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What Is the Purpose of Joker Cards?

4/26/2024

Jokers can serve multiple purposes. The cards can be used to replace missing ones or as 'indifferent cards' for fair plays. Jokers are also required in some games, such as Canasta or versions of poker (wild poker). Spades can also be played with ...

How to play Cutthroat Spades

4/24/2024

Cutthroat Spades is a variation of the popular card game Spades that involves each player playing on their own. The rules are pretty much the same–which is why it’s best to understand how to play Spades, step by step, before diving into this version–...

What Happens When You Renege in Spades?

4/18/2024

Knowing how to play Spades strategically demands not only an understanding of the game’s dynamics, but also a commitment to the game’s cardinal rule: never renege. A renege in Spades is considered a serious game offense because it undermines ...

How to Play Spades with Jokers

4/18/2024

Spades is a game of strategy, but the intricacy can wane after you’ve been playing for awhile. To add a little extra complexity to your rounds, try playing Spades with jokers. When playing Spades with jokers, players typically treat the jokers as...

Who Goes First in Spades?

4/17/2024

The Spades card game is one of the most popular partnership trick-taking games worldwide. If you’re new to the game and wondering how it works, there are some helpful things to remember. Playing in teams of two with partners across from each other...

Who invented Spades?

4/15/2024

Have you ever wondered who invented Spades? The game of Spades was created by two college freshmen in Cincinnati, Ohio back in the late 1930s. Looking for things to do after homework, they invented the fast-paced card game–which is derived from other...

What Does ‘Nil’ Mean in Spades?

4/11/2024

To play Spades is to understand all the unique rules and words of the game. As a Spades newcomer, you may hear the phrase 'nil' and wonder, what does that mean? In Spades, 'nil' refers to a bid of zero tricks. When a player bids nil, they are ess...

Spades versus Hearts

4/10/2024

Whether you play Spades for free online or indulge in a little whist with a friend, card games are perfect for keeping your mind super sharp. There is often a lot of debate on the best game, and two titles in particular tend to commonly go head to ...

How to Play Spades: The Ultimate Guide to Spades Rules

4/8/2024

Spades is a popular card game that combines strategy, skill, and a bit of luck. Originating from the Whist family, including games like Euchre and Hearts, Spades requires careful planning and cooperation between partners. This article will serve...

How Many Cards Are in a Deck Without Jokers?

4/8/2024

Understanding a standard card deck is a crucial part of mastering many card games‒and free online Spades games are no exception. Without Jokers, a standard card deck includes fifty-two cards divided into four suits. Each suit has thirteen cards ...

How to Keep Score in Spades

4/4/2024

Spades is a game of dense strategy, and it has been a staple of both cutthroat gamers and bored road-trippers for generations. As the game transitioned into the digital age, platforms vying for the title of best place to play spades online have made ...

How Do You Bid in Spades?

4/3/2024

Whether you are looking for a way to pass a few quiet hours or simply looking to keep your memory and strategy skills sharp, a game of Spades can be the perfect solution. All you need is a pack of cards‒or access to a free Spades game online and...

The 5 Best Four-Person Card Games

4/1/2024

Card games have been a staple of human entertainment for centuries, evolving through cultures and eras to offer a diverse range of games to fit every occasion and group. Four-person card games hold a special place however, creating a unique blend of ...

What Are Bags in Spades?

3/29/2024

Are you looking for a card game that tests your ability to strategize, requires skill and concentration, and allows you to indulge your inner competitor? Spades is a fast-paced game centered around trick-taking, where players place bids on the number...

How to Win at Spades

3/28/2024

Players win at Spades by correctly guessing or bidding how many hands or ‘tricks’ they will win each round. The more accurate a player is in their bids, the more reliably they will rack up points and win. Spades provides a unique blend of strateg...

How to Play Spades With 3 Players

3/27/2024

A game of Spades can be played with three players by changing the number of cards dealt to each player (seventeen as opposed to thirteen) and removing the team format. Each player will play for themselves and try to be the first to reach the goal of ...

What Is Spades?

3/25/2024

Whether you're a card game aficionado or a newcomer eager to learn, Spades is one of the most enjoyable card games you can play. Spades is a trick-taking game in which the goal is to win tricks while predicting how many tricks you will win each round...

What is a Trick in Spades?

3/20/2024

At its heart, Spades is about winning tricks. But what exactly is a ‘trick’ in Spades? Simply put, a trick consists of each player laying down a single card, with the highest card of the leading suit winning the trick, unless a spade is played. S...

The Best Card Games for Adults

3/18/2024

Card games have been a staple of social gatherings and leisure activities for centuries, filling a role as a simple pastime and a complex competition that challenges the mind. Some of the best card games for adults include Spades, Poker, Bridge, Blac...

How Many Cards Are Dealt in Spades?

3/13/2024

Spades is a popular card game, often considered a staple among card players around the world. Its roots trace back to the 1930s in the United States, and it quickly grew in popularity due to its blend of simplicity and strategic depth. Spades can off...

How to Play Spades with 4 People

3/11/2024

Spades is one of the most engaging four-person card games, perfect for players looking to delve into the world of trick-taking games. It is typically played by two teams of two, with partners sitting across from each other. The game uses a standard f...

6 Best Trick-Taking Games for Endless Fun!

2/22/2024

Nothing brings family and friends together better than a fun trick-taking card game! We’re here to share the top 6 most popular trick-taking games for your next gathering. From Hearts to Spades, stick around to learn what makes these games fun and ho...

Printable Scoring Sheet for Two Player Spades

9/11/2023

Spades is normally played with 4 players, however, it can be played with 2 players. If you're playing with 2 players, you'll need to keep track of score. Below you'll find a scoring sheet you can use when playing with two players, which you...

How to Play Spades with 2 People

9/5/2023

What you’ll need: A standard 52-card deck of playing cards (remove Jokers)2 playersLength: 30-60 minutesDifficulty: Easy, but can take years to masterType: Trick-takingTrump ranks: Spades are always the trump suitCard ranks (high to low): Ace, K...

Printable Score Sheet for Spades

8/16/2023

When you play Spades online scoring is done for you. However, it’s easy to keep score with pen and paper for a game with friends. Here’s a handy example of what your score sheet may look like (download the printable Spades Scoring PDF here.) ...

Spades Scoring Rules (Including Variations)

8/10/2023

In a game of Spades, each team earns 10 points per winning trick bid and one point per trick beyond that (also known as a “bag”) in each round. If a team gets 10 bags during a game, they receive a 100-point penalty for “sandbagging.”A single player m...