Calling a Spade a Spade

Spades is a distinctly American game, which rose to popularity in the United States in the 1930s.  However, it was relatively unknown in the rest of the world until the 1990s when online game play made it popular all over the globe.  This online game play and tournaments has also created a more standardized version of the rules as well.

Spades is played in partners, much like Hand 'n Foot is played, and is a social game.  The partnerships are permanent for the course of the game, and the partners sit opposite of each other around the table.  The game itself is referred to as a "plain-trick" card game, by online rules sources, and spades are always the trump suite.  Typically it is a game that requires 4 players, but there are some forms of the game that allow for 2, 3, or 6 players as well.  Spades uses only a 52 card deck, with ace being the high card.  Like other card games, Spades begins with players betting a number of tricks, and the bids of both partners are added together to arrive at the total number that must be won for the team to come out with a positive score.  Players can also bid "Nil" which means that they don't expect to win any tricks at all.  If this is true, the player receives a bonus, but if it turns out to be incorrect there is a penalty. The player to left of the dealer plays first, and may play any card expect a spade.  The next player must follow suite, but if he or she is unable to do so, they may play any card.

For a little extra challenge, families and friends might want to break out their Hand 'n Foot decks and change games after a few hands of Spades.  Adding in more cards and more hands to be played is certain to liven up the evening.