What is Spades?
Spades is a trick-taking card game for four players in two partnerships. Partners sit opposite each other, spades are always trump, each player bids how many tricks they expect to win, and the team bids are added together. The first team to 250 points wins a Quick match, or to 500 in a Full match.
How many players does Spades need?
Exactly four, playing as two teams of two. On Taash, bots fill any empty seats, so you can play alone or with one, two or three friends.
What is the difference between Spades and Call Break?
Both have spades as permanent trump and a bid before each hand. Call Break is every player for themselves, forces you to beat the trick and to trump when you can, and lasts five deals. Spades is played in partnerships, lets you play any card when you can't follow suit, adds Nil bids and bags, and is a race to 250 or 500 points.
What does Nil mean?
Bidding Nil means you promise to win no tricks at all. Make it and your team scores 100; take even one trick and it loses 100. Your partner still bids and plays their own contract.
What is Blind Nil?
Blind Nil is a Nil bid made before you look at your cards. It is worth 200 points if you take no tricks and costs 200 if you take any. On Taash you can bid Blind Nil in any hand: your cards stay face down until you either bid it or tap to see them.
What are bags?
Bags are tricks a team wins beyond its contract. Each is worth 1 point, but they add up: every 10 bags a team collects costs it 100 points. Bags carry over from hand to hand.
When can spades be led?
Only once spades are broken, meaning a spade has been played on an earlier trick by someone who couldn't follow suit. The exception is a player who holds nothing but spades; they may lead one any time.
Do I have to trump if I can't follow suit?
No. If you can't follow the suit led you may play any card, a spade or not. You also never have to beat the cards already played, unlike in Call Break.
Do a Nil bidder's tricks count for their partner?
No. The Nil is scored on its own. Any tricks the Nil bidder takes do not help their partner's bid; they count as bags for the team.
How does a game of Spades end?
A team that has reached the target, 250 in a Quick match or 500 in a Full one, at the end of a hand wins; if both are past it, the higher score wins. A team that falls to minus 200 loses straight away. If the scores are level, another hand is played.
Can I play Spades online for free?
Yes. Taash runs in your browser on a phone or a computer with no download and no account needed to start. Play against bots at three levels, or share a room link and play with friends.