Game Rules
SpadesBid exactly, hit exactly

A partnership trick-taking game with bidding and a fixed trump structure. Spades are always trump – the accuracy of your bid decides.

Players4
Time20 – 30 min
Deck52 cards · 1 deck
LevelMedium
I · The idea

Say exactly
what you'll take

I

Spades is a partnership game where spades are always fixed trump – no negotiation needed. Each team announces before the round how many tricks it plans to take together.

If the bid is met exactly or exceeded, you score points. If the team misses its target, it takes penalty points – accuracy counts more than raw strength.

II · Preparation

Before the
game begins

II
1
Deal the cards
52 cards evenly: 13 cards each.
2
Determine partners
Players sitting opposite each other form a team.
3
Place bids
Each player announces how many tricks they expect to take. The team bid is the sum.
Before you start

Count your spades and high cards in other suits carefully – a realistic bid matters more than an optimistic one.

III · Card values
How bidding
works
III
♠
Spades
Always trump
Spades are automatically trump in every round – no announcement needed.
N
Nil
0 tricks
A bid of 0 tricks: high risk, high reward – but not a single trick may be won.
✓
Bid made
+10 per trick
Team meets or exceeds its bid: 10 points per bid trick plus 1 point per extra trick (bag).
✗
Bid missed
-10 per trick
Team fails to reach its bid: 10 penalty points per bid trick.
IV · Gameplay

Trick by
trick

IV
1
Place bids
Each player announces their expected number of tricks before play begins.
2
Follow suit
Play the suit led if possible – otherwise trump or discard.
3
Leading spades
Spades may only be led after they have been “broken” (played in a trick) once – unless they are the only suit left in hand.
4
Win the trick
The highest spade always wins, otherwise the highest card of the suit led.
5
Count points
Team bid met or exceeded: points credited. Missed: penalty points. The first team to reach 500 points wins the game.
V · Variants
Variants
V

Spades is an especially popular party game in the USA.

BN
Blind Nil
A Nil bid before even looking at your own cards – maximum risk.
S
Solo Spades
For 3–4 players without fixed partnerships.
J
Joker Spades
With jokers as the highest trump cards above the Ace of Spades.
M
Mirror
Both teams bid exactly the same total number of tricks.
VI · Tips & tricks

What really
matters

VI
Strategy tips
+

Before bidding, count your sure tricks carefully – high spades and aces in other suits are the most reliable.

+

Coordinate your bid with your partner's bid once they've announced – over- or underbidding can miss the team target.

+

On a Nil bid: play your lowest cards as early as possible while the risk of winning a trick is low.

+

Avoid too many bags (extra tricks beyond the bid) – they add up and cost a penalty once you collect ten.

Common mistakes
–

Placing a bid that's too optimistic and doesn't reflect your actual hand strength.

–

Forgetting that spades must be broken first before they can be led – unless they're the only suit left.

–

Not playing around your partner's Nil bid and accidentally handing them a trick.

–

Ignoring the bag penalty and constantly taking more tricks than bid without considering the long-term consequences.

Berlin Hold'em · Matching decks
Get the right deck

Spades lives on precise bids – with cards that give you a perfect overview.

View all designs →
20s Playing Cards – Double Pack For bigger groups and long game nights. View product Viking Playing Cards – Double Pack Two decks, ideal for 5+ players. View product
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