Q&A for How to Play Spades

Yes, if you're able to, you must play a higher card of that suit. Otherwise, you play any card of any suit.

"Running a Boston" is when a team takes all 13 tricks in a round. It's also known as "shooting the moon."

Yes, you may. This will "break spades," and afterward any player may lead with a spade.

If spades were the starting suit played, then yes, your opponent must attempt to beat it. If they can't they simply play any card of their choosing.

Yes, you do lose both 100 points and have an overbidding penalty. Bidding nil is high-risk, high-reward, so be careful before you make that bid!

You have to deal a "dummy" hand on the side. Otherwise, you'll know the other player has any card you don't have - hence, no fun in playing.

You can't put down the same card. Each card in a 52 card deck is different. Remember that the suit of the lead card must be played, otherwise a trump may be played.

If you are playing with the normal four people, your partner is the person across from you.

To answer the second question, no. You do not have to bid separately for trump, just bid the total number of tricks you think you will take.

No, hey do not have to play a higher spade. They just have to play a spade, if they have one.

If you think you can "set" the other team yes. If not avoid taking extra bags, you're already in trouble.

No. Spades are trump, they will always take the trick. Other than that, whatever suit leads will take the trick.

Some house rules allow for calling a misdeal with such hands. But if you are allowed, consider playing it out anyway. Spadeless hands often make great nils. Also if you partner has long spades, there's a good chance the opps will misplay the suit and risk getting set. View these hands as an opportunity to gain 100-200 points over your opponents.

Since all the cards are dealt out at the start of the game, that would depend on the number of players. For example, if it's a 2 player game, each player gets 26 cards.

Play the game as if there were three players, but the hand for the third player cards remains face down.

You must bid because the successful "nil" bids earn 100 points, while unsuccessful bids will result in a penalty of 100 points.

You lose your bet from your total of points. Example: you bet that you will take 7 books this hand, and failing to do so would subtract 70 points from your score.

No, you don't if your teammate already has won, then you can use that to get rid of an "extra" book, or to try to get more books. It just depends on how your teammate and you guess the books.

Traditionally, spades is played to 500, but 300 is common for a shorter game.

No. Ducking a trick is always allowed and knowing when to do so is an important part of Spades strategy.

Blind usually dictates a double of whatever your bet is. For example, blind 6 is saying, without looking at your cards, that you will take 6 books this hand. 6 books translates to 60 points, however calling it blind makes your bet 120. You would lose 120 upon set, and gain 120 upon completion of said bet.

That is called "wheels." The other team is stuck, which means they can't make their books, so subtract what they bid from their current score. Your team also gets 200 points for a successful wheels.

Depending on the version of play, you would add the two jokers and take out the 2 of hearts and diamonds.

The goal of each hand of Spades if for you and your partner to guess the strength of your hands or the number of "tricks" in the bidding phase, and then try to get as close to your estimate during the game. The gameplay is fast-paced and quickly moving and there's a fair amount of strategy and cooperation required to win each hand of Spades.

Spades is played with a standard deck of cards. However, the 2 jokers are removed from the deck and the 52 remaining cards are dealt evenly between the 3 players. It's important that there aren't any cards missing from the deck or it can throw off the whole game.

You can play Spades with only 3 people by dealing out all of the cards to the 3 players. There aren't any teams or partnerships and each player will bid on how many tricks they'll take. The gameplay then proceeds as normal, except each player will have an individual score.