What is Blind Nil in Spades?
Blind Nil
A high-risk bid where you commit to winning zero tricks BEFORE looking at your cards. If successful, your team gains 200 points (or 100 in some variants). If you take even one trick, you lose 200 points.
Blind Nil Scoring
- Success: +200 points (some variants: +100)
- Failure: -200 points (some variants: -100)
- Your partner's bid is scored separately
Example
You blind nil, partner bids 4. Partner takes 5 tricks (you take 0). Result: +200 (blind nil) + 41 points (4 bid + 1 bag) = +241 total for the hand.
When to Blind Nil
Blind nil is a desperation play. Consider it when:
- Behind by 100+ points - Need a big swing
- Early in game - Time to recover if you fail
- Strong partner - They can cover for you
- Opponents close to winning - Nothing to lose
After Bidding Blind Nil
Once you see your cards after bidding blind nil:
- Pass high cards to partner (if card exchange is allowed)
- Play lowest card possible each trick
- Partner covers - They try to win tricks with your high cards
Blind Nil vs Regular Nil
| Bid | See Cards? | Success | Failure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nil | Yes | +100 | -100 |
| Blind Nil | No | +200 | -200 |