Spades — free online Card game
Bid your tricks with a partner, trump with spades and race to 300.
Spades is the classic partnership trick-taking card game, free to play in your browser. You and your computer partner sit north and south against two computer opponents. After the deal, everyone bids how many of the thirteen tricks they will win; a team that makes its combined bid scores ten points a trick, one that falls short loses them. Spades are always trump and cannot be led until someone has played one. Bid Nil for a 100-point bonus if you take no tricks at all, but watch your overtricks: ten bags cost a hundred. First team to 300 wins. No download, no sign-up.
Quick start
- Press Start. You sit south; your partner is north. Thirteen cards are dealt to each player.
- When it is your turn to bid, tap a number — the yellow ring marks a suggestion for your hand.
- Play by tapping a bright card; dimmed cards are not allowed right now.
- Win at least the tricks your team bid, but not too many more.
How to play Spades
- Four players in two partnerships: you and north against west and east. The whole deck is dealt, thirteen cards each.
- Bidding: each player bids how many tricks they expect to win. Partners' bids add up to the team's contract. A bid of Nil means taking no tricks at all.
- The player to the dealer's left leads. Others must follow the led suit if they can; if not, they may play any card, including a spade.
- Spades are trump: the highest spade wins the trick, otherwise the highest card of the suit led. Spades cannot be led until a spade has been played (unless you hold nothing else).
- Scoring: a team that makes its contract scores 10 points per bid trick plus 1 per extra trick (a bag). A team that falls short loses 10 per bid trick. Nil scores +100 if made, −100 if the Nil bidder takes a trick.
- Every 10 bags cost 100 points. The first team to 300 points wins the game.
Controls
- Bid: tap a number (or Nil)
- Play: tap a card; Enter or Space plays a sensible card for you
- New game: the New game button; difficulty changes apply from the next hand
Strategy tips
- Count aces and high spades first; long spades are worth extra tricks once the high ones are gone.
- A void or singleton in a side suit lets you trump early — count it as a likely trick when you hold several spades.
- Lead aces and kings while they are still winners; lead low from your longest side suit otherwise.
- Once your team has made its bid, duck tricks you do not need to keep bags down.
- If your partner bid Nil, try to win the tricks they are at risk of taking.
Frequently asked questions
What are bags?
Bags are tricks won beyond your team's contract. Each is worth 1 point, but when a team collects 10 bags it loses 100 points and the count starts again.
Can I bid Nil?
Yes. Bid Nil and take no tricks for +100; if you take even one, the team loses 100. Your partner's bid is scored separately, and any tricks you take count as bags.
Is Spades free?
Yes. It is completely free to play in your browser, with no download, no account and no in-game purchases.
Can I play on my phone?
Yes. Your hand fans across the screen and every card is tappable; landscape gives the most room.