Spades
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How to play
Choose a trick target with your AI partner, follow suit, and use spades as trump.
- Choose a trick target before each round, including Nil when you expect no tricks.
- Follow suit whenever possible; spades cannot lead until broken.
- Reach your partnership target while keeping extra tricks low.
How to Play Spades
Spades is a casual four-player trick-taking card game played in two partnerships. You and your computer partner sit across from each other and play against the opposing pair. Before each round, both sides predict how many tricks they can take and then try to reach that target.
The game opens in your browser with no registration or download. Your current round, table settings, and play statistics stay on your device between visits.
Starting Cards and Trick Targets
Each player begins with 13 cards from a standard 52-card deck. Players choose their trick targets in clockwise order, and every choice is visible to those who follow. Your target and your partner’s target are added together to create the team target for the round.
Nil means choosing a target of zero tricks. Meeting that target adds 100 points, while taking any trick subtracts 100. Blind Nil changes the score by 200 points and appears only when your team trails by at least 100 points.
Playing a Round
The opening player leads the first trick, and play continues clockwise. You must follow the led suit whenever you hold a card of that suit. If you cannot follow suit, you may play any card, including a spade. Spades are permanent trump: any spade outranks every card in the other three suits, and the highest spade takes the trick.
You may not lead spades until they are broken. This happens when someone plays a spade because they cannot follow the led suit. The player who takes each trick leads the next one.
Scoring and Extra Tricks
Reaching the team target adds 10 points for each predicted trick, while falling short subtracts the same amount. Each trick beyond the target adds one point and one bag. Reaching 10 bags subtracts 100 points and resets the bag count, so accurate predictions matter.
Tricks taken by a player who chose Nil but missed it do not help the partner reach the team target; they only add bags. The first team to reach 500 points completes the match.
Basic Strategy
Count likely trick takers before choosing your target: aces, protected kings, and long spade suits are useful clues. Choose a realistic number instead of counting every possible trick.
Watch the combined team target. When it is high, take tricks early. Once the target is secure, use lower cards to avoid extra tricks. When an opponent chooses Nil, lead suits that may force them to play a high card.
About This Version
The computer players choose targets from their own cards and follow the same rules you do, including the bag and Nil rules. You can adjust the table felt and card style, review your statistics, and start a fresh match from the New game link.
Spades Questions
What are bags in Spades?
A bag is any trick taken beyond the team target. Each adds one point, but the tenth bag subtracts 100 points and resets the count.
When can I lead a spade?
Only after spades are broken, meaning someone has already played a spade because they could not follow the led suit. Until then, lead another suit.
What does Nil mean?
Nil is a target of zero tricks. Meeting it adds 100 points, while taking any trick subtracts 100. Blind Nil changes the score by 200 and appears only when your team is at least 100 points behind.
Do I have to outrank the cards already played?
No. Follow the led suit if you can, but you may use a lower card and let another player take the trick.
Does the game remember my progress?
Yes. Your current round, settings, and statistics stay in your browser on your device.