How to Play Spades Online
Master the strategic Spades card game with our complete guide. Learn the rules, bidding strategies, and partnership tactics that have made Spades one of the most beloved trick-taking games worldwide.
Top Questions about Spades
Quick definitions and the most common questions players ask about Spades.
- What is a good score in Spades? FAQ
- What is Nil in Spades? FAQ
- How does bidding work? GLOSSARY
- What are bags (overtricks)? GLOSSARY
| Players | 4 (2 teams of 2 partners) |
|---|---|
| Deck | Standard 52-card deck |
| Cards per Player | 13 |
| Trump Suit | Spades (always) |
| Winning Score | 500 points |
| Game Duration | 15-25 minutes |
| Skill Level | Intermediate |
What is Spades?
Spades is a trick-taking partnership card game that emerged in the United States during the late 1930s. It became wildly popular among college students and military personnel, eventually becoming a staple of American card gaming culture.
What sets Spades apart from other trick-taking games like Hearts or Bridge is its fixed trump suit: spades are always trump, meaning any spade card beats any card of another suit. This simple rule creates deep strategic possibilities around when to play your spades and how to protect your partner.
Did you know? Spades is believed to have been invented in Cincinnati, Ohio around 1938. Its simplicity compared to Bridge, combined with its strategic depth, helped it spread rapidly through military bases during World War II.
For more information on the history and variations of this classic game, see the Spades Wikipedia article.
How to Play Spades Online
Playing Spades online at OnlineCardGames.io is simple and intuitive. Here's how a typical game flows:
| Phase | Action | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Deal | Cards distributed | Each player receives 13 cards |
| 2. Bid | Predict tricks | Each player bids 0-13 tricks |
| 3. Play | Win tricks | 13 tricks played, follow suit rule |
| 4. Score | Calculate points | Based on bids made/missed |
| 5. Repeat | Next hand | Until team reaches 500 points |
Pro tip: Pay attention to your partner Elena's bids and plays. If she bids high, she likely has strong spades. Coordinate your strategy to help each other make your contracts!
Objectives
Your goal in Spades is to be the first team to reach 500 points by:
- Bidding accurately: Predict the number of tricks you'll win and meet or exceed your bid.
- Making your team contract: Your bid plus your partner's bid forms your team's contract.
- Managing bags: Overtricks count as "bags." Accumulate 10 bags and lose 100 points!
- Setting opponents: Prevent the other team from making their contract.
Spades Rules
| Rank | Trump (Spades) | Other Suits |
|---|---|---|
| Highest | A♠ | A♥ A♦ A♣ |
| 2nd | K♠ | K♥ K♦ K♣ |
| 3rd | Q♠ | Q♥ Q♦ Q♣ |
| 4th | J♠ | J♥ J♦ J♣ |
| 5th-13th | 10♠ down to 2♠ | 10 down to 2 |
Playing Rules
- Follow suit: You must play a card of the led suit if you have one.
- Trumping: If you cannot follow suit, you may play any card, including a spade to "trump."
- Breaking spades: Spades cannot be led until "broken" (played on another trick).
- Winning tricks: Highest card of led suit wins, unless a spade trumps it.
Scoring Reference
| Situation | Points | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Make contract | +10 per bid trick | Bid 5, win 5+ = +50 pts |
| Overtricks (bags) | +1 each | Bid 5, win 7 = +52 pts |
| 10 bags penalty | -100 | Bags reset to 0 |
| Fail contract | -10 per bid trick | Bid 5, win 4 = -50 pts |
| Successful Nil | +100 | Bid 0, win 0 tricks |
| Failed Nil | -100 | Bid 0, win 1+ tricks |
Bag strategy: Sometimes it's better to deliberately lose a trick than win an overtrick. Watch your bag count! Going from 9 to 10 bags costs you 100 points.
Best Spades Strategies for Beginners
| Strategy | When to Use | Why It Works |
|---|---|---|
| Count winners before bidding | Every hand | Aces, high spades = reliable tricks |
| Bid conservatively | Early game | Making contract beats overtricks |
| Lead long suits | When you have 5+ cards | Forces out opponents' high cards |
| Save spades for late | Tricks 7-13 | Spades gain value as cards deplete |
| Cover partner's Nil | Partner bids Nil | Absorb tricks with your high cards |
| Attack opponent's Nil | Opponent bids Nil | Lead their weak suits |
| Track played spades | Always | Know which spades are still out |
Expert insight: Track which spades have been played. Once the Ace and King of spades are gone, your Queen becomes the highest remaining spade and extremely powerful.
Watch: Spades YouTube Tutorial
Learn the basics of Spades with this helpful video tutorial covering gameplay, bidding, and strategy.
Video credit: wikiHow
Learn More About Spades
Have questions about Spades rules or strategy? Check out our detailed guides:
Need Help or Want to Contact Us?
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