Bidding in Spades
Bidding
Before play begins, each player looks at their hand and bids the number of tricks they expect to win. The team's bids combine into a contract they must meet to score points.
How Bidding Works
- Each player bids 0-13 (nil is a special 0 bid)
- Partner bids are combined - if you bid 4 and partner bids 3, team contract is 7
- Meet your contract = 10 points per trick bid
- Fail to meet = lose 10 points per trick bid
- Extra tricks = 1 point each but beware of bags
Scoring Example
Bid 8, take 9: +80 (contract) + 1 (bag) = 81 points
Bid 8, take 7: -80 points (failed contract)
What to Count When Bidding
Guaranteed Tricks:
- Ace of Spades - Always wins (count as 1)
- King of Spades - Almost always wins (count as 1)
- High spades - Q♠, J♠ are strong (count 0.5-1)
Probable Tricks:
- Off-suit Aces - Usually win unless trumped (count as 0.5-1)
- Voids - No cards in a suit = can trump (count as 1-2)
- Long suits - 5+ cards may win late tricks
Common Bidding Mistakes
- Overbidding - Counting every face card as a trick
- Underbidding - Being too conservative, accumulating bags
- Ignoring partner - Your bids should complement each other
Special Bids
- Nil: Bid zero tricks - worth 100 points if successful, -100 if you fail
- Blind Nil: Bid zero before seeing cards - worth ±200 points