Spades: partners and tricks

Spades is played by four players in two partnerships. Learn how a trick works, who your partner is and how the highest card wins. How Spades works · lesson 1 of 5.

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The lesson in words

Spades is played by four players. You sit opposite your partner (North); the other two are a team too. Each player gets 13 cards.

In each trick, every player plays one card, starting with the leader and going round to the left. The highest card of the suit that was led wins the trick, unless a spade is played.

Hearts were led. The jack of hearts is winning so far.

Try it: Win this trick.

That’s a trick. Next: following suit and trumps.

Questions

Who is your partner?

The player opposite. Your tricks count together.

See the whole Spades path · Play Spades free