How to play Spades

The objective

Your goal is simple: bid and win tricks with a partner while spades act as trump. This guide uses the most common beginner-friendly rules. Families and groups may agree on variations before starting.

What you need

A standard 52-card deck.

How to set up

1. Sit partners opposite each other and deal thirteen cards each.
2. Each player bids the number of tricks they expect to win.

How to play: step by step

1. The player left of the dealer leads any non-spade suit.
2. Follow suit when possible; otherwise play any card, including a spade.
3. The highest card of the led suit wins unless a spade is played.
4. Score team bids and penalties after thirteen tricks; reach the agreed target first.

Beginner strategies

• Coordinate through careful bids without signaling illegally.
• Save high spades for important tricks.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Leading spades before they are broken unless your hand contains only spades.
• Bidding aggressively without considering your partner.

Frequently asked questions