Spades

Spades is a free online card game you can play instantly in your browser, teamed up with a computer partner against a rival computer pair, no download, no account, and no other players to wait for. Each hand deals all 52 cards, then every player privately bids how many of the 13 tricks they expect to take — bid Nil to gamble on taking none of them for a big bonus, or a big risk if you fail. Spades are always trump and beat every other suit, but they can't be led until broken by an earlier trick, so timing your trump carefully matters as much as your bid. Follow the suit that's led when you can; the highest Spade in the trick wins it, or the highest card of the suit led if no one trumped. Your team's score comes from the combined bid of you and your partner: make it and you both score 10 points per trick bid plus 1 for every extra trick (a bag), miss it and you lose 10 points per trick bid instead — and every 10 bags racked up costs your team a 100-point penalty. Play through 15 levels that sharpen every AI seat's bidding accuracy and card play, from frequent blunders early on up to a table where nobody gives away a free trick. Each level is a full classic match played to 500 points; finish with the higher team score to unlock the next table, and Try Again deals a fresh match at the same difficulty any time the rivals edge you out.

How to play Spades

1. Look at your hand, then bid how many of the 13 tricks you think you'll take — bid Nil to gamble on taking zero tricks for a big bonus, or a steep penalty if you fail.
2. Spades are always trump: any Spade beats every card of another suit, and the highest Spade played wins the trick outright.
3. Spades can't be led until one has been played on an earlier trick (broken), unless that's the only suit left in your hand.
4. Follow the suit that was led whenever you can; if you're void in that suit, you may play anything, including a trumping Spade.
5. Your team scores by its combined bid: make it for 10 points per bid trick plus 1 per extra trick (a bag), or lose 10 points per bid trick if you fall short — and every 10 bags costs your team a 100-point penalty.
6. A level is a full match to 500 points; finish with the higher team score to advance to the next level's sharper table.

Tips

• Count your sure winners before bidding — Aces, a guarded King, and every high Spade — rather than just counting how many cards you hold.
• Extra Spades beyond your first few are worth real bidding value even if they're low, since trump length lets you win tricks you'd otherwise lose.
• Once your team has already made its bid, start ducking instead of winning — every trick past your bid is a bag, and bags add up to a 100-point penalty.
• If you bid Nil, play your lowest safe card all game and let your partner cover the tricks — winning even a single trick breaks the bid.

FAQ