Spades Variations

There are  numerous variations for spades, as it is played in different forms everywhere you go. I have listed many of them on this page, but please bear in mind that this page will not cover every single possible variation. The important thing in any game, including spades, is to make sure everyone understands which set of rules and variations will be used for the game before it starts. This way everyone can have a fun and fair gaming experience.

I have listed each variation with its own heading below. Most of them can be mixed and matched. In other words, you can often use just one of them in a game of spades or use many of them in the same game. There are also rules for spades games with more or less than four players towards the bottom of the page.

Spades Blind Nil

Any player may bid nil without first looking at their cards. This is only allowed in most games if the players team is at least 100 points behind. After the player makes the blind nil bid, he or she looks at their cards and chooses two and passes them to their partner face down. Their partner then gives them back two face down cards after looking at the two they received. The scoring is the same as in regular spades.

Dealer Leads in Spades

In this variation the dealer leads the first trick and may lead any suit, including spades. Spades may be lead by any player at any time. In other words, spades does not have to be broken before they can be lead.

Bidding Blind in Spades

Both partners of one team may bid blind seven, blind eight or higher before they look at their cards. If they are successful in taking the number of tricks stated, they win double the score, or 20 points per trick. However, if they are unsuccessful, they lose 20 points per trick. Bags are treated the same as in the regular rules.

Spades With Jokers

Some people play with the two jokers. One joker is designated as the high trump and the other is the second highest trump. The third highest trump is usually the Ace of spades, but in some variations (see below) the two of spades is the third and the Ace is the fourth. When playing with jokers, the last two cards are discarded after the deal so each player has 13 cards.

Spades Partners Bidding

In this variant, the partners are allowed to reach a bid together through discussion. The partners that don't deal are the first to decide. The players may not speak about specific cards, but they may say that they know they can take a certain amount of tricks and may be able to get as many as a different number. For example, "I know I can take three tricks and may be able to take four."

Spades Misdeal Rules

Any player may call a misdeal before bidding takes place if they have no spades of one spade, at least seven cards of one suit or no cards higher than a nine. Players are not required to state a misdeal. They may play their hand as is. If a player states a misdeal, all cards are collected and the same dealer deals again.

Bidding 10 for 200 in Spades

A partnership may bid ten for 200, which is a bid of exactly ten tricks. If the team is successful, they win 200 points, however if they take any other number of tricks, either higher or lower, they lose 200 points.

Bidding Big Bemo in Spades

In this variant, a team may bid Big Bemo, which requires them to win the first nine tricks of the hand. If they are successful, they win an extra 90 points for the hand. If they don't win the first nine tricks, they lose an additional 90 points.

Bidding Little Bemo in Spades

Little Bemo is the same as Big Bemo except it is the first six tricks and the bonus or additional loss is 60 points.

Bidding Boston (Moon) in Spades

A Boston or Moon bid is a bid to take all 13 tricks. When it is successful it is worth 200 points, and a 200 point loss if not successful. There are also variations that count a Boston or Moon as 400 or 500 points.

Bidding Blind Moon in Spades

The same as Moon or Boston above, except the partners bid without looking at their cards. Awarded 400 points for making it and lose 400 points if not.

Two's as High Card in Spades

In this variant, the two's are the high card of each suit, followed by the Aces, Kings, etc.

Three-Handed Spades Rules

In three-handed spades, each player plays for themselves. In other words there are no partnerships. If using a 52-card playing deck, each player receives 17 cards and the last card is not used. When a 54-card playing deck is used, each player receives 18 cards and no cards are discarded. The scoring is the same as in the regular rules.

Six-Handed Spades Rules

Six-handed spades is played with three sets of partners and uses two standard playing card decks with the two of Clubs removed from each deck. This creates a deck of 102 playing cards. When two cards of the same suit and rank are played on the same trick, the last one played is the highest for that trick. The remaining rules are the same as in four-handed play.