Spades JD
Play the classic card game Spades online. Spades is a Trick taking card game for four players. The game involves teamwork, strategy, and a splash of luck.
Why Play Spades on CardsJD
Spades JD is free and truly cross-platform — play in your desktop browser, on the Android or iOS app, or through Facebook Gameroom, with Discord support coming soon. Standard rules, nil bids, blind nil, and bag penalties all built in.
Learn Spades
Quick Rules
- Spades is a 4-player partnership trick-taking game using a standard 52-card deck.
- Each player gets 13 cards and bids how many tricks they expect to win.
- Spades are always trump and usually cannot be led until "broken."
- Your team scores by making its combined bid and avoids big swings by managing bags and nil bids.
3 Quick Tips
- Count your sure tricks, then add one. A♠ and K♠ are locks; a side-suit Ace is usually a lock; queens depend on length. Bid the floor, not the ceiling.
- Don't break spades early. Force opponents to lead trump first — your high spades become more valuable when fewer are left.
- Cover your partner's nil. If they bid nil, win the lead with low cards before dumping high ones; never play under their high cards.
Use the full rules guide for setup, bidding order, scoring details, and example hands. Use the strategy page for nil bids, bag management, and partnership tactics.
More
If you like Gin Rummy, Speed, Euchre, Pinochle, Cribbage, Nertz, or Solitaire you will love Spades.
FAQ
How do you play Spades?
Spades is a trick-taking card game for four players in two partnerships. Players bid how many tricks they expect to win, and the spades suit is always trump. The goal is to meet or exceed your team's combined bid to earn points.
How many players for Spades?
Spades is traditionally played with 4 players, divided into 2 teams of 2. Each player sits opposite their partner.
What is a nil bid in Spades?
A nil bid is a declaration that you will not win any tricks during the hand. If successful, your team earns a 100-point bonus. If you fail, your team loses 100 points.
What is a blind nil in Spades?
A blind nil is bidding nil without looking at your cards first — a higher-risk, higher-reward play typically worth 200 points if successful.
What are sandbags in Spades?
Sandbags (or bags) are overtricks — tricks won beyond your team's bid. Each bag counts as 1 point. Accumulating 10 bags results in a 100-point penalty.
How does bidding work in Spades?
Starting with the player to the dealer's left, each player bids the number of tricks they expect to win. Partners' bids are combined for the team total.
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