Spades Variants — Popular Variations of the Game

Spades variants offer different ways to play the game, each with unique rules, strategies, and player counts. Here are the most popular variations and what makes each one distinct.

Standard Spades (Recap)

The standard game includes:

• 4 players in 2 partnerships
• Standard 52-card deck (no Jokers)
• Spades always trump
• Individual bidding, combined team score
• Nil and Blind Nil available
• 10-bag penalty (−100)
• Game to 500 points

Joker Spades

The most popular variant. Adds 2 Jokers to the deck.

Setup

• Remove 2♣ and 2♦ from the deck
• Add Big Joker and Little Joker
• Deck stays at 52 cards, 13 per player

Trump Hierarchy (Highest to Lowest)

1. Big Joker
2. Little Joker
3. A♠
4. K♠
5. Q♠
6. …down to 2♠

How It Changes the Game

• Jokers are the most powerful cards — guaranteed trick winners
• The A♠ is no longer the top trump
• Having a Joker is worth an automatic trick in your bid
• More trump power in the game overall

Two-Player Spades

Adapted for 2 players instead of partnerships.

Common Rules

• Deal 13 cards to each player
• Remaining 26 cards form a draw pile
• After each trick, both players draw a card
• No partnerships — head-to-head competition
• Bidding and scoring work the same

Strategy Differences

• No partner to coordinate with
• More information asymmetry (smaller hands visible)
• Trump management is even more critical with only 2 players
• More tricks to take per player

Three-Player Spades

Adapted for 3 players.

Common Rules

• Remove the 2♣ (deck = 51 cards, 17 per player)
• No partnerships — every player for themselves
• Each player bids individually
• 17 tricks per round (instead of 13)
• Scoring is individual

Strategy Differences

• No partner protection for Nil bids
• More tricks means higher bids are common
• Setting opponents is a critical strategy (help one to hurt another)

Six-Player Spades

For 6 players in 2 or 3 partnerships.

Two Teams of Three

• 3 vs 3, partners alternate seating
• Use 1 deck, deal 8-9 cards each (some cards removed)
• Team bids combine from all 3 partners

Three Teams of Two

• 2 vs 2 vs 2
• Partners sit across from each other
• More chaotic — two opponents to set, one partner to support

Suicide Spades

A high-stakes variant that restricts bidding.

Rule Change

• Partners must bid differently: one bids Nil (0) and the other bids higher
• The non-Nil partner carries the team’s entire trick obligation
• Creates extreme risk-reward every round

Strategy

• The Nil partner needs a genuinely weak hand
• The strong partner must bid aggressively (often 7+)
• Partnership coordination is even more critical

Mirror Spades

Both partners make the same bid.

Rule Change

• Partners must bid the same number
• If you bid 4, your partner must also bid 4 (team contract = 8)
• Communication through previous rounds is key

Strategy

• Requires reading your partner’s strength from their play
• Both hands need to be relatively equal in strength
• Extreme hands (very strong or very weak) cause problems

Whiz Spades

Players must always play a spade if they can.

Rule Change

• When void in the led suit, you must play a spade if you have one
• No option to sluff a non-spade when void
• The only bid options are Nil or the exact number of spades you hold

Strategy

• Highly constrained — much less choice in play
• Spade count directly determines your bid
• Nil is only possible with 0 spades (rare with 13 cards)

House Rules

Many groups play with custom modifications:

Explore different ways to play — try Spades for free on Rare Pike.