Spades is a plain-trick card game that has been highly popular for its uncomplicated nature and its simple pleasures. Here’s what the game is really all about.

Unlike other card games, Spades has a distinct characteristic of declaring the suit of spades as the trump by default, without having to declare trump based on the decision of the highest bidder. This very characteristic is what has given the card game its name.

Spades is usually played in a partnership setting (when it is referred to as ‘Partnership Spades’) in which four players make two teams of two each. Partners sit across each other, and the play is conducted in a clockwise fashion. A standard deck of 52 cards is used, and in case the number of players playing the game goes up to six and beyond, another 52 card-pack will need to be put in.

Principle of the game: The basic principle of the game is that every team (partnership) or player must necessarily make a speculative bid on the number of card tricks to be made in the course of the game at a minimum count, and this must be done even before the game has begun.

Object of Spades: The simple object of the game is that each player, or team, must score their points by winning a number of tricks that comes closest to the bid that is made prior to the game.

The deal: The deal is performed in a clockwise fashion, wherein a player who draws the highest card is chosen to be the first dealer, and at the end of each hand, the deal is passed on to the first dealer’s left. After the player on the right side of the dealer makes the cut, the deck is dealt to all the players, one card, faced down, at a time.

Bidding: In this game, all the players make a bid on the minimum number of game tricks to be performed, and if there is a partnership, the bids of each player is added which becomes the total that must be achieved so as to earn positive points.

Every player must necessarily make a bid, but it need not always be higher than the previous one, as is the case in other card games. There can be a Nil bid, and also sometimes a Blind bid, for those players who want to make a bid before looking at their sets.

Passing: Passing of cards is a rare case in Spades, and is usually done within a partnership when a player makes a nil bid.

How the game is played: The player to the left of the dealer starts the hand, and is followed in a clockwise fashion. The basic rule is that no player can lead Spades unless someone has played a trump Spade.

The winning score is predetermined and players earn their points on the basis of playing the highest card (Ace being the highest) or the highest trump. Trick count and scoring is done alongside the game. Reneging is done when any member in a partnership violates the rules.