Spades May 2026

Teams bid on the number of "tricks" (rounds) they expect to win. The goal is to meet that bid exactly or exceed it slightly, as consistent underbidding leads to significant penalties.

Spades and the Appeal of Trick-Takers - The Thoughtful Gamer spades

The game is traditionally played by four players in two competing partnerships. Teams bid on the number of "tricks" (rounds)

The Spade suit is always the "trump," meaning a Spade card will beat any card of another suit. while underbidding accumulates "bags" (overtricks)

Overbidding can lead to "going set" (losing points), while underbidding accumulates "bags" (overtricks), which can eventually trigger a 100-point deduction.