Dear Mr. Wolff: If my partner leads a small card at trick one and declarer calls for the queen from dummy, what should my signal be if I cannot beat it?

— In Context, Panama City, Fla.

Answer: Typically, your card should be attitude for the jack so your partner will know if he can lead away from the king. You can scarcely have the ace or king, not having played it at trick one (errors and omissions excepted). If the queen has been played from king-queen, the card should be attitude for the ace, while if the jack is visible, your card should be count (or suit preference if a shift is obvious).

Dear Mr. Wolff: You hold ? K-Q-J-9-5, ? 7, ? A-J-9-6-3, ? A-Q at favorable vulnerability and bid two hearts, Michaels, over your right-hand opponent’s one heart. Partner bids two spades. What say you?

— Extra Values, Mitchell, S.D.

Answer: I can hardly pass, and a call of three diamonds ought to show a sixth card. Perhaps a straight three spades is the right call. I should not have six spades for two hearts, anyway, so partner will know if we are in a 5-2 fit. I might also consider doubling on this hand, to bid a cheap two spades at my next turn. This might lose the diamonds, but it will keep us low when partner has very little.

Dear Mr. Wolff: What are my tempo obligations in the bidding?

— Ideal World, Atlanta, Ga.

Answer: Bridge is a thinking game, and you sometimes have to break tempo with a challenging problem, though you should always plan out your auction if you can. If you are in a slam auction, for example, plan whether you intend to sign off over partner’s cue bid or bid past game. A slow signoff is rarely a good idea. You can think all you like in the pass-out seat, though. This rarely causes any issue.

Dear Mr. Wolff: What would you do with ? J-9-7-6, ? Q-10-5-3, ? 8, ? A-Q-9-2 after partner opens one diamond and rebids one spade over your one-heart response?

— Courtesy Raise, Nashville, Tenn.

Answer: I would bid two spades since this does not promise much more than a minimum response. It keeps the bidding open in case partner has real extras. If he acts again, I will bid game. Partner will act again with extras, and if he does not have extras, even two spades may be in jeopardy.

Dear Mr. Wolff: As third hand and with both sides vulnerable, I picked up ? 4, ? A-K-5-3, ? K-9-7-3, ? A-K-J-10 and opened one diamond. (Is one club better?) The next hand overcalled one spade, and partner jumped preemptively to three diamonds. I passed, and we missed a game as partner had queen-fifth of diamonds and the heart queen. Should I have done more?

— Cover Cards, Rockford, Ill.

Answer: I would have opened one club because the clubs are so much better, but having opened one diamond and heard a jump raise from partner, surely based on five-card support at this vulnerability, I would have bid five diamonds, or perhaps even splintered with four spades en route (although I would prefer stronger trumps for that).

Contact Bobby Wolff at bobbywolffindspring.com