Spades is a partnership trick-taking game where spades are always trump. Partners bid how many tricks they will take, then try to make it exactly.
Four players partner up across the table. Deal all 52 cards — 13 each.
Each player bids the number of tricks their team will take. Partners' bids add together to form the team contract.
Players must follow suit if able; otherwise they may play any card, including a spade. Spades cannot be led until they are broken (played). The highest spade wins the trick.
Making the bid scores 10 points per trick bid plus 1 per overtrick ("bag"). Missing the bid ("set") loses 10 per trick bid. Ten bags is a 100-point penalty. First to 500 wins.
Only after a spade has been played on another suit (breaking spades), unless you hold nothing but spades.
Failing to make your team's bid — you lose 10 points per trick bid instead of gaining.
The first partnership to reach 500 points wins.