How to play Spades

Learn the rules to the playing card game Spades quickly and concisely - This video has no distractions, just the rules. While there are many variations to Spades, this video covers the original base rules.

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The object of this 4 player card game is to be the first player to 500 points. The object of each hand is to win at least as many “tricks” as you bid. Setup. Using a standard deck of playing cards, with Aces high, 2s low, and Spades trumping all, each player is given a card from a shuffled deck and who ever receives the highest card becomes the first dealer. If there is a tie, try again. The dealer shuffles and the player to their right cuts the deck. The dealer then deals 13 cards one at a time clockwise to each player. Players look at their own cards but keep them hidden from their opponents.

After everybody receives their cards, bids are made. A bid refers to the players’ expectation of “tricks” they will make in the round. Normally, all players must make a minimum of 1 bid. A trick is given to the player with the highest card in each round.

After the bids are made, the dealer lays one card from their hand face up in the center of the table as a lead. Continuing clockwise from the lead, each player places a card down matching the same suit as the lead card. If they do not possess cards of the same suit, they may play any of their cards. The card with the highest rank in the suit that was led, wins the round, winning the trick. Spades are trump, and always rand higher than the other suits. For example, A 3 of spades beats a King of diamonds. The winner of the trick, collects the cards facedown and pouts them to the side, keeping each tricks separate, then leads the next card. This process repeats until all the cards for the hand are played.

At the end of the hand, points are rewarded to players who made their number of bids. You receive 10 points for each trick made that you bid and 1 bonus point for each trick made over your initial bid. For example, if you big 5 tricks at the start of the round and ended up taking 6 tricks, you would get 50 points for meeting the initial 5 tricks and 1 point for the additional trick. Giving you 51 points for the hand. 0 points are given to players who fail to win the number of tricks they bid.

If no player has 500 or more points, then role of dealer rotates clockwise by one and another hand is dealt. Keep playing until someone has 500 or more points, then they are the winner.

[saulthechicanootaku]

One thing to point out is that in the hood, the preferred venue for spades, tricks are called books and it's a game that can get intense.

[rikkifitnessmama]

I’m so confused. Help. I’m tired of going to my black families bbqs and asking for everyone to play uno instead 😩

[someinstrumentcovers]

I learned this in a mental hospital of all places and have taught some of my friends to play using how I was taught. Good to know I was taught correctly haha. Very nice tutorial.

[santoshgames]

That flipping of cards at the start though, super satisfing

[kevinavillain]

Very well explained without lots of verbiage. This helps a lot with us with ADD/ADHD

[timhawks]

(1) If you do not make your bid, you lose the amount you bid: eg, you bid 3 and you only make two, you go negative 30 in the hole. (2) Another twist of the game. When your over tricks add to 10, you lose 100 points.

[Kaptain_Wario]

I work at a mental hospital, and all the patients AND staff play spades. I’m trynna learn lol

[bebetucker]

I'm sorry I need a black version, cause this ain't it.

[sbs]

Great tutorial, short and straight to the point. I wish all videos were like this. 💪🏾💯

[chrishasney]

Added to my Non-Bridge Trick Taking Card Games playlist today. This is the simple version for beginners.

[JackReacts]

Kind of reminds of the card game "The Crew" but way more to the point and can be played with basic playing cards. I'll have to save this one for my game nights

[steveburke]

What about Nil and Double Nil bids? (Nil is a bid of zero after looking at your hand: scores 100 if successful, -100 if you fail. Double Nil is a bid of zero before looking at your cards, and scores 200 or -200 as the case may be.)

[spencersikei]

Tongans have a similar game but we call it TALAMU and it's played with partners.The dealer rotates left after every hand and Spades are not Trump.But rather a different POWER CARD chosen by the 1st player to the left of dealer that flips a random card whilst cards are being dealt.If a team fails to score a trick and the other team gets to 7 Tricks that's called POKO and your team is kicked out and next awaiting team jumps in.We use to play alot growing up and which ever team had the most consecutive wins had bragging rights.Lastly each round of teams play best of 3

[Tomek]

Also, 13 is the number of ranks in a playing card deck, because 52 divided by 4 equals 13.

[BlueBear_rblx]

I knew how to play this but I stopped playing and I forgot so thanks so much spades master!

[JoJo_dazia]

As a black girl who can’t play spades! Thank you, now I am able to play at the family cookouts!

[brad]

All my friends be playing this and now I have a understanding how it goes thank you lol

[evank]

I've always played the rule that you can't go over. Makes it more interesting, and you start to strategize how to throw good cards away if you are on pace to exceed your bid.

[lilwzyana]

This was such a good tutorial, I literally just learned it by watching this

[captcorajus]

If you don't make your bid you go by your bid times 10. So if you bid 5 and don't make your bid, you go back 50. I've never seen anyone play or read rules where going set was not the case. Further if you make DOUBLE your bid you go BACK 100 points. This works to keep bids honest and people from 'lowballing' their hand. You also failed to point out there are 13 books per hand.