Spades

If your team takes at least as many tricks as you bid:

• Base Score = Bid × 10 points
• Overtricks (Bags) = +1 point each, but they accumulate!

If your team takes fewer tricks than bid:

• Score = Bid × -10 (negative!)
• You get nothing for tricks taken

Bags (overtricks) accumulate across rounds. When you hit 10 bags:

• -100 point penalty
• Bags reset to 0 (or the overflow)

Nil bids are scored separately from your partner's bid.

Complete Nil Example

First team to reach 500 points wins!

• If both teams pass 500 in the same round, higher score wins
• Some play to 300, 400, or custom amounts
• Scores can go negative - some house rules eliminate a team at -200

Spades has many regional variations. Here are the most common house rules you might encounter:

Bag Penalty Variations

• 10 bags = -100 (Standard)
• 5 bags = -50 (Stricter - faster penalty)
• No bag penalty (Casual play)

Nil Variations

• Standard: +100/-100
• High stakes: +150/-150
• Low stakes: +50/-50
• No Nil allowed - Must bid at least 1

Blind Nil Rules

• Standard: +200/-200
• Only when behind: Can only bid Blind Nil if losing by 100+ points
• Not allowed: Some groups don't play Blind Nil at all

Our Score Keeper app lets you customize these rules in game setup:

• ✅ Custom target scores (300, 500, or any number)
• ✅ Nil and Blind Nil with custom point values
• ✅ Bag penalty options (10/-100, 5/-50, or none)
• ✅ Boston bonus
• ✅ 10-for-200 rule
• ✅ Minimum team bid settings
• ✅ Joker variants

1. Count Your Sure Tricks
   Aces and high spades are nearly guaranteed. Kings with backup cards often win too.
2. Add for Long Spade Suits
   5+ spades often means extra tricks as you exhaust others' spades.
3. When in Doubt, Bid Low
   A bag or two is better than getting SET. Conservative bidding wins games.
4. Communicate Through Play
   You can't talk about your hand, but your plays send signals to your partner.

Consider Nil when you have:

• No spades higher than 6 or 7
• No Aces or Kings (or just one vulnerable one)
• Several very low cards (2s, 3s, 4s)
• A partner who can "cover" you by taking tricks
• Your team is behind and needs a swing

1. Lead Your Partner's Strong Suit
   Pay attention to what suits your partner plays high cards in - lead those suits to set them up for wins.
2. Don't Lead Aces Early
   Save your Aces for when you need to win important tricks or regain the lead.
3. Count Cards
   Track what's been played, especially high spades. Know when your middle cards become winners.
4. Watch for Short-Suited Players
   If someone discards early in a suit, they're void - expect them to trump next time.
5. Support Your Partner
   If your partner is winning the trick, don't waste your high cards on top. Save them!

Reading the Table

• If opponents bid low, they have weak hands - push them!
• If combined bids exceed 13, someone's getting set
• Watch for tells when opponents seem nervous about their bid

Controlling the Lead

• Lead suits where your partner is strong
• Avoid leading suits where opponents showed strength
• Force opponents to break spades by leading their short suits

Bag Management

When approaching 10 bags:

• Bid slightly higher than normal to reduce overtricks
• Play to lose tricks once you've made your bid
• Let opponents win - even if they don't need those tricks

1. Enter Player Names
   Type in all 4 players' names. Players 1 & 2 are Team 1 (partners), Players 3 & 4 are Team 2.
2. Customize Team Names (Optional)
   Give your teams fun names! Defaults are "We Got Next" and "Spade Slayers".
3. Set Your House Rules
   Expand "House Rules" to customize Nil values, bag penalties, and bonus rules.
4. Pick First Dealer
   Select a player or use "Random" to let fate decide. Dealer rotates automatically each round.
5. Choose Point Target
   Standard is 500 points. Pick 300 for a shorter game or enter any custom number.

1. Enter Each Player's Bid
   Use the number buttons (0-13) for each player. The summary shows combined team bids.
2. Check Nil if Applicable
   If someone is going Nil, check the "Nil" checkbox. For Blind Nil, select before they see cards!
3. Lock Bids
   Tap "Lock Bids" when everyone has bid. You can't change bids after this!

Play 13 tricks at the table with your physical cards. The Score Keeper waits while you play - it's just tracking scores, not the actual card play.

1. Enter Tricks Won
   After the hand, enter how many tricks each player took. Use +/- buttons or tap to enter directly.
2. Validation
   The app ensures all tricks total exactly 13. You'll see an error if they don't add up.
3. Preview Score
   See a live preview of what each team will score, including bag penalties and nil bonuses.
4. Confirm
   Tap "Score Round" to lock in the results and move to the scoreboard.

• Scoreboard: See updated totals, bag counts, and who's winning
• Round History: Tap any round to see the breakdown
• Bag Warnings: Visual alerts when approaching 10 bags
• Next Round: Dealer rotates automatically - just tap to continue

• 📱 Auto-save: Your game saves automatically. Close and come back anytime!
• 👆 Edit names: Tap any player name to change it mid-game
• 📜 View history: Tap rounds in the history to see score breakdowns
• 🎉 Share wins: Generate a shareable scorecard image when you win
• 🌙 Works offline: No internet needed once the page loads