Spades Tournament Rules

1.        Teams will be composed of 2 players who will sit directly across from each

  other when playing.

2.       Games will be to 400 points.

3.       The Dealer will deal all cards—13 to each player.

4.       Definitions and Terminology:

Trick – refers to taking or winning one hand

Bid – A player chooses the number of tricks that he/she will take.

Bags – Number of tricks a team takes over their total bid.

            (example:  a team bids 5 tricks total, but wins 7+ result is 2 bags)

Set-  When a team fails to win enough tricks to reach it’s total bid

Nill – If one player goes “nill”, that player has looked at his/her cards and has decided

            that he/she will not take any tricks.

Blind Nill – If one player goes “blind”, that player must declare this prior to looking at his/her

                        cards.  A player that goes “blind”  is saying that he will not take any tricks. 

                        This player may exchange one card, face down, with his partner after all bids

                        are in.  The card can not be looked at until both cards are exchanged.

Reneging – when a player fails to play the suite of the led card and later throws that same

                        suite.  (example:  Harts are led,  Player A  throws a spade to win the trick.

                                    Later, Player A  throws a Hart.  Player A has Reneged.

5.       Scoring

1 trick = 10 pts.                                                 1 bag = 1 pt.

                                    Successful Blind bid = 100 pts.                           Failed Blind bid = -100 pts.

                                    Successful Nil bid = 50 pts.                                Failed Blind bid = -50 pts.

                                    Reaching 10 bags = -100 pts.                             Reneging = -50 pts.

                                    Bidding and taking all 13 tricks = 200 pts.

                                    Not reaching a team bid = Minus # of tricks bid X 10 pts.

6.       No “table talk” or giving hints to a partner will be allowed.

7.       All players must begin each game by throwing their lowest club card.

8.       Players must follow the suite of the led card, if they have a card of that suit.  If a player does not have a card of that suit, they can choose to throw a spade or another suit.

9.   A player can not lead with a spade until a spade has been played.

10.   The Ace of Spades is the highest card in the deck.

11.   A spade can “trump” or beat all other suits.

12.   A misdeal can be called for the following:

1.       Player was not dealt exactly 13 cards

2.       Player does not have any spades

3.       Player does not have any face cards (Ace, King, Queen, Jack)

13.   Players must bid in order, stating with the player directly to the left of the dealer.

14.   Dealer must offer the player to his/her right, the opportunity to cut the cards after they are shuffled.

15.   The minimum total bid for a team is 4.

16.   “A card laid is a card played!”  and can not be picked up.