Spades is a card game, and is played with a deck of 52 cards. The cards rank Big Joker (high) and Little Joker (low), A, K, Q, J, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2. SPADES ARE TRUMP. The 2 of diamonds and the 2 of clubs must be removed from the deck. It is most often played as a partnership game by four players, but there are also versions for three, two or six players. In Spades of four players the four players are in fixed partnerships and one partner sits opposite to the other.

The object of the game is to take at least as many tricks as bid by the side. Each trick bid counts 10 points for a side if the contract is made, against if the contract is set.

The game consists of 13 tricks, in which each player plays one card. Starting with the dealer, and moving clockwise, each player in turn bids the number of tricks s/he expects to win. The bid, added to his/her partner's, constitutes the contract bid by that partnership. It is not necessary for the total contract bid by the two sides to equal 13 tricks; the total can be more or less. Remember four (4) is the minimum bid by the partnership. If you fail to make your bid in time, you can loose your game.

The player to the left of the dealer leads first and may play any suit. A player must follow suit, if able. A trick is won by the highest trump played or by the highest card in the suit led. Teams may not play ten (10) tricks for two hundred (200) points.

Once the game is over, your score is converted to a tournament standings score.
Base Score: Your game score times 10, but never less than 0 or more than 2,500. Overpoints Bonus: one point for the difference between your team's score and the opponent's team score. If the opponents ended the game with the higher score, the Overpoints Bonus is 0.