Games Public domain, 1930
Spades
A partnership trick-taker where spades are always trump, and your bid is a promise.
2–4players
30–60minutes
8+ages
Light
About the game
Spades is a trick-taking game for two partnerships, played with a standard deck. Spades are trump for every trick, whatever was led.
Before the first card is played, each partnership bids how many tricks it will take. Making the bid scores it; falling short costs ten points a trick, and any trick over the bid is a “bag” that can cost you later.
The first partnership to reach the agreed score wins.
A round, in order
- 1
Bid
Each partnership agrees how many tricks it will take this round.
- 2
Play tricks
Follow suit; spades are trump and may be led only when broken.
- 3
Score
Made bids score, missed ones cost, and extra tricks become bags.
Credits
- Design
- Traditional
- Publisher
- Public domain, 1930
- On this table
- Live
- Cover
- Cover: Mixolydian, after the traditional French deck.
- Trick-taking
- Hidden information