Spades

Spades is a game of tricks where four players play in sets of two. 

This game is a standard deck-playing card game that takes on many group-specific rules. 

Spades card game

As the name implies, Spades are always trumps.

Related: Best card games listed

Spades rules

The main objective of the spades or call bridge is to win at least the number of tricks bid, that is being the first partnership to reach 500 points.

It requires a standard 52-card deck, as most standard popular card games.

Additionally, four players in partnerships of two play the game.

The partners sit across the table from each other.

Choose a dealer who will shuffle the deck and deal each player with 13 cards.

How to play Spades card game

To win, you need to reach 500 points.

Here are the fundamental steps to follow while playing this game.

1
The deal
You choose the first dealer by a draw for a high card. Thereafter, the turn to deal continues clockwise. You deal with the entire deck one at a time. The players pick up their cards and arrange them by suits.
2
Bidding
Each player says how many tricks they think they can win or expect to win. The player on the left of the dealer starts the bidding. However, there is only a single round of bidding. The minimum bid is one. No player may pass meaning that every player must make a bid.
3
Playing
The hands score in the game and the winner must make a given number of points before the game starts. For a short game, 200 points are suitable. However, 500 points are common. When the player on the dealer’s left makes an opening lead, other players follow the suit.
4
The winner of the trick
The player that can win the trick is the one with the highest trump. Besides, the player who plays the highest card in the suit led can also be the winner of the trick, and he leads next. The play continues until no player leaves any card.
5
Scoring
Each trick is equivalent to 10 points in a bid if a partnership meets the bid. Furthermore, the tricks that are won above the bid are of 1-point value each. On the contrary, if a partnership doesn’t attain its bid, it scores 10 negative points for each trick bid.
6
Failed bidding
The tricks won by the player who failed bidding Nil does not count towards making the partner’s bid, but they really count as bags for the partnership.
7
Sandbagging
Any partnership in a spades card game should avoid winning a lot of tricks above the bid. Each time a partnership wins 10 bags, it receives a 100-point forfeit.
8
Finish
The winner of teh Spades card game is the player or a team who has reach 500 points, ior it is closest to 500 points.

Spades card game winners

After hand scoring, if none of the partnerships has attained 500 points, the player on the left of the dealer becomes now the new dealer.

The partnership to get 500 points first is the winner.

But, in cases where both the partnerships reach 500 in a similar hand, the partnership with the highest score is the winner.

However, if the partnership will still tie, then players can play another hand.

Bidding options

There are two options to make a big in a Spades card game, including:

  • Bidding Nil: A player who bids zero (zero) cannot win any tricks during the hand. But, if he’s successful, his partnership earns a 100-point bonus. However, if the player picks up one or more tricks, his partnerships receive a penalty of 100 points. If the player bids Nil and his partner bids a certain figure, then his partner must still try to win that number of tricks.
  • Double Nil: It’s also known as Blind Nil. A player may bid Double Nil before looking at his cards. The player, therefore, exchanges three cards with his partner after bidding Double Nil. If he is successful, his partnership earns a 200-point bonus. On the other hand, if he fails, his partnership receives a 200-point penalty.

FAQ

How many cards do you get in spades with 2 players?

In the draw pile, the second player has to go through the same process with the next two cards. The players keep rotating this choice process until the entire deck has been gathered. Each player gets 13 cards in their hands.

How do you win at spades?

The player who has the highest trump or the highest card in the suit led if no trump played wins the trick. This player leads next and the play continues until none of the players have any cards left.

What is the best card in spades?

The ace is the highest in the cards ranking while 2 is the lowest. Spades are always trumps. Each player receives 13 cards and bidding as well as play proceeds in a clockwise direction.