Spades

đź“Ś Quick Info

  • Name of the Game: Spades
  • Number of Players: 4 (in 2 fixed partnerships)
  • Decks Required: 1 Standard 52-card deck (no Jokers)

🎯 Objective

To be the first team to score 500 points by accurately bidding and winning the number of tricks declared — using Spades as the trump suit.

🛠️ What You Need

  • 1 deck of 52 cards
  • Score sheet and pen
  • 4 players divided into 2 teams (partners sit opposite each other)

🔄 How to Play – Step by Step

▶️ 1. Deal

  • Each player receives 13 cards (entire deck is dealt).

▶️ 2. Bidding Phase

  1. Each player (starting with dealer’s left) announces how many tricks they plan to win (0 to 13).
  2. Teammates’ bids are added for a total team bid.
  3. “Nil” means the player aims to win no tricks. Bonus if successful, penalty if failed.

▶️ 3. Playing Tricks

  1. Player to dealer’s left leads first trick with any card (except Spades).
  2. Players must follow suit if possible; otherwise, they may play any card.
  3. Spades are trump and beat all other suits but can’t be led until “broken.”
  4. Highest card of the led suit wins — unless trumped by a Spade.
  5. Winner of the trick leads the next one.

▶️ 4. Breaking Spades

  • Spades cannot be led until a player has no other suit and plays a Spade (“breaks Spades”).

đź“ś Rules Summary

  • Players must follow suit if they can.
  • Spades trump all other suits.
  • Players can play a Spade only after it’s broken.
  • Bidding Nil = no tricks; if successful, bonus; if failed, heavy penalty.

🧮 Scoring

  • Each team scores 10 points per bid trick.
  • Each trick over the bid (“bag”) = 1 point (10 bags = -100 penalty)
  • Nil: +100 if successful, -100 if failed
  • Blind Nil: Bid Nil without seeing cards = +200/-200
  • First team to reach 500 wins

🧠 Strategy Tips

  • Bid carefully — don’t overestimate your hand.
  • Count high cards in long suits — good for control.
  • Try to make opponents break Spades early.
  • Use low cards to dump tricks if your team overbid.
  • Protect your partner if they bid Nil — cover their high cards.

🧪 Example Play

  • You hold: Aâ™ , K♣, Q♣, 6â™ , 4♦, 9â™ , 2♣, 10♥, 7â™ , 5♣, J♦, 3♣, 8♥
  • You bid: 4 tricks
  • Your partner bids: 3 → Total team bid = 7
  • During play, you win Aâ™ , K♣, 9â™ , 6â™  → Exactly 4 tricks = bid made
  • Team scores: 7 tricks = 70 points

đź“š History & Origin

  • Invented in the U.S. in the 1930s as a simplified alternative to Contract Bridge.
  • Grew popular among soldiers in WWII due to its strategic team play and simple scoring.
  • Now played worldwide in online platforms, home games, and competitive settings.
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