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Spades

Bid bold, play smart, and trump the rest.

​Spades is a trick-taking card game for four players, typically played in partnerships. Players bid on how many tricks they will win, and scoring is based on whether they meet their bid. The suit of spades is always trump, meaning it beats all other suits. The goal is to be the first team to reach a set number of points, usually 500. 

How to Play Like a Pro

Or at least beat your Unlcle Joe

  • Setup:

    • Standard 52-card deck.

    • Four players in teams of two—partners sit across from each other.

    • Deal all the cards (13 per player).

    • Everyone organizes their hand by suit.

  • Bidding:

    • Starting with the player to the dealer’s left, each person bids how many tricks they think they’ll win.

    • Bids range from 0 (called “Nil”) to 13.

    • A Nil bid means you’re promising not to win any tricks—bold move.

    • Team bids are added together—that’s your goal.

  • Gameplay:

    • First player leads any card (except spades).

    • Follow the suit if you can. If not, play anything—including a spade.

    • Spades are trump and beat all other suits—but you can’t lead with one until they’re “broken” (played in a previous round).

    • Highest card of the led suit—or highest spade—wins the trick.

    • Trick-winner leads the next.

  • Scoring:

    • Hit your bid? You get 10 points per trick you promised.

    • Go over? You get 1 “bag” point per extra trick. 10 bags = minus 100 points.

    • Miss your bid? No points.

    • Nail a Nil? That’s +100 points. Blow it? Minus 100.

    • First team to 500 wins!

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