How to play spades
Spades is a trick-taking card game for four players in two partnerships. Partners sit across from each other. It is one of the most played card games in the United States. This page explains the standard rules used in our spades game.
The cards
A normal 52-card deck. Cards rank from ace (high) down to 2. Spades are always trump: any spade beats any card of another suit.
Spades rank ace high. The A♠ is the highest card in the game.
The deal
The dealer deals all the cards one at a time, so every player has 13. The deal moves one seat to the left after each hand.
Bidding
Starting with the player to the dealer’s left, each player bids once: the number of tricks they think they can win, from 0 to 13. There is no passing.
- Partners add their bids together. If you bid 4 and your partner bids 3, your side’s contract is 7 tricks.
- A bid of 0 is called nil: you promise to win no tricks at all. Your partner must make their own bid alone.
- Blind nil is a nil bid made before you look at your cards. It is allowed only when your side is behind by 100 or more. Then your partner passes you two cards and you pass two back.
Read the bidding guide to learn how to count your tricks.
Playing the tricks
- The player to the dealer’s left leads to the first trick.
- Everyone must follow suit if they can.
- If you can’t follow suit, you may play any card, including a spade.
- The highest spade wins the trick. With no spade in it, the highest card of the suit led wins.
- The winner of the trick leads the next one.
Breaking spades
You may not lead a spade until a spade has been played on another suit. After that, spades are broken and can be led. If you have nothing but spades, you may lead one anyway.
Hearts were led. The third player has no hearts and trumps with the 3♠, which wins the trick and breaks spades.
Scoring
| What happened | Points |
|---|---|
| Side takes at least its contract | 10 × contract, +1 for each extra trick |
| Side takes fewer tricks than its contract | −10 × contract |
| Nil: no tricks / any trick | +100 / −100 |
| Blind nil: no tricks / any trick | +200 / −200 |
| Every 10 bags (extra tricks) | −100 |
The first side to 500 points wins. See scoring for worked examples.
Questions
Can you lead spades at any time?
No. Spades can’t be led until a spade has been played on another suit (spades are broken), unless the leader has nothing but spades.
What happens if you can’t follow suit?
You may play any card. A spade wins the trick unless someone plays a higher spade.
Do partners have to bid the same?
No. Each player bids separately and the two bids are added together. Your side needs that total between you.
Who leads first in spades?
The player to the dealer’s left leads to the first trick.
Ready? Play spades or print the rules sheet.