-- I get this site free, so you have to put up with the advertising, sorry.--
When I started to write this my intentions were to provide fellow players with an brief insight as to how I played (so we could have the same game plan), but then after having reviewed it I decided it was too vague and needed to be change!
Before I say anything else there's one thing I want you to understand that I'm not a professional spades player nor will I ever be one! I feel that I'm a good spades player, and I hope this will help you become one too!
The other day someone accused me of wanting my partners to play like I do. Well that is a half truth, after all to be a great team you have to have a good game plan, and on the same page! I don't want my partner to be doing one thing, and me something else! If we are doing different play's then we need to recognize this, and correct it! I want my partner to play good spades, and that is what this is all about "good spade playing" and I believe I can guide you to it! I have hesitated to put this in the great spade playing category because I believe it takes a special talent that I call "card play recall", and proper use of that information to be a great/professional player!
This is just in the beginning stages, so don't judge this book by its cover... ;o]
I must say playing Spades online has proven to be an experience! You will run into all kinds - so consider yourself forewarned! You are playing a team game - I cannot emphasize this enough! If you want to play as an individual you might consider Hearts! The notes here will assist you in playing as a team member even if it is the first time you played with an individual! I play in two arena's at this time: Yahoo (Rated), and the Zone (Un-rated)! There are different versions of Spades played. I play Regulation, Suicide (One partner from each team has to NIL), and Baggs (Your bid is two). In some arena's each room can be setup different so be sure to note the setups before you join! If the game is announced as being unique be sure that your qualified before you go there to play, and remember just because you think your qualified doesn't mean the other player's will agree (and that's a fact)! Familiarize yourself with the area's before you start playing, and ask questions! Every online Spades gamming area I've been in has instructions to it's use - read them before you play!
Cheating:
I'm really at a loss, as to why you would need to cheat when playing Spades! I can tell you I have had a few people send me a message in the background (so no one else could see it) with the intent to cheat, but that is very unusual! I do not consider broadcasting a Nil, or Double Nil bid to be cheating as long as all players have the same opportunity to see it! Here is what I do if someone try's to cheat with me: When they first ask a question I do not respond (ignore them)! If they persist I let all the players know what has occurred! If I feel that I have benefited with any information provided I post it for everyone else to see! I will finish the game, but let the cheater know in no uncertain terms that I do not wish to play with them again!
Strategy:
As far as I can tell everyone playing Spades has some sort of strategy! Sometime the strategy is plain bad! For example my partner went for a set on a small bid (I think it was an eight bid), and as a result bagged us, and didn't accomplish the set!
Be patient, don't jump to conclusions:
For example: I was playing at a table where one person on a team bet two, and the other person on that team went NIL! The person that bet two proceeded to chew the other player out (the bid up to the NIL player was below five) for betting before (out of turn) they (the two bet) had made their bid, but as it turned out they both made their bids, and a few extra bags on top of it! I have made similar mistakes myself!
Stay until the game is finished:
So you get a lousy player, or some other unmentionable character. Always try to stay until the game is over, and then leave! You can request a persons removal, but be sure it's not just you that is having a problem with them! Think of it as a learning experience that will make you just that much better in the long run!
Playing in a rated room:
I strongly suggest that you familiarize yourself with a person before you play with them in a rated room! They need be compatible to your style of play, and reliable!
The order in which you play your cards:
It sometimes becomes important for you to play your cards in a specific order! As your partner cannot read your mind, but can try to recall prior card play!
1. I have had people lead a lower cards, when they had the card that could take it in their hand, and by playing this way it has resulted in my capturing (with a Spade trick) what would have been their trick!
2. Another situation is when a person that nil's plays a high card when they had a lower card that their partner, or the even the other players could/would have covered!
3. I have also had cases there a Nil throws lower cards, and their partner leads that suit thinking all the cards they had were lower than the one they saw, only to find out they really had all the cards higher than the throw!
Cutting/Taking a Partners trick:
I usually do it if the bags are high! Try not to if the bags available are low (only 1 (one) or 2 (two) bags available)!
Protecting the Partners Nil:
It just amazes me when someone plays to get their bid, and/or not to protect the partners NIL! Let me enlighten you with a fact: Unless your bid is over 9 (nine) when your Partners Nil's if the Nil gets set you have just loss that hand, and I have yet to see a lot of bids over 9 (nine)! I have a couple simple rules I use when covering a NIL bid: One - is as long as the nil is covered let the opponent take the trick, unless you believe continued play in this direction could result in your partner (the Nil) being set! Two - lead back in the suit's your partner (the Nil) is out of so they can selectively toss the cards they want!
What to do when an Opponents Nil's:
I usually go one of three ways: One - Set the Nil, Two - Set the Nil's partner, Three - set them both! How to know which way to go? Well that could get rather involved, and I'm not sure I could put it down in words right now!
Dumping cards (An interesting tidbit of information):
Have a low bid? Want to set a Nil? Need to dump cards? If we start with an Ace lead and we all tossed the four highest cards then after the first play (Ace, King, Queen, and Jack were played) that makes the 10 (ten) high, after the second round of play (the 10, 9, 8, 7 are played) the 6 becomes the high card! I'll bet that fact opened your eye's! I hold this fact close to my heart!
What to do if the bid is 12 or more:
99.9% of the time I would Go for a set!
Going to Nil, then think 3 (three).
Don't Hold ( and I hold this fact close to my heart):
More than 3 (three) Spades!
One of the top 3 (three) Spades (Ace, King, or Queen)!
The top 3 (three) cards in any other suit, unless you have at least 3 (three) lower cards starting with one of the three lowest cards (2, 3, or 4), and you are able to cover 3 (three), 3 (three) card gaps!
What did I say?
Here I emphasize why I said, what I said!
A 12 bid (GO FOR THE SET!), and I was short suited in Diamonds with two low cards ... They played through me, and my partner lets them take it with a higher card! Now the King of Diamonds is lead, and again my partner lets it go! Now I'm out of the suit, diamonds were lead again and what does my partner play? The Ace (it so happens that my partner could have taken both of the initial tricks)! So now they have two tricks, and I can't play (So I toss a card in another suit)! My partner does lead back in that suit (initial play in that suit), I play the Ace, and it gets trumped! To make a long story short: We could of at least made our bid, and maybe could have set them, but as it was we got set! Then my partner had the audacity to tell me they were professionals - in their dreams!
A 12 bid, they lead a suit, my partner played the queen, I had the Ace, and let my partners queen take it. As it turned out that made the difference - If I had taken it we would have been set!
A 14 bid, it's my trick, and my partner takes it... this did have a better ending, but in this case we were just darn lucky!
I have nightmares when I get a player (not a partner) who is only concerned about their bid, and not team play!
Pay attention to the cards played! If you didn't see what was played take a look! All areas I play in gives you the ability to see the last trick played!
Don't cover a Nil, unless you have to! My worse nightmare is the person I refer to as a robot player. If they have 4 Aces you can bet they will lead them, their main concern is their bid! In most cases when someone Nil's there are more that enough extra tricks/bags available! If I can; I never leave a gap between the cards played leading into the Nil! Yes I will play the Ace if their partner plays the king (No gap here) because any card they have would be covered anyway, and if I play the Ace later I have just covered their play twice! Can't tell you how many times I have seen a gap card cover a set!
Be selective when you lead the Ace of Spades!
1. Lost a close game (the final bid was 13, and the scores were both 460+, and the bags were low (one or two bag's each)) because my partner lead the Ace of Spades! I was first to bid, was short one suit (Hearts), and did not want to risk a set at this point (my other suits had medium ranking cards, and no low ones, so I chose not to Nil) so I made a one bid! I had two low Spades (highest was a seven), and was counting on one of them for my trick! Opponent eventually lead the Ace of Hearts, and I captured my trick. I lead back in the suit I had the most cards in (hoping my partner might be out of that suit), they were, that resulted in them capturing a trick (they had bid two). My partner leads back with the Ace of Spades (we needed a set to win), and as a result took my last Spade (and as it turned out my partner didn't have any backup)! Then proceeded to lead a heart, and the rest is history - we lost!
2. Partner may have a high Spade they need to dump, and you have the Ace. Lead your Ace lead into them so they can dump a Spade! After all your Ace is guaranteed to take a trick anyway!
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This page was last updated on Tuesday, April 17, 2001.
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