The complete Spades scoring guide — bids, bags, nil, and every point calculation explained with examples.

Spades scoring looks simple on the surface — make your bid, get your points. But bags, nil bonuses, and set penalties add layers that reward precise bidding. This guide covers every scoring scenario.

Basic Scoring

Making Your Bid

Scenario Points
You bid 4 and take exactly 4 tricks +40 (bid × 10)
You bid 4 and take 5 tricks +41 (40 + 1 bag)
You bid 4 and take 6 tricks +42 (40 + 2 bags)
You bid 4 and take 3 tricks (set!) −40 (lose bid × 10)

The formula:

  • Make your bid: Earn (bid × 10) + 1 point per overtrick
  • Miss your bid (set): Lose (bid × 10) points

Team Bids

In partnership Spades, both bids are added together:

  • Partner A bids 3, Partner B bids 4 → Team bid is 7
  • Team must win at least 7 tricks combined
  • Overtricks beyond 7 are bags for the team

The Bag System

Overtricks (bags) give you +1 point each, but they accumulate dangerously:

Running Bag Total Effect
1-9 bags +1 point each (no penalty yet)
10 bags −100 point penalty, bag count resets
11-19 bags Accumulating again toward next penalty
20 bags Another −100 penalty

Example over multiple hands:

Hand Bid Tricks Won Points Running Bags
1 5 7 +52 2
2 4 5 +41 3
3 6 6 +60 3
4 4 7 +43 6
5 3 5 +32 8
6 5 7 +52 − 100 penalty 0 (reset after 10)

That 100-point penalty for bags can swing an entire game. This is why precise bidding matters more than winning extra tricks.

Nil Bids

Standard Nil

Outcome Points
Bid nil, take 0 tricks +100
Bid nil, take 1+ tricks −100

Your partner still bids and plays normally. Their bid is scored independently.

Example: You bid nil (successful = +100), partner bids 4 and takes 5 tricks (+41). Team total: +141.

Blind Nil

Outcome Points
Bid blind nil, take 0 tricks +200
Bid blind nil, take 1+ tricks −200

Blind nil must be declared before looking at your cards. Some variants only allow it when your team is behind by 100+ points.

Being Set

When your team wins fewer tricks than your combined bid:

Team Bid Tricks Won Points
7 7+ +(bid × 10)
7 6 or fewer −70 (lose bid × 10)

Being set is devastating. A swing from +70 (making the bid) to −70 (being set) is a 140-point difference.

Complete Scoring Summary

Event Points
Making your bid +(bid × 10)
Each overtrick (bag) +1
Every 10th accumulated bag −100
Being set (missing bid) −(bid × 10)
Successful nil +100
Failed nil −100
Successful blind nil +200
Failed blind nil −200

Scoring Tips

  1. Bid accurately, not high. The bag penalty makes overbidding costly in the long run.
  2. Track bags across hands. If your team has 8 bags, avoid winning any overtricks — being at 10 costs 100.
  3. Nil is high-risk, high-reward. Only bid nil with a genuinely weak hand (no aces, no spades, mostly low cards).
  4. Set the opponents when you can. Forcing a −70 swing on a 7-bid is worth sacrificing a few of your own overtricks.

Winning the Game

Standard Short Game
First team to 500 points wins First to 200 or 300

If both teams reach 500 in the same hand, the team with the higher score wins. Some variants say the bidding team wins ties.

Practice scoring in real games at Rare Pike Spades →.