Press Play above and the cards are dealt. It's classic spades: four players in two partnerships, 13 cards each, spades always trump. Each player bids the tricks they expect to win, partners add their bids together, and the first team to 500 points wins.
How a hand of spades goes
- Deal. Each player gets 13 cards. Your partner sits across from you.
- Bid. Starting to the dealer’s left, everyone bids once: the number of tricks they expect to win, from 1 to 13, or nil if they expect to win none. Nobody may pass. You and your partner add your bids together. That’s your team’s contract.
- Play 13 tricks. The player to the dealer’s left leads. Follow suit if you can. If you can’t, play any card, a spade or not. Spades are always trump, so the highest spade wins the trick. Otherwise the highest card of the suit led wins. Nobody may lead a spade until one has been played on another suit.
- Score. Make your contract and you score 10 points a trick you bid, plus 1 for each extra trick. Miss it and you lose 10 a trick bid. A nil scores 100 if the bidder takes no tricks, and loses 100 if they take any.
The complete rules cover every case, and spades scoring has worked hands.
The rules this game plays
The game uses the standard rules found in Pagat’s spades rules, the major apps and tournament rule sheets. Where tables play differently, the house rules page lists the options.
| Rule | This game |
|---|---|
| Game | First team to 500 points. A team at −200 or below loses |
| Making your bid | 10 a trick bid, plus 1 a bag (each extra trick) |
| Missing your bid (set) | Minus 10 a trick bid |
| Bags | Every 10 bags cost 100 points |
| Nil | ±100, scored on its own. The partner still has to make their bid |
| Blind nil | ±200, only when your team is 100 or more points behind |
| Tie | An exact tie at the end: play another hand |
These are the defaults. Before you start, the house rules on the start screen let you change blind nil, Board, the game target, the lose floor and the deck (with jokers). A friends link carries the rules you chose.
Play with real people
- Play vs Computer. You and a computer partner against two computer opponents. The computer players wait for you, so take as long as you like.
- Quick Match. You’re seated with whoever is looking for a game. If nobody turns up within a few seconds, computer players fill the empty seats.
- Play with Friends. You open a private table and send the link to up to three friends. Two friends sit as partners, and computer players fill any seats left over.
Playing at a real table?
Print the rules on one page, with tick boxes for your table’s house rules, or a score sheet. Or keep score on your phone with the score keeper, which adds up bags, nil and blind nil for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this spades game free?
Yes. It's free, it runs in your browser, and it needs no download, account or sign-up. There's no real-money play and nothing to buy.
Can I play spades against the computer?
Yes. You play with a computer partner against two computer opponents, and the computer players wait for you: there's no turn timer when you're the only person at the table. You can also play with real people: quick match seats you with whoever is online, and computer players fill any empty seats.
Can I play spades with my friends?
Yes. Play with Friends opens a private table and gives you a link to send, which carries your table's house rules. Two friends sit as partners, and computer players fill any seats left over.
Does it work on a phone or tablet?
Yes. The game runs in the browser on phones, tablets and computers. It can't be played offline, because the cards are dealt and the computer players run on the game server.
Is spades hard to learn?
Not very. You follow suit, spades beat every other suit, and the only big decision is your bid. Most people can play after one hand. The rules page has the whole game, with worked scoring examples.
Can I play spades with jokers here?
Yes. Before you start, choose a joker game in the house rules on the start screen: Joker-Joker-Deuce-Deuce, Joker-Joker-Deuce or Joker-Joker-Ace. The Big and Little Jokers, and in the deuce games the high deuces, rank above the ace of spades. The house rules page explains each one.