Spades is a partnership trick-taking game for four players, partners sitting opposite. Spades are always trump, and before each hand every player bids how many tricks they expect to take. The team's bids add up to a contract: fall short and you lose points, go over and the extra tricks, called bags, slowly turn into a penalty.
In Hamdor you can play Spades online against real players, set up a private room and send the code to friends, or practise offline against three bots. Empty seats are filled by bots, always labelled as bots.
How to play Spades
- Four players in two teams; your partner sits across. 13 cards each.
- Starting after the dealer, everyone bids the tricks they will take (0 to 13). Zero is Nil: a promise to take none. There is no Blind Nil.
- Spades are always trump. Follow suit if you can; if not, trump or throw anything. Spades can't be led until one has been played, unless you hold only spades.
- The player after the dealer leads the first trick; the deal moves one seat every hand.
- A team's contract is the sum of its bids (Nil aside). Make it: 10 per trick bid plus 1 per extra trick (a bag). Miss it: lose 10 per trick bid.
- Nil made is +100, broken −100. Tricks a Nil bidder takes never help the partner's bid but do count as bags. Every 10 bags cost 100 points.
- First team to 500 (300 in a quick game) wins; if both get there, the higher score. A team that falls to −200 loses. Level scores play another hand.
These are the exact rules Hamdor plays by; the app shows them too, under each game's How to play tab.
Spades in Hamdor
- Bids from 0 to 13, starting after the dealer. A team's contract is the sum of both partners' bids.
- Nil: a zero bid is +100 if made and -100 if broken. There is no Blind Nil.
- Scoring: 10 points per trick bid plus 1 per bag; a missed contract loses 10 per trick bid.
- Bags: every 10 bags cost 100 points.
- Two lengths: play to 500 points or a quick game to 300. A team that falls to -200 loses.
Spades modes in Hamdor
- To 500 points
- Quick, to 300
Tips to win at Spades
- Bid your sure tricks. Aces are nearly always a trick, a king with a guard often is, and each spade beyond three usually is too. Bid what you can count, not what you hope for.
- Bid as a team. If your partner has bid high, don't stretch your own count on borderline cards.
- Mind the bags. A few overtricks are harmless, but when your team is close to 10 bags, stop taking extra tricks on purpose.
- Bid Nil with low cards. Nil needs small cards and few spades. An ace or a high spade makes it very risky.
- Cover your partner's Nil. Play high so you win the trick and your partner can slip lower cards underneath.
- Set the opponents. When your contract is safe and theirs needs one more trick, taking that trick is often worth more than your own bags.
Spades in Hamdor
- Online, ranked: play real opponents and earn a rating. If nobody turns up within a few seconds, a bot takes the seat and is labelled as a bot.
- Private rooms: create a room, send the code to your friends and chat with stickers and reactions while you play.
- Bots: play offline against bots, to practise or when nobody is online.
- Stats and streaks: your win rate, best winning streak and this game's leaderboard.
- Your own look: change how the table and pieces look in the Hamdor shop. It is cosmetic only and never affects who wins.
Spades FAQ
How many players does Spades need?
Four, in two teams with partners opposite each other. In Hamdor, bots fill any empty seats.
What does Nil mean in Spades?
A bid of zero tricks. Make it and your team scores 100; take even one trick and it loses 100.
What are bags?
Tricks taken above your team's contract. Each one is worth 1 point, but every 10 bags cost 100 points.
Can I play Spades offline?
Yes. Hamdor lets you play Spades against three bots without a connection. Online play with friends needs the internet.