What You'll Need
A standard 52-card deck and 4 players in two partnerships. Partners sit across from each other.
Setup
Deal all 52 cards evenly — each player gets 13 cards. The player to the dealer's left leads the first trick.
How to Play
Spades is a trick-taking game where spades are always trump.
Bidding
Each player bids the number of tricks they'll win (1-13). Partners' bids combine.
Playing Tricks
- Lead player plays any card (except spades until broken).
- Must follow suit if possible.
- Can play a spade to trump if out of suit.
- Highest card of led suit wins, unless trumped.
Scoring
- Making your bid: 10 pts/trick bid + 1 pt/overtrick (bag).
- 10 bags = -100 points.
- Failing: -10 pts/trick bid.
- Nil: +100 success, -100 fail.
Winning
First team to 500 points wins.
Tips & Strategy
Count cards. Track high cards, especially Ace and King of spades. Lead with off-suit Aces early. Bag management is the most underrated skill.
Variations
Blind Nil: Bid nil before looking (+/-200). Joker Spades: Add Jokers as highest spades. Cutthroat: 3-player, everyone for themselves.
