Spades begins with four players, split into two teams, each receiving 13 cards. Right after the deal, every player must declare the number of tricks they believe they can win during the round - a process known as bidding, which sets the tone for the entire match. In all games, Spades are always the trump suit, meaning they can beat any other suit when played legally.
There's also a bold strategic option: the nil bid, where a player claims they will win no tricks at all. A successful bid rewards their team with a substantial point bonus. But if they accidentally take even one trick, they face a severe point deduction.
Spades brings a classic card game experience
Spades follows the time-honoured mechanics of trick-taking games. The player next to the dealer begins, and play moves clockwise. Each player must follow the suit that was led if they have it in hand. If not, they may play a Spade - but only after the suit has been "broken" (i.e., played for the first time during the game). To win a trick, players must outmatch others with the top card of the lead suit - though any Spade played overrides the normal suit hierarchy.
The scoring system in Spades demands thoughtful planning and teamwork. A team earns 10 points for each trick if they match their bid exactly. However, any additional tricks earn just 1 point each - called "bags". Accumulating 10 bags results in an immediate 100-point penalty.
A successful nil bid earns a massive 100-point bonus, but failing it will subtract the same amount. The game ends when one team reaches 500 points, or when their opponents drop below -200.
Besides, if you are looking for a simple but strategic intellectual game, Tic Tac Toe is a choice not to be missed.
