Spades (card game)

Spades
OriginUnited States
Alternative namesCall Bridge, Call Break
TypeTrick-taking
FamilyAuction Whist
Players4 (standard)[1][2] to 6
SkillsCard counting, tactics
Age rangeAll
Cards52–54
DeckFrench
Rank (high→low)A K Q J 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2
PlayClockwise
Playing time90 min.[citation needed]
ChanceModerate

Spades is a trick-taking card game devised in the United States in the 1930s. It can be played as either a partnership or solo/"cutthroat" game. The object is to take the number of tricks that were bid before play of the hand began. Spades is a descendant of the whist family of card games, which also includes bridge, hearts, and oh hell. Its major difference as compared to other whist variants is that, instead of trump being decided by the highest bidder or at random, the spade suit always trumps, hence the name.[3]

  1. ^ Barry Rigal (2011-03-04). Card Games For Dummies. ISBN 9781118054765. Retrieved 2012-12-10.
  2. ^ Andrews, Joseph D. (2000). The Complete Win at Spades: Basic, Intermediate, and Advanced Strategies and ... - Joseph D. Andrews - Google Books. ISBN 9781566251457. Retrieved 2012-12-10.
  3. ^ Spades on HowStuffWorks.com