Are you interested in playing a free online Spades game? What is it? It is a simple partnership trick-taking card game which was invented in the US in the 1930s. The object of the game is for each pair or partnership to take at least the number of tricks they have bid on before the commencement of the play.

Spades is a part of the Whist family of card games, which also includes Bridge, Hearts, and Oh, Hell. How is it different? Here, instead of the trump being decided by the highest bidder or at random, the spade suit is always trump, hence the name.

Let’s check out the ground rules:

Number of Players: There can be two or more players. However, mostly four players play in pairs (”Partnership spades”)[3][5]

The Deck: It’s the standard 52 card deck, but can also be played with one or two jokers and/or predetermined cards removed. If there are more than six players, a second deck is often used.

Rank of Suit: Interestingly, Spades is always trump. Other suits have no essential value during the game. However, a card of the suit will beat a card of any other suit except a Spade. If there is a draw, the most common suit order from low to high would be Clubs, Diamonds, Hearts, Spades.

Take a look at the rank of cards (descending): Ace, King, Queen, Jack, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2.[6]

So, if you are playing this game, your aim must be to score the most points. Points are accumulated by winning at least the number of tricks (also known as “books”) bid in each hand. You stand to lose if you fail to take at least that many (or in some cases by taking too many).

Happy playing and may the best partner or partnership win!

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