Spades Rules

After reviewing his/her cards (hand) each player takes their turn bidding beginning with the first person dealt. There are a total of 13 tricks. The bids can add up to more or less than 13. The dealer, bidding last, usually makes that decision.

Bidding zero tricks is a NIL bid. There is a bonus when a player bids a NIL and succeeds winning no tricks in that hand.

After the last bid by the dealer, the hands are played out beginning with the player on the dealer's left. No spades may be led for a hand until the suit - Spades - has been broken. That means a spade may NOT be used to lead a hand until it has been played in an earlier trick.

Play continues clockwise and the player must follow the suit led if he can. If a player cannot follow the suit, he may play whatever he wishes. If he plays a Spade, it trumps all other suits.

Tricks are won by the highest card of the suit led if there is no Spades in the trick. Spades are not allowed to be led until some player has played a spade on a lead of another suit. The highest Spade will take the trick if more than one Spade is played.

There are Spades game variations which have specific playing and scoring rules. Try them all and see which ones are your favs!