Spades Rules for Two Players

Spades is a trick-based card game in which spades are the trump card. Commonly played by three or more players, two-player spades requires some alteration of the normal rules, specifically in the way in which cards are dealt. The number of tricks the player takes earns points. The first player to reach an agreed-upon number of points wins the game.

Cards

Two-player Spades requires one standard 52-card deck. Cards rank from ace (high) to 2 (low). Spades trump any other suit.

The Deal

Unlike other versions of the game, two-player spades does not require a deal. Cards are placed face down between the two players. Players cut the deck to determine who earns the first play. The highest card goes first.

The first player draws a card from the deck and decides if he would like the card. If he selects the card, he places it in his hand, then draws and discards the second card (face down) without looking at it. Some variations allow the player to look at the second card, but discarding without viewing the card provides more of a challenge. If the player does not want the first card drawn, he discards it and draws the second card. He must then keep the second card drawn. Play proceeds to the opponent who follows the same procedure. Drawing continues until the draw pile is exhausted and each player has 13 cards.

Bidding

Players examine the cards in their hand and make a bid based on the number of tricks they expect to take. Players who do not think they can take any tricks can bid 0 (referred to as "nil",) but will face a penalty if they do not succeed in giving away all tricks to the opponent.

The Play

The first player leads with any card except a spade. His opponent must follow suit, as long as he holds cards in that suit. If he does not hold a card in the suit that was led, he may play any card. The highest card in the suit lead takes tricks. If the opponent plays a spade, he trumps the suit and takes the trick. Any card of another suit loses the trick to the suit lead.

The winner of the trick leads the next trick. He may not lead with a spade until either a spade has trumped a suit or he has no other cards to play.

Scoring

Players who take at least as many tricks as they bid multiply the bid by 10. Any tricks above the bid are worth 1 point. A player who bids five and takes six tricks receives a score of 51. If the player does not meet his bid, the original bid is multiplied by 10 and subtracted from his score. Players who successfully bid nil earn 100 points. Bidding nil and taking at least one trick costs the player 100 points.

Sandbagging

Players who consistently underbid face a penalty of 100 points. Any player who reaches 10 points earned from taking tricks above his bid loses 100 points from his score. This is easily tracked by completing a running total.

The Win

Games are generally played to 500 points, but the number of points can be set either higher or lower.The first person to reach 500 points wins. If both players reach 500 points in the same hand, the person with the highest score wins.