How to Play Spades

Spades is a partnership trick-taking game in which the spade suit is always trump. Players bid how many tricks they expect to win, then work with their partners to fulfill the combined bid.

This guide explains a common four-player partnership version of Spades using a standard 52-card deck. It covers bidding, Nil bids, breaking spades, following suit, trick-taking, overtricks, scoring, and common variations.

Regional scoring note: Spades rules vary significantly by region. This guide uses a common Southern scoring style in which each overtrick earns one point, but there is no cumulative penalty for collecting 10 bags. The widely used 10-bag, 100-point penalty is explained later as a variation.

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Quick Navigation

• Spades at a Glance
• The Spades Deck
• Setup and Deal
• How to Play Spades
• How Bidding Works
• Nil Bids
• Trick-Taking Rules
• Breaking Spades
• Spades Scoring
• Overtricks and Bags
• Basic Spades Strategy
• Common Variations
• Choosing Cards for Spades
• Spades FAQ

Spades at a Glance

Partners sit across from each other. Each player bids the number of tricks expected, and the two partners’ regular bids are added together to form the partnership contract.

The partnership tries to:

• Win at least the number of tricks bid
• Help any Nil bidder avoid every trick
• Earn points through accurate bidding and successful play
• Reach the agreed winning score before the opposing team

What Cards Are Used for Spades?

Standard partnership Spades uses one regular 52-card deck without Jokers.

Cards rank from highest to lowest:

Ace → King → Queen → Jack → 10 → 9 → 8 → 7 → 6 → 5 → 4 → 3 → 2

The ranking is the same in every suit, but any spade outranks every card from clubs, diamonds, or hearts when legally played.

Are Jokers Used in Spades?

Not in the standard 52-card version explained on this page.

Some regional versions add two Jokers as the highest trump cards and remove other cards to keep the deck divisible among four players. Joker Spades should be treated as a separate variation because the card ranking and sometimes the bidding rules differ.

Spades Setup and Deal

1. Divide four players into two partnerships.
2. Partners sit across from one another.
3. Choose the first dealer.
4. Shuffle and cut the 52-card deck.
5. Deal clockwise, one card at a time.
6. Each player receives 13 cards.
7. Players organize their hands by suit.

The entire deck is dealt, so there is no stock, kitty, or undealt card.

The deal passes clockwise after every hand.

How to Play Spades: Step by Step

1. Deal 13 cards to each player.
2. Bid once around the table. Each player states how many tricks are expected.
3. Add the partners’ regular bids. This becomes the partnership contract.
4. Lead the first trick. The player to the dealer’s left leads a non-spade card.
5. Follow suit when possible.
6. Play a spade or discard when void.
7. Continue for 13 tricks.
8. Compare tricks won with each partnership’s bid.
9. Score contracts, overtricks, and Nil bids.
10. Deal the next hand.

How Bidding Works in Spades

The player to the dealer’s left bids first. Bidding continues clockwise until all four players have made one bid.

A normal bid is the number of tricks a player expects to win during the hand.

Examples include:

• A bid of 2 means the player expects to win two tricks.
• A bid of 4 means the player expects to win four tricks.
• A bid of 0 is normally declared as Nil.

Players do not bid a suit because spades are always trump.

There is only one round of bidding. A bid cannot normally be changed after it has been announced.

How the Partnership Bid Is Calculated

The partners’ regular bids are added together.

For example:

• North bids 3.
• South bids 4.
• North-South must win at least 7 tricks.

The partnership may divide those tricks in any way. North does not personally need exactly three tricks, and South does not personally need exactly four. The team simply needs at least seven combined.

Can You Pass During Bidding?

No. Every player must make a bid.

Can the Two Team Bids Total More Than 13?

Yes. The combined bids from both partnerships may exceed 13, which means at least one team cannot make its contract.

They may also total fewer than 13, which guarantees that one or both partnerships will take overtricks.

How Nil Bids Work

A player who bids Nil promises to win no tricks during the hand.

The Nil bidder’s partner makes a normal bid, and the partnership has two simultaneous goals:

• Help the Nil bidder avoid every trick
• Win at least the number of tricks bid by the Nil bidder’s partner

Successful Nil

If the Nil bidder wins no tricks, the partnership receives a 100-point bonus.

The partner’s regular contract is scored separately.

Failed Nil

If the Nil bidder wins one or more tricks, the partnership receives a 100-point penalty.

In the version used in this guide:

• The failed Nil bidder’s tricks do not help fulfill the partner’s regular bid.
• The failed Nil bidder’s tricks do not earn overtrick points.
• The partner’s regular contract is scored separately.

Some groups allow tricks won by a failed Nil bidder to count toward the partnership’s contract or as ordinary overtricks. Confirm this rule before beginning.

Nil Scoring Example

North bids Nil and South bids 4.

• If North wins no tricks and South wins at least four, the team receives 100 points for Nil plus the score for South’s contract.
• If North wins a trick, the team loses 100 points for the failed Nil.
• South must still fulfill the four-trick contract.

Blind Nil

Blind Nil is a common variation in which a player bids Nil before looking at the cards.

A successful Blind Nil is commonly worth 200 points, while a failed Blind Nil loses 200 points. Many groups allow it only when a team is behind by a specified amount.

Some Blind Nil rules allow the bidder and partner to exchange one or two cards after bidding. This is not part of ordinary Nil and must be agreed upon before play.

How Trick-Taking Works in Spades

The player to the dealer’s left leads the first trick. Play continues clockwise, with each player contributing one card.

Following Suit

A player must follow the suit led when able.

For example, if clubs are led:

• Every player holding at least one club must play a club.
• A player with no clubs may play any card.
• The player may discard a diamond or heart.
• The player may play a spade to trump the trick.

A player who cannot follow suit is not required to play a spade.

Winning a Trick

The trick is won by:

• The highest spade played, or
• If no spade is played, the highest card of the suit led

Cards from a non-led, non-spade suit cannot win the trick.

The winner of each trick leads the next one.

Example Trick

West leads the Ace of Hearts.

• North plays the 4 of Hearts.
• East has no hearts and plays the 3 of Spades.
• South plays the King of Hearts.

East wins because any spade outranks every heart.

Do You Have to Beat the Current Winning Card?

No. A player must follow suit when able but does not have to play a higher card.

If diamonds are led and a player holds several diamonds, that player may choose any diamond.

What Does Breaking Spades Mean?

Spades are broken when a player first uses a spade to trump a trick led in another suit.

Before spades are broken, a player may not lead a spade unless every card remaining in that player’s hand is a spade.

Example of Breaking Spades

Clubs are led. A player has no clubs and plays the 5 of Spades. Spades are now broken and may be led on future tricks.

Can a Spade Be Played on the First Trick?

Yes, if a player cannot follow the suit led. That play breaks spades.

The opening leader may not normally lead a spade on the first trick because spades have not yet been broken.

What if a Player Has Only Spades?

A player holding nothing but spades may lead a spade even if the suit has not previously been broken.

How to Score Spades

A partnership that makes its contract scores:

• 10 points for each trick bid
• 1 additional point for each overtrick

A partnership that fails to make its contract loses:

• 10 points for each trick bid

In the scoring system used in this guide, overtricks do not accumulate toward a separate penalty.

Making the Contract

Suppose a partnership bids 6 and wins exactly 6 tricks.

Score: 60 points

Making the Contract with Overtricks

Suppose a partnership bids 6 and wins 8 tricks.

• Contract score: 60
• Two overtricks: 2
• Total: 62 points

Being Set

A partnership is set when it wins fewer tricks than it bid.

Suppose a partnership bids 6 and wins only 5 tricks.

Score: −60 points

How Many Points Win Spades?

A common game is played to 500 points.

The hand is completed even if a partnership passes 500 during play. If both teams reach or exceed 500 on the same hand, the higher score wins.

Groups may use 200 or 300 points for a shorter game or 1,000 points for a longer game.

What Are Bags in Spades?

Overtricks are often called bags or sandbags.

In the version used in this guide:

• Each overtrick earns one point.
• Overtricks do not accumulate from hand to hand.
• There is no automatic penalty when a team collects 10 overtricks.

Overtrick Example

A partnership bids 5 and wins 8 tricks.

• Five bid tricks score 50 points.
• Three overtricks score 3 points.
• The partnership scores 53 points.
• No running bag total is recorded.

Why Are Contract Tricks Worth More?

Each trick included in the bid is worth 10 points, while each additional trick is worth only one point. A team that consistently bids too low earns fewer points than it could have earned through more accurate bidding.

Do All Spades Games Use a Bag Penalty?

No. Bag scoring varies significantly by region and group. Many games use a cumulative penalty, while others score overtricks without a later penalty or do not score overtricks at all.

Spades Scoring Examples

Example 1: Both Teams Make Their Contracts

North-South bid 6 and win 7 tricks.

North-South score 61 points.

East-West bid 5 and win 6 tricks.

East-West score 51 points.

Example 2: One Team Is Set

North-South bid 8 but win only 7 tricks.

North-South lose 80 points.

East-West bid 4 and win 6 tricks.

East-West score 42 points.

Example 3: Successful Nil

North bids Nil and South bids 5.

North wins no tricks, and South wins 5 tricks.

• Successful Nil: 100
• South’s contract: 50
• Total: 150 points

Example 4: Failed Nil

North bids Nil but wins one trick. South bids 4 and fulfills the contract.

• Failed Nil: −100
• South’s contract: 40
• North’s trick does not earn an overtrick point in this version.

The partnership’s net score is −60 points.

Common Spades Terms

Basic Spades Strategy for Beginners

• Count likely trump winners. High spades and long spade holdings are central to an accurate bid.
• Do not count every Ace automatically. An off-suit Ace may be trumped if another player is void.
• Watch the total bids. If the table bids fewer than 13, overtricks must be taken by someone.
• Protect a partner’s Nil. Lead high cards when useful and try to cover cards that might force the Nil bidder to win.
• Attack an opponent’s Nil. Lead low cards in suits where the Nil bidder may be vulnerable.
• Track which players are void. A void player may trump the next time that suit is led.
• Count spades as they are played. Knowing how many trump cards remain helps determine whether a card is safe.
• Bid accurately. A bid trick earns 10 points, while an overtrick earns only one.
• Support the partnership contract. The team’s combined result matters more than matching each individual bid exactly.

Common Spades Variations

10-Bag Penalty

Many Spades groups keep a running total of overtricks. When a partnership accumulates 10 bags, it loses 100 points and begins a new bag count.

Under this variation:

• Each overtrick normally still earns one point.
• Bags carry from hand to hand.
• Reaching 10 cumulative bags causes a 100-point penalty.
• Any bags beyond 10 carry into the next cycle.

This penalty discourages consistently conservative bidding. It is widely used, but it is not part of the standard scoring system presented in this guide.

Spades with Jokers

Some versions add a Big Joker and Little Joker as the two highest trump cards. Other low cards are removed so each player still receives the same number of cards.

Regional Joker Spades rules differ on:

• Which Joker ranks highest
• Whether the 2 of Spades or 2 of Diamonds is a high trump
• Which cards are removed
• Whether spades must be broken

Blind Nil

A player bids Nil before looking at the cards, usually for a 200-point bonus or penalty. Some groups permit a card exchange with the partner.

No Nil

Some groups do not allow Nil or Blind Nil. Every player must bid at least one trick.

Individual Spades

Players compete independently rather than in partnerships. Each player is responsible only for the individual bid and score.

Three-Player Spades

One card is commonly removed, and each player receives 17 cards. Players bid and score individually.

Two-Player Spades

Two-player versions often build hands by drawing cards from a face-down stock rather than dealing the entire deck directly.

Suicide Spades

One partner on each team must bid Nil, while the other partner makes a normal bid.

Boston or Moon Bonus

Some groups award a special bonus for winning all 13 tricks. Other groups treat it as an ordinary successful contract unless a special bid was announced.

Alternative Overtrick Rules

Other approaches include:

• Overtricks earning zero points
• Each overtrick immediately subtracting one point
• A 50-point penalty after five bags
• A 100-point penalty after 10 bags
• A different cumulative threshold or penalty

Common House-Rule Decisions

• Whether Nil and Blind Nil are allowed
• Whether Blind Nil includes a card exchange
• Whether failed Nil tricks help the partner’s contract
• Whether Jokers are used
• When spades may be led
• Whether overtricks accumulate toward a penalty
• The score required to win
• Whether a Boston earns a special bonus

Choosing the Best Cards for Spades

Spades can be played with any complete standard deck, but readability and durability matter for regular game nights, clubs, and tournaments.

Standard Decks

A standard poker-size deck is the simplest and most familiar option for most groups.

Jumbo-Index Cards

Jumbo-index decks use larger corner numbers and suit symbols. They may be easier to read across the table, especially during group games or longer sessions.

Four-Color Playing Cards

Four-color decks use a distinct color for every suit. This may help some players identify suits quickly and reduce mistakes when organizing or following a hand.

Paper vs. Plastic

• Paper playing cards: familiar handling and economical replacement cost
• Plastic playing cards: washable, durable, and suited to frequent play

Single Decks vs. Bricks

• Single deck: sufficient for home games and casual play
• Brick: useful for clubs, tournaments, community centers, and regular multi-table games

Browse the full Spades Playing Cards Collection, compare index styles in our Jumbo Index vs. Standard Index Playing Cards Guide, or explore Four-Color Playing Cards, Plastic Playing Cards, and Bulk Playing Cards and Bricks.

More How to Play Card Games

Explore more complete rules guides for classic card games:

• How to Play Pinochle – Learn the deck, auction, melds, trump, trick-taking, and scoring.
• How to Play Euchre – Learn the bowers, choosing trump, stick the dealer, loners, tricks, and scoring.
• How to Play Canasta – Learn melds, canastas, wild cards, the discard pile, going out, and scoring.
• How to Play Bridge – Learn the deal, auction, contracts, declarer and dummy, trick-taking, and scoring.
• How to Play Spades – Learn bidding, Nil, breaking spades, tricks, overtricks, and scoring.
• How to Play Hearts – Learn passing, the opening lead, breaking hearts, the Queen of Spades, and shooting the moon.
• How to Play Rummy – Learn the deal, sets and runs, drawing, discarding, going out, and scoring.

Browse all of our educational resources in the Playing Card Guides hub.

Spades Frequently Asked Questions

How many people play Spades?

The standard partnership game uses four players divided into two teams. Partners sit across from each other.

How many cards does each Spades player receive?

Each player receives 13 cards from a standard 52-card deck.

Are spades always trump?

Yes. In standard Spades, the spade suit is always trump and outranks clubs, diamonds, and hearts.

Do you use Jokers in Spades?

Standard Spades uses a 52-card deck without Jokers. Some regional variations add two Jokers as the highest trump cards.

What does a bid mean in Spades?

A bid is the number of tricks a player expects to win. Partners add their regular bids together to create the team contract.

Can you pass during Spades bidding?

No. Every player must make one bid. A player expecting to win no tricks may bid Nil when that option is allowed.

What is a Nil bid in Spades?

Nil is a promise to win no tricks. A successful Nil commonly earns 100 points, while a failed Nil loses 100 points.

What does breaking spades mean?

Spades are broken when a player first uses a spade to trump a trick led in another suit. After that, spades may normally be led.

Can you lead a spade before spades are broken?

Normally no. A player may lead a spade before they are broken only when every remaining card in that player’s hand is a spade.

Do you have to follow suit in Spades?

Yes. A player holding a card in the suit led must follow that suit. A player who cannot follow suit may play any card, including a spade.

What are bags in Spades?

Bags are tricks won beyond the partnership’s bid. In the version used in this guide, each earns one point and there is no cumulative 10-bag penalty.

Does every Spades game have a 10-bag penalty?

No. Many groups subtract 100 points after a partnership accumulates 10 bags, but other regional versions do not use a cumulative bag penalty.

What happens when a team does not make its bid?

The partnership is set and loses 10 points for every trick it bid. A team that bid six but won only five tricks loses 60 points.

How many points win a game of Spades?

A common game is played to 500 points, although groups may agree on a shorter or longer target.

What is a Boston in Spades?

A Boston means winning all 13 tricks in a hand. Some groups award a special bonus, while others score it according to the ordinary bid.

Can you play Spades with two or three players?

Yes. Two-player and three-player variations exist, but their dealing and scoring rules differ from standard four-player partnership Spades.

Shop Spades Playing Cards

Whether you are learning at home, organizing a weekly game night, or supplying several tables, ClassicDecks offers standard, jumbo-index, four-color, paper, plastic, and bulk playing-card options suitable for Spades.

Shop Spades Playing Cards or read our Best Playing Cards for Game Night Guide for recommendations by material, index size, durability, and type of play.