Spades – Rules

Play Spades against the computer

1. Overview

What is it about? Spades is one of the most popular partnership games in the USA. Before each hand everyone bids how many tricks they will take. The partners' bids are added – the team must reach that number. Too few costs lots of points, too many costs in the long run too. Spades are always trumps.

2. Cards and material

• Pack: 52 French cards without jokers.
• Ranking (high → low): A, K, Q, J, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2.
• Trumps: Spades are always trumps and beat any other suit.
• No card points: Only tricks count.
• Face up and face down: Hand cards concealed, tricks face down and easy to count in front of one player of the team.
• Extra material: Pen and paper.

3. Preparation and start

1. Teams: Partners sit opposite each other.
2. Shuffle and deal: Everyone gets 13 cards.
3. Bidding: Starting left of the dealer, everyone says exactly once how many tricks they will take (0 to 13). Partners' bids are added together.
4. Start: The player left of the dealer leads (variant: whoever holds the 2 of clubs).

Start example: Player 2 deals. Player 4 (Player 1's partner) bids 3, Player 3 bids 3, Player 1 bids 4, Player 2 bids 2. Players 1 and 4 must take 7 tricks, Players 2 and 3 5. Player 4 leads.

4. Goal and winning

• Hand: A team must take at least as many tricks as it bid.
• Game: The first team to reach 500 points wins. If both reach 500 in the same hand, the higher score wins.
• Losing: A team that falls to −200 loses (variant).

5. Play in detail

A trick.

1. The leader plays a card.
2. The others must follow suit if they can.
3. A player who can't follow may play a spade (trump) or discard another card.
4. The highest spade wins, otherwise the highest card of the suit led. The winner leads.

Breaking spades. Spades may only be led once spades are “broken” – that is, someone has trumped with a spade – or if you hold only spades.

Nil. A player who bids 0 plays “nil”: they must not take a single trick. Their partner plays for their own bid.

Example with Players 1 to 4. Order: Player 4, 3, 1, 2. The team of Players 1 and 4 bid 7.

1. Player 4 leads the 3 of hearts. Player 3 plays the king of hearts. Player 1 has no hearts and trumps with the 5 of spades. Player 2 plays the 9 of hearts.
2. Trick to Player 1. From now on spades are broken – anyone may lead spades.
3. At the end of the hand Players 1 and 4 have 8 tricks: 7 × 10 = 70 plus 1 overtrick = 71 points, and one “bag” is noted.
4. Players 2 and 3 take 5 tricks: exactly their bid, 50 points.

6. Scoring

• Recording: Points and bags separately for each team.
• End: As soon as a team reaches 500 points.

7. Special rules and situations

• Nil and partner: With nil, the partner's tricks are counted alone against their bid. Tricks taken by the nil player don't count towards the team bid (they count as bags).
• Blind nil (variant): Bid nil before looking at your cards: ±200.
• Only spades in hand: Then you may lead a spade even if spades aren't broken.
• Minimum bid: Often a team must bid at least 4 together (variant).
• Renege: A player who fails to follow suit when they could loses 3 tricks to the opponents.
• Common mistakes: bidding too high; ignoring overtricks until 10 bags pile up; not protecting a partner who bid nil.

8. Variants

Standard in this description: 4 players in teams, nil allowed (±100), 10 bags = −100, target 500.

When playing against the computer on cardgames.zone you play with the player opposite as your partner to 500, 300 or 250 points. Nil (±100) can be switched on or off, and the first trick is led by the player left of the dealer or by the 2 of clubs.

9. Tips for beginners

1. Count sure tricks: Aces, the king of spades and long spade suits usually bring a trick.
2. Bid tight: An overtrick costs little, a missed bid a lot.
3. Watch your bags: Close to 10 bags, give tricks away.
4. Void a suit: If you're missing a suit, you can trump it with spades.
5. Support your partner: If your partner bid nil, take the dangerous tricks yourself.
6. Count spades: There are 13 spades – knowing how many are left makes play safer.
7. Annoy the opponents: Near their bid you can “overfeed” them with tricks.

10. Summary in 10 steps

1. 52 cards, 4 players in two teams.
2. 13 cards each.
3. Everyone bids tricks; team bid = sum.
4. The player left of the dealer leads.
5. Follow suit, otherwise trump or discard.
6. Spades are always trumps.
7. Lead spades only once broken.
8. Made: 10 × bid + 1 per overtrick.
9. Missed: −10 × bid; nil ±100; 10 bags −100.
10. First to 500 points wins.

11. Frequently asked questions

Must I follow suit?

Yes. Only if you don't have the suit may you trump or discard.

When may I lead spades?

Once someone has trumped with a spade, or when you hold only spades.

What are bags?

Tricks over your bid. Each scores 1 point, but 10 bags cost 100 points.

What is nil?

A bid of 0 tricks. If you make it, your team scores 100 points, otherwise it loses 100.

Do my tricks count for my partner if they bid nil?

Your tricks count for your own bid. Your partner must stay without a trick.

How long does a game take?

To 500 points usually 45 to 90 minutes.

Origin & history

Developed in the late 1930s in Cincinnati as a simplified offshoot of whist/bridge forerunners. Soldiers spread it during the Second World War; online platforms and Windows games kept it popular.