House rules
Spades house rules
Every Spades table has its own rules, and most arguments start with one of these. Here is what each house rule means and how ClubSpade handles it.
Reneging
Reneging means playing a different suit when you could have followed suit. At a real table the usual penalty is three books taken from the team that reneged and given to the other team.
At ClubSpade:
You can't renege. The game only lets you play cards that follow the rules.
Boston
A Boston is when one team wins all 13 books. Some tables give a big bonus for it, and some call it an instant win.
At ClubSpade:
No extra bonus. A team that wins all 13 books scores its bid plus a point for each extra book, like any other hand.
Bags and sandbagging
Bags are the books you win beyond your bid. Sandbagging is bidding low on purpose to play it safe or to stop the other team from making their bid, at the risk of piling up bags.
At ClubSpade:
Each bag is worth 1 point, and 10 bags cost 100 points. Because a game is one hand, the penalty rarely comes up.
Big joker and little joker
Many home games add the two jokers as the highest spades: big joker first, then little joker. Two low cards, often the 2 of clubs and 2 of diamonds, come out so the deck stays at 52.
At ClubSpade:
No jokers. If you like extra-high trumps, try Deuces High.
Deuces high
In deuces games the 2s are pulled up to the top of the spade suit, so a 2 can beat the Ace of Spades.
At ClubSpade:
In Deuces High mode all four 2s count as spades and beat the Ace of Spades, from highest to lowest: 2♥, 2♣, 2♦, 2♠. Scoring is the same as Classic.
Deuces High: the four 2s rank above the Ace of spades.
Board
Board is a team's minimum bid, usually 4 books. At some tables, a team that bids board is saying it has a weak hand.
At ClubSpade:
There is no team minimum. Each player bids at least 1 book, so a team bids at least 2.
Game length
Most home games go to 500 points over several hands. Some tables play to 250 or 300 for a shorter game, or end the game when a team falls to minus 200.
At ClubSpade:
Each game is a single hand of 13 books. The higher team score wins.
Which rules each ClubSpade mode uses
Classic
Standard 52-card deck, Ace high, spades must be broken before they're led, 10 points a book bid plus 1 a bag, minus 10 a book when set, 10-bag penalty.
Deuces High
Same as Classic, except all four 2s are the highest spades (2♥, 2♣, 2♦, 2♠, then the Ace of Spades).
Hearts on Fire
Classic play and bid scoring, plus heart bonuses, the Flaming Queen and Firestorm. Most bonuses are cancelled once a spade is played. See the scoring guide for the numbers.
Questions players ask
Is reneging allowed in Spades?
No. If you can follow suit, you have to. Home tables usually punish a renege with a three-book penalty. On ClubSpade it can't happen, because illegal cards can't be played.
What is a Boston in Spades?
Winning all 13 books in a hand. Some tables give a bonus or an instant win for it. ClubSpade scores it like any other hand.
Does ClubSpade use jokers?
No. ClubSpade uses a 52-card deck. Deuces High mode turns the four 2s into the highest spades instead.
What does board mean in Spades?
Board is a team's minimum bid, usually 4 books. ClubSpade has no team minimum, but every player bids at least 1.
Try it at the table
Play a hand against the computer now, or let the tutorial walk you through one card by card.