Also to know is, what does wheels mean in spades? Also known as Bidding A Flight or Wheels. Bidding 10-for-200 commits a side to win at least 10 tricks; if successful, the team scores 200 points. If the side wins fewer than 10 tricks, they lose 200 points. In some variations, to make a 10-for-200 bid, the side must win exactly 10 tricks.
What is Spades?
Spades is a plain-trick game in which spades are always trumps. It is most often played as a partnership game by four players, but there are also versions for three, two or six players. I am grateful to Theodore Hwa, Dennis J Barmore, Szu Kay Wong, John Hay, Daniel Hines, and many others who have contributed information on variations.
What is the Order of Spades in bridge?
Borrowed from Hearts, a player may not lead a Spade until a Spade has been played as a trump card (when a non-Spade was led), unless he or she has only Spades. All 2s count as the highest spades. The order becomes, highest to lowest: 2♥, 2♣, 2♦, 2♠, then all the rest of the spades, Ace through 3.
What does it mean to break Spades in bridge?
some player has played a spade (on the lead of another suit, of course), or the leader has nothing but spades left in hand. Playing the first spade is known as "breaking" spades. A side that takes at least as many tricks as its bid calls for receives a score equal to 10 times its bid.
What is the Ace of Spades in poker?
This limits the hands which the first and second person want to bid a non-Nil amount, as if they do not have the ace of spades, they cannot place it and therefore risk having it in their partner's hand. In this variant, each player must bid the exact number of spades in their hand or go Nil. There is no minimum amount for teams to bid.
What does wheels mean in Spades?
10-for-200. Also known as Bidding A Flight or Wheels. Bidding 10-for-200 commits a side to win at least 10 tricks; if successful, the team scores 200 points. If the side wins fewer than 10 tricks, they lose 200 points.
What are tricks and bags in Spades?
Each trick in a bid counts for 10 points if a partnership meets its bid. Tricks won above the bid are worth 1 point each. Example: Beth and David bid 5 tricks and they won 7 tricks. They score 52 points (50 for the tricks bid, plus 2 for the extras, which are known as "bags.")
How does the point system work in Spades?
Scores are computed at the end of each hand and points are awarded to each team as follows:If a team makes or exceeds their combined bid, they are awarded 10 points per bid. ... If the team exceeds their combined bid, 1 point is added for each trick over their bid.More items...
How do you avoid bags in spades?
When playing for 500 points, you'll want to aim your bids more carefully. If you find yourself bidding too low, don't forget to throw away some spades or high cards after you hit your bid. This can cause the opponent to take bags, which is usually a good thing.
Which Deuce is higher in spades?
Therefore, while playing spades with jokers, you must never forget that the deuce of Diamonds ranks higher than the Ace of Spades.
Is there skill in spades?
Spades is a game that you can't win solely depending on luck. Also, you can't win every time just with your skills. You can't always get the cards you want and sometimes, no matter what you do your opponent just has a better hand! Every spades player must improve his skills and have some strategy.
How do you win at spades every time?
Take your tricks early, and take tricks with only the cards you intend to. taking extra tricks usually result in bags. However, if someone trumped your king of diamonds, you better win another trick. If you don't have the Ace of Spades, but have the King and/or Queen, try to force the player with the Ace to play it.
What happens if you get all 13 tricks in spades?
For a non-blind bid of 10, the team scores 200 points if they take 10, 11 or 12 tricks. If they bid 10 and win all 13 tricks they win the whole game. If they take fewer than 10 tricks they lose 200. A team that takes all 13 tricks, known as a Boston, also gains "bragging rights".
Summary
Game variations
As with any widely played game of such a flexible nature, Spades has many variations, ranging from significant changes in play to small tweaks that suit individual or household preference.
Deficient Hand Sometimes a misdeal is also called if a player is dealt a "deficient" hand, such as one that contains one or no Spades or no face cards (players should agree beforehand on what constitutes a "deficient hand"). A player wishing to declare a misdeal due to a deficient hand mu…
History
Spades was devised in the Mid-West of the United States in the late 1930s. Bridge author, George Coffin ascertained that it originated in Cincinnati between 1937 and 1939. The game is descended from Whist and is closely related to Bridge, Pinochle and Euchre. It appears like a simplification of Contract Bridge such that a skilled Spades player can learn Bridge relatively quickly (the major additional rules being dynamic trump, the auction, dummy play, and rubber scoring).
Overview
Number of players Two or more; the game is most commonly played with four players in pairs ("Partnership spades")
The deck Standard 52-card deck. Spades may also be played with one or two Jokers or with predetermined cards removed. With playing with six or more players, a second deck is often used.
Rank of suit Spades are always trump. Other suits have no intrinsic value during play, but a card …
Rules
The first dealer is chosen by a draw for "first spade" or "highest card", and thereafter the deal passes to the dealer's left after each hand. The dealer shuffles, and the player to the right is given the opportunity to "cut" the cards to prevent the dealer stacking the deck. The entire deck is then dealt face-down one card at a time in clockwise order (with four players, each player should rec…
Terminology
• Bag - an "overtrick"; a trick taken by a player or partnership when their contract has already been met. The importance of bags or overtricks varies depending on house rules; generally, taking too many overtricks incurs a penalty, but the taking of some overtricks can be good strategy.
• Bid - The number of tricks each player will take during a hand, announced by each player in term before a hand begins. The bid is the sum of each team members single bid and is used to determine th…
See also
• Bid Whist
• German Whist
• Oh Hell
• Pitch (card game)
• Solo whist
External links
• McLeod, John, ed., Spades, Card Games Website