Spades Rules

Spades is a popular trick taking game, where spades are always the trump suit. It was invented in the midwest of the United States in the 1930s. Spades is very popular with the people of America. However, since the mid-1990s, this game has collected fame worldwide because of its easy gameplay. This game is suitable for all ranges and is played with a standard deck of 52 cards. The gameplay is best with 4 players; however, you can also play spades with 2 players.

To win big in spades, you need to maintain a good balance in the game, following the right strategies and rules for spades. A skilled spades player never ignores the rules of the game and uses them in their favor to win big or become a part of the winning team. In this article, we will learn about the spades rules and standard guidelines. 

Spades Rules 

Spades is a famous card game where players need to score at least an equal number of tricks at the start of the game. Spades is a variant of card games with spades as the trump cards. The player having the highest ranking card wins the hand, and the game continues till a player's or one team's cumulative score reaches 500 points or a predetermined number of points.

There are a few other rules for spades that players need to know to play spades and win big matches. 

• The objective of the game is to reach 500 points or a predetermined set of points first. 
• Players need to decide on a bet that they can achieve during the game. For instance, if a player keeps a bet of 6, they need to win at least 6 tricks bid or more to gain points.
• The game continues in a clockwise direction. 
• Follow the same suit that was led until possible. Each player must follow suit, and if they do not have a card from the same suit, they can break the spades. 
• Each trick is won by the player with the highest ranking card.
• If there is more than one spade, then the trick is won by the player with the highest ranking of spades. 
• In a four-player game, a team wins if they reach a predetermined target score before the other team.
• The player or a team bid that wins gets a chance to set the trick count and lead the next one.
• Players or teams can bid between 0 (Nil) and 13 tricks in spades. However, they win points if manage to get tricks at least or more than the bid.
• The player who bid nil and cannot manage to get even at least one trick bid gets 100 additional points as bonus.
• A double nil bid can provide additional benefits if predicted correctly. When you bid double nil, 200 additional points will be added to the winning score, when you bid zero without looking at your hand cards.

How to Play Spades game?

Game Setup

Players sit across the table, facing each other in the game. One player becomes the dealer and shuffles the deck to deal a card to each player. Another player becomes a scorekeeper, who writes players' bids and score information as the game progresses. 

Deck 

• Spades are played with a standard deck of 52 cards.
• The cards are ranked from highest to lowest in order as follows: Ace, King, Queen, Jack, 10,9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2
• Ace is the highest-ranking card, and 2 is the lowest-ranking card. 

Players

• Players can be between 2 to 6 in the game.
• In a four-player variant of the game, four players in two partnerships play the game.

Gaming Setup

There are many game variations in spades based on the number of players. Check the five major variations of spades below.

• 2 Players Spades: Deal 13 cards to each player.
• 3 Players Spades: Deal 17 cards to each player, with one remaining card kept aside.
• 4 Players Spades: Deal 13 cards to each player.
• 5 Players Spades: Deal 10 cards to each player with 2 cards kept aside.
• 6 Players Spades: Deal 8 cards to each player with 4 cards left aside.

Gameplay

• Decide the dealer of the game who will deal the cards. However, we do not need to choose dealers for online spade games. 
• In most of the spades game variations, the player to the dealer's left starts the game.
• To start the game, each player draws a card; whoever draws the highest card deals first.
• The cards are dealt equally based on the number of players. Each player gets 13 cards in a four-player spades game.
• The game continues in a clockwise direction.

Spades Breakdown

Spades are broken when a player cannot follow the same suit in the game and chooses to play a spade instead. However, players can also choose any other cards when they do not have cards of the same suit on the table. 

For instance, in a two-player spades game, if player A has a heart suit and the opponent does not have any cards from the same suit, i.e., a heart, then they can choose a spade card to continue in the game (Note: the highest spades card always wins the hand).

Also Read: How to Play Spades

Bidding 

In spades, players need to estimate the number of tricks they can win in a game after cards are dealt to them. This is known as ‘bidding’ in spades. Player to the dealer's left bids first, followed with each team/player tagging their bids. 

Players can bid any number from 0 to 13. After a hand is completed, scores must be tallied and recorded carefully. Players must have a clear view of the scores to analyze and build their strategies accordingly.  

Bidding Nil bids

Bidding nil is also an option for players in game of spades i,e they need to lose all the tricks to get additional points. Players/teams will receive a bonus if they meet the bid exactly and will lose 100 or more points if they win one or more rounds. 

Blind Nil Bidding

When a player bids without looking at their cards, it is known as a blind nil bid. Players need to score exactly the number of tricks they can win; otherwise, 100 points will be deducted from the player or team's score. However, player bids nil when they do not have a strong hand to help them win tricks.

Double Nil bidding

Players can score more additional points by double nil bidding where they need to bid zero without seeing the hand cards. Double nil bids can help you score 200 additional points if you make successful nil bids.

Playing the Game

• Examine your hands for high cards or spades, which can help you win more tricks. Spades is a trump card that can defeat any cards on the table.
• After dealing, check your hands and make a contract bid. Do not reveal your hands to players in the game. Players lead if they have highest ranking cards as compared to other opponents in the game.TR
• If you have a weak hand, bid for ‘nil’; if you succeed, it can help you get an additional 100 points.
• Play a card of the same suit. However, if you do not have a card matching the lead suits on the table, then you can break or play spades with any suit of your choice.
• You can start the trick with a spade only if you do not have any other card suits. 
• Play with the highest card of the same suit. If you have a spade, then the highest spade on the table wins the round.
• Count the number of tricks you won to check if you met your bid. 
• The game ends when the player or team scores a predetermined set of scores first in the game. 

Scoring 

If a team or player makes at least the number of tricks bid during the start of the game, then they will be awarded with ten points for each trick won during the bid. Players are also awarded for each extra trick won over the bid amount. If a team/player reaches the bid amount, it is known as “makes it contract.” However, if they fail to reach a bid, then it is termed a ‘breaking contract’.

For instance, if a player bids for 9 bids during the game, as per the Spades card game rules, they will lose 10 points each if they score below 9 tricks in the game.  However, if they make 9 tricks during the game, they will be awarded 90 points. Suppose they make 11 number of tricks during the game; then they will be awarded 90 plus 2 extra points for overtricks. 

Also Read: Spades Scoring

Bonuses or Penalties

Players must keep in mind some of the bonus and penalty criteria in the game, as they might make a huge difference in the game result. While bidding, players can opt for bidding nil, blind nil, or other variants as per their choice. Check their penalties and bonuses in the table below
 

Strategies & Tips 

Let us look at some of the important strategies that you must keep in mind while playing the game of spades. 

• Always bid carefully, never overbid, analyze your hand, and then make a mindful decision.
• In some situations, you might want to collect more bags, such as when your opponents are about to receive penalties or to make special moves and ensure they do not make similar moves.
• Keep in mind your opponent's bids.
• Always keep your eyes on the scoreboard and be aware of the score at all times to build or modify your strategies accordingly.
• Players bid nil or blind tricks if they are behind, as they may get a booming 100 to 200 additional points if they meet the criteria. Make a good combination of nil and blind nil tricks to maximize your winning score points and make successful nil bids.
• Must analyze the situation and choose to play aggressively or passively as the situation demands.
• Before breaking your spades, you must use aces early in the game to increase your chances of winning.

These are some of the important strategies that you might adopt in your gameplay to improve your game and win big.

Rules of Spades Based on Players 

The rules of spades change slightly based on the number of players. Check the spades card game rules for 4 players and other players below. 

Spades Rules for 2 Players

• Each player in the game is dealt with 13 cards each.
• Cards are ranked from highest to lowest, with Ace being the highest suit, followed by King, Queen, Jack, and 10,9, 8,7, 6,5,4,3,2.
• Spades are always the dominant suit with a 100 percent win record. Ace Spades is the highest-ranking card in the Spades game. 
• Each player draws a card from the deck and chooses either to keep or discard it. If they choose to keep it, then the next card will automatically face up. However, if they choose to discard the card they picked, then they need to pick the next card and add it to their hand.
• After drawing cards, players make a bid, which is the number of tricks they are going to win.
• The player bids nil or ‘blind’ in the game as per the rules of spades, mostly when they think they might not win any as many tricks with the current hand.
• In two games, the player who chooses the first card and adds it to their hands starts the game. 
• Spades are the trump cards in the game, and Ace Spade is the highest-ranking card.
• All the completed tricks are kept face down until the end of the game.
• Reneging is a violation of spade rules in which players do not follow the same suit ordeals instead of having one and pins trick with a spade. 

Spades Rules for 3 Players

• Each player is dealt seventeen cards, as opposed to thirteen in a two-player game variant. 
• A total of 17 number of tricks are available to players in this variant of spades. 
• The first trick is led by the player having 2 clubs in their hand, and others need to follow suit and play.
• Cards are ranked as other variants, with Ace being the highest card and 2 being the lowest.
• There is no team format in this variant of spade.
• The player to the dealer's left starts with the first trick. 
• The game continues until a player reaches a predetermined score in the game.

Spades Rules for 4 Players

• The 4-player spade variant is the most sought-after variant of the spade card game.
• A standard deck of 52 cards (without Joker Card) is used in the game, with each player getting 13 cards.
• The player to the dealer's left start the game first. The game advances clockwise on the table.
• Players must follow suit. However, if a player does not have a matching suit, a different suit can be used.
• Players can choose ‘blind’ or ‘nil’ betting in the game. If successful,l they can get 100 additional points in the game. 
• If players do not have any other high-ranking suits, they can break spades if available.
• It is played by two teams with two players each. 
• If a team reaches the bid raised, it will receive 10 points each, while it will lose 10 points if it falls short of its bid.
• For every extra trick above the bid, the player gets an additional one point each. 

Spade Rules for 5 Players

• A standard deck of 52 cards is used, with 2 diamond and 2 heart cards kept aside. 
• Each player gets 10 cards to form their hand. Mislead is declared when dealing is unfair or biased.
• Players make a bid that they need to fulfill to increase their score in the game.
• The player to the dealer's left starts the deal, and others must fulfill the leads first. 
• Players who score over 500 points or a predetermined score in the game. 

Spade Rules for 6 Players

• This variant of spade card is a good choice when players are more on the board. 
• A deck of 102 cards is used by combining two standard 52 deck cards. Also, 2 hearts and 2 diamond cards are discarded during the 
• Each player gets 17 cards, with the objective of reaching 500 points first.
• At the end of rounds, the team scores points based on the number of tricks won. 
• The game continues in a clockwise direction, and the team that scores the predetermined points wins the game.