Spades Card Game

Spades is a partnership trick-taking game where spades are always trump. You and your partner bid how many tricks you will take, then try to make that contract exactly, without collecting too many extra tricks.

How to play Spades Card Game

• Four players, two teams: you and your partner (sitting across) against the two players on your left and right. Each player gets 13 cards.
• Starting left of the dealer, everyone bids the number of tricks they expect to win. Your bid and your partner's bid are added together as the team contract.
• A bid of Nil means you promise to win no tricks at all. Success is worth +100, failure −100, and your partner's bid stands on its own.
• The player left of the dealer leads first. You must follow suit if you can; otherwise play any card. Spades beat every other suit.
• Spades cannot be led until a spade has been played on an earlier trick, unless you hold nothing but spades.
• Make your contract and you score 10 points per trick bid plus 1 point per extra trick. Each extra trick is also a bag; every 10 bags costs your team 100 points. Fall short and you lose 10 points per trick bid.
• Tricks won by a player who bid nil do not count toward the partner's bid; they count as bags.
• The first team to reach 500 wins. A team that sinks to −200 loses.

Controls

• Pick your bid from the number buttons (the highlighted one is a suggestion based on your cards).
• Tap or click a card to play it. Cards you cannot legally play are dimmed.
• Last trick shows the previous trick and Scores opens the running score sheet.

Tips

• Count aces and the king of spades as sure tricks; side-suit kings are only half a trick.
• Being short in a side suit is valuable when you hold spades, because you can trump in early.
• Once your team has made its contract, play low and throw away high cards to avoid bags.
• If your partner bids nil, play your highest cards early in each trick so your partner can duck underneath.

FAQ

Can I bid blind nil?

Not in this version. Nil is bid after looking at your cards and is worth 100 points either way.

What happens if both teams pass 500 on the same hand?

The higher score wins. If the scores are exactly tied, another hand is played.

Does my game save if I leave?

Yes. The current hand and the full score sheet are stored in your browser and resume when you return.