How to Play Spades

Spades is a partnership trick-taking card game where spades are always trump. It combines the strategy of bidding with the excitement of trick play. Spades has been one of the most popular card games in North America since the 1930s.

Objective

Working with your partner, win at least the number of tricks you bid. First team to reach 500 points wins. If a team drops to -200, they lose.

Setup

• 4 players in two partnerships (you + partner sitting across from you)
• Standard 52-card deck, all cards dealt — 13 per player
• Spades are always trump

Bidding

Before play begins, each player bids the number of tricks they expect to win (0-13).

• Bids are individual but your team's bids are combined
• Nil bid (0): You predict you will win zero tricks — risky but rewarding
• You cannot change your bid after it is made
• Both partners' bids are added together as the team's contract

Gameplay

• Player to the dealer's left leads the first trick
• You must follow suit if possible
• If you cannot follow suit, you may play any card including a spade (trump)
• Spades cannot be led until "broken" (a spade has been played on a previous trick)
• Highest card of the led suit wins — unless a spade was played, in which case the highest spade wins

Scoring

Making Your Bid

• If your team takes at least as many tricks as your combined bid: score = bid × 10 points
• Each extra trick above your bid (overtrick) = 1 point (called a "bag")

Failing Your Bid

• If your team takes fewer tricks than bid: lose bid × 10 points

Bags Penalty

• Every 10 accumulated bags (overtricks) = -100 point penalty
• This discourages overbidding and sandbagging

Nil Bids

• Nil success: +100 points to your team
• Nil failure: -100 points to your team
• Your partner still tries to make their own bid

Strategy Tips

• Count your winners: Aces and Kings in long suits are reliable tricks. High spades are near-certain
• Support your partner: If partner bids high, try to avoid taking tricks they need
• Avoid bags: Overtricks feel good but 10 bags = -100 penalty. Bid accurately
• Lead through strength: Lead suits where you have high cards to force out opponents' trumps
• Nil defense: If partner bids nil, try to win tricks before them and lead suits they can safely duck
• Trump management: Don't waste your spades early — save them to win crucial late tricks

Winning the Game

The first team to reach 500 points wins. If both teams cross 500 on the same hand, the higher score wins. If a team reaches -200, they lose immediately.

Play Spades Online for Free — partner up against smart AI opponents!