Spades Card Game Rules

HOW TO KEEP SCORE

The most popular way to keep score in the game of Spades involves bidding. However, traditional home games can keep a running score based solely on the number of books won by a single team. This method requires more luck based on your dealt cards rather than the skill involved between each player. Therefore, I will be coveringthe topic of keeping score in Spades based off a game involving bidding.

1. A bag is worth +1 point. Example: Hero bids 3 and P bids 2. We each fulfill our combined bid of 5 but we also accumulate 2 more tricks, resulting in 7 total. Since we only bid 5, the additional 2 tricks will be scored as bags. Therefore, our score for said round is +52 points. (5 x 10 + 2 = 52) ♠ Quick look

2. Each bid is worth +10 points. Example: Hero bids 5 and P bids 2. Since each bid is worth +10 points, fulfilling our 7 bid will result in a score of +70 points for that round. (10 x 7 = 70) ♠ Quick look

Spades - County Rules is a variation on the Spades card game where there aren't any points over bids (bags), blinds, nil bids, and books are counted on an one to one basis. It is also a team game. Four players divide themselves into two teams, with players from opposite teams sitting next. The act of playing the first spade in a hand is known as 'breaking spades', derived from its parent rule, 'breaking hearts'. When a player leads with a spade after spades has been broken, the other players must follow suit. Another common variant rule, also borrowed.

3. A Nil bid is worth +100 points. Example: Hero bids Nil (0) and P bids 4. Fulfilling both bids will result in a net amount of +140 points. (100 + (4 x 10) = 140) ♠ Quick look

4. A Double Nil (Blind Nil) bid is worth +200 points. Example: Hero bids Double Nil and P submits a bid of 6. Fulfilling both bids will result in a combined score of +260 points. (200 + (6 x 10) = 260) ♠ Quick look

5. Being set is worth a negative point value. Example: Hero bids 2 and P bids 4 for a combined bid of 6. At the end of the round our team has only won 5 tricks. Since our anticipated point value was +60 points (6 x 10), we will lose those 60 points. Example #2: Hero bid Nil and P bid 5. If hero makes Nil, +100 points is awarded. However, P was set because he/she only won 4 tricks. P makes -50 points for that round. +50 points is our total score for that round (100 – 50 = 50) ♠ Quick look

6. Setting a Nil is worth -100 points. Example: Hero bids 6 and P bids Nil. Since P has committed to a 0 bid he must avoid winning a single trick. E1 and E2 force P to win 1 trick and Hero attains his 6 bid. Altogether 7 tricks are won for Hero and P. Hero attains +60 points and +1 point for the bag, +61. P was set so he receives -100 for not completing his Nil bid. A total score of -39 points is awarded. (-100 + 61 = -39)

7. Setting a Double Nil is worth -200 points. Example: Hero bids 7 and P bids Double Nil. Hero fulfills his 7 bid evenly for a +70 point addition. However, P won 1 trick and did not complete his Double Nil mission. +1 point is awarded for the bag and -200 points will be subtracted. A combined score of -129 points are given to Hero and P this round. (-200 + 71 = -129)

The most popular way to keep score in the game of Spades involves bidding. However, traditional home games can keep a running score based solely on the number of books won by a single team. This method requires more luck based on your dealt cards rather than the skill involved between each player. Therefore, I will be coveringthe topic of keeping score in Spades based off a game involving bidding.

1. A bag is worth +1 point. Example: Hero bids 3 and P bids 2. We each fulfill our combined bid of 5 but we also accumulate 2 more tricks, resulting in 7 total. Since we only bid 5, the additional 2 tricks will be scored as bags. Therefore, our score for said round is +52 points. (5 x 10 + 2 = 52) ♠ Quick look

2. Each bid is worth +10 points. Example: Hero bids 5 and P bids 2. Since each bid is worth +10 points, fulfilling our 7 bid will result in a score of +70 points for that round. (10 x 7 = 70) ♠ Quick look

Spades - County Rules is a variation on the Spades card game where there aren't any points over bids (bags), blinds, nil bids, and books are counted on an one to one basis. It is also a team game. Four players divide themselves into two teams, with players from opposite teams sitting next. The act of playing the first spade in a hand is known as 'breaking spades', derived from its parent rule, 'breaking hearts'. When a player leads with a spade after spades has been broken, the other players must follow suit. Another common variant rule, also borrowed.

3. A Nil bid is worth +100 points. Example: Hero bids Nil (0) and P bids 4. Fulfilling both bids will result in a net amount of +140 points. (100 + (4 x 10) = 140) ♠ Quick look

4. A Double Nil (Blind Nil) bid is worth +200 points. Example: Hero bids Double Nil and P submits a bid of 6. Fulfilling both bids will result in a combined score of +260 points. (200 + (6 x 10) = 260) ♠ Quick look

5. Being set is worth a negative point value. Example: Hero bids 2 and P bids 4 for a combined bid of 6. At the end of the round our team has only won 5 tricks. Since our anticipated point value was +60 points (6 x 10), we will lose those 60 points. Example #2: Hero bid Nil and P bid 5. If hero makes Nil, +100 points is awarded. However, P was set because he/she only won 4 tricks. P makes -50 points for that round. +50 points is our total score for that round (100 – 50 = 50) ♠ Quick look

6. Setting a Nil is worth -100 points. Example: Hero bids 6 and P bids Nil. Since P has committed to a 0 bid he must avoid winning a single trick. E1 and E2 force P to win 1 trick and Hero attains his 6 bid. Altogether 7 tricks are won for Hero and P. Hero attains +60 points and +1 point for the bag, +61. P was set so he receives -100 for not completing his Nil bid. A total score of -39 points is awarded. (-100 + 61 = -39)

7. Setting a Double Nil is worth -200 points. Example: Hero bids 7 and P bids Double Nil. Hero fulfills his 7 bid evenly for a +70 point addition. However, P won 1 trick and did not complete his Double Nil mission. +1 point is awarded for the bag and -200 points will be subtracted. A combined score of -129 points are given to Hero and P this round. (-200 + 71 = -129)

8. 'Bagging out' is worth -100 points. Example: Hero and P are in their 6th round against E1 and E2. Hero and P have already accumulated 7 bags through 6 rounds. Hero bids 3 and P bids 1. At the end of the round they combined for a total of 7 tricks, 3 more than accounted for. Therefore, their bags go up to 10, resulting in a -100 point value. Since they did complete their 4 bid they will be awarded +40 points plus the 3 bags, +43 points. -57 points is calculated for said round. (-100 + 43 = -57) ♠ Quick look

Spades Card Game Rules How To Play

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