About Spades
Spades is the partnership trick-taking game where spades are always trumps. You sit across from a robot partner and play against two robot opponents. Each player bids the tricks they expect to win, and the team must make the two bids together. Bid too low and the extra tricks pile up as bags; bid too high and the whole bid is lost. A bold player can bid nil and try to win nothing at all.
How to play Spades
- You and the robot across the table are partners. Each player bids how many tricks they will win, or nil for none; the team must win both bids together.
- Follow suit if you can; otherwise play any card. Spades are trumps and cannot be led until one has been played.
- A team that makes its bid scores 10 per trick bid plus 1 per extra trick (a bag); every ten bags cost 100. A missed bid loses 10 per trick bid. Nil wins or loses 100.
- The first team to 500 points wins (300 in the settings). Scores are saved on this device.
Tips & strategy
- Count aces, protected kings and long spades when you bid, and remember your partner’s bid when it comes before yours.
- Do not overtake a trick your partner is already winning; save your high cards for the next one.
- Once your team has made its bid, play low to avoid bags: ten of them cost 100 points.
- When your partner bids nil, play your highest cards to cover them; when an opponent bids nil, lead low to catch them.
Spades: questions and answers
How is Spades scored?
A team that makes its bid scores 10 for every trick bid and 1 for each extra trick. A team that misses loses 10 for every trick bid. Every ten extra tricks, called bags, cost 100 points.
What is a nil bid?
A bid to win no tricks at all. It scores 100 if the player takes no trick and loses 100 if they take even one. Blind nil, made before looking at the cards, is worth 200 and can be switched on in the settings.
When can spades be led?
Only after a spade has been played on another suit, or when the player to lead holds nothing but spades.
How does a game end?
The first team to 500 points wins (300 in the settings). A team that falls to −200 loses.