12 red cards

[Guest Jlall]

Justin stated that he had never seen a 5♥ opening before I sprung one on him. I suspect that there might have been some exaggeration for effect, but the basic principle still stands.

Nope, no exaggeration at all. Whatever you play a 5H opener as, I'm sure it SHOULD be extremely rare. So rare that it's only happened to me once lol. Also I have never opened 5H (and probably never will given the definition I have for it). I will say that the bid worked well at the table, and gained imps for Richard.

[han]

You are sane Matt, as for the 3H bidder...

[Finch]

It works perfectly well to play a 5♥ opening as merely being an asking, not a showing bid: partner is requested to raise with the A or K, and to bid 7 with both.

 

You can then open it on a pre-emptive hand as well if you want (particularly if you have the AK of the suit).

[HeartA]

Either 1♥ or 4♥. My first second reaction was 1♥, but now that I think about the colors 4♥ seems better.

1♥ for me.

[MickyB]

It works perfectly well to play a 5♥ opening as merely being an asking, not a showing bid: partner is requested to raise with the A or K, and to bid 7 with both.

 

You can then open it on a pre-emptive hand as well if you want (particularly if you have the AK of the suit).

That seems to make it a little difficult to bid slam when it is right! Not that I am saying that there aren't hands for it, of course there are, but surely fewer than a purely preemptive 5M opening.