Last week I picked up as a dealer:

I opened 1♣. Please give your opinion on this.

Thanks in advance, Adriaan Bakker.

Reply from Ed Hoogenkamp ('South'):

Dear Adriaan,

A difficult hand. The vulnerability surely plays an important part. Non vulnerable (on second thoughts...at any vulnerability, really... alright then: vulnerable against not I open 3♣) I would seriously consider opening 5♣, but this has considerable drawbacks, I know. Especially if 5♣ would turn out to go down whereas 4♥ is a make. In that case (we have a heart fit then) however the opponents usually have a good spade or diamond contract.
All in all I prefer to start the bidding on a high level, thereby limiting my opponents' possibilities. This is a matter of style: you risk a lot, so now and then you suffer a setback, you have to accept that. Since I am not a very accurate bidder anyway, starting off at a high level on the long run turns out favourably for me. I do not really reject a 1♣ opening but sense this is not a winning option in the long run. This is rather more a feeling though, I have no proof for it.

Regards from Barcelona

Reply from Peter van der Linden ('North'):

Dear Adriaan,

As much as I like to disagree with Ed, this time I have to admit he is seeing things rather sensibly. Your 1♣ opening is meant to discover a possible heart fit. What is the chance of success of this approach, especially if partner only has a three card heart suit? (for example if west would overcall 1♠ and east would raise to 4♠!).
Therefore, if you are determined not to miss the possible heart fit, the logical consequence would be to open 1♥! This is not uncommon with minimal opening strength and 5-6 in hearts and a minor. On this 5-7 and especially in view of the bad five card suit and the good seven card suit, many will consider a 1♥ opening too extreme.
I consider therefore, like Ed, 5♣ when not vulnerable against vulnerable, a 'heavy' 3♣ when vulnerable against not vulnerable and I toss a coin at equal vulnerability: shall we say 4♣...?
But for freak hands like these only this one 'rule' always applies: there is no such thing as the 'correct opening'! Any opening can turn out well, including your 1♣ opening. That has one big advantage above Ed's 5♣ opening: 3NT, the king of contracts, is still possible.

We are curious after the other hands and the actual bidding. Will you inform us about these?

Regards from Orkanger