Spades Strategy: 10 Tips to Win More
Good Spades players win by bidding accurately, communicating with their partner through the cards they play, and keeping bags under control. These ten habits will lift your game quickly.
Play Spades free nowBidding well
1. Count sure tricks first: each ace, each king with a guard, and each spade above the ten. 2. Add half a trick for long side suits you can ruff. 3. If your total is close, bid one lower. Bags add up and a missed bid costs a lot more than a single overtrick.
Reading your partner
4. Listen to your partner's bid. If they bid high, protect their tricks and avoid stealing them. 5. Lead high cards from a suit where your partner is likely strong, and lead low to let them win. 6. When your partner bids Nil, shed your high cards on tricks they would win and keep control of the lead.
Nil strategy
7. Only bid Nil with a hand full of low cards, ideally no more than one or two spades under the jack. 8. Cover your partner's Nil by playing higher than any card that might force them to win. Never trump your partner's Nil card unless it protects them.
Spades and bags
9. Save your high spades for when it matters, but do not sit on them until the end, or you will collect bags. 10. Keep track of the spades that have been played. When you know the high ones are gone, your remaining spades become winners.
Frequently asked questions
How many spades should I have to bid Nil?
Ideally none, or one or two very low spades. Any spade above the ten is a likely trick.
What should I bid with a weak hand?
Bid conservatively, around 2 or 3, and look for your partner to carry the contract.