AK and ♦JT, passed and partner opened 1S. I pulled the 2C out from the bidding box without a second thought, partner then duly threw the alert card and raised to 4S, and a double followed. We ended up down 4, -800 where others made 1NT and other partscores, one table even made 3NT (3C and 3NT are makeable by double dummy).

I am not used to such large difference of meanings for a bid at 1st or 3rd seat, especially when one of the meanings are natural.

Actually what's the point of Drury? We play Bergen raises, what's the problem of just using the Standard American delayed 3-card support at the 3rd seat if I hold 9-11 HCP 3-card support? Is Bergen raise normally used at the 3rd or 4th seat opening?

I am starting to afraid of using different conventions at different seats.

[thepossum]

It is added complexity for something easily addressed with regular raises - but like all conventions may be useful for some - and it saves bidding space and can communicate many different hand types. I like that it allows for two minimum hands to stop. But maybe they would anyway with a 2 level limit bid

Is it in Larry Cohen's list of essential conventions? It is not in the big four or his top 12. Could be in his 16. I get confused. His booklet of essential 12 has more than 12

I know Bergen people communicate in different ways

I try to play it, like I try to play Jacoby 2NT and Smolen and afew others but could be prone to error

[jillybean]

Bergen is used by a non passed hand, 4 card support with ranges something like 3♣6-9 and 3♦10-11 or 1M 3M weak 0-6 Some like to reverse these meanings.
2C Drury is used by a passed hand, 3 or 4 card support, showing what I think of as "almost opening values" 10-11

You need Drury as opposed to Bergen when playing with partners who may open light in 3rd seat, (doesn't everyone?).
If you only use Bergen, the 3 level bid is going to get you too high. Over 2♣ Drury, partner can retreat to 2M

2♣ Drury is one of the most forgotten conventions. I find it helpful to think of 2♣ as never natural.