How long does a game of Spades take?
Spades is flexible on time. You can squeeze in a quick hand or settle in for a long match, depending on the target score.
One hand is quick
Because each hand has a fixed 13 tricks, a single deal moves fast, often just a few minutes from bid to final trick. That makes Spades easy to pick up for a short session. Online against the AI it is quicker still, since the computer plays instantly.
A full match depends on the target
Matches run to a set score, and the target drives the length. A game to 250 might wrap in twenty minutes or so, while a race to 500 can stretch past forty. Dramatic swings, like a Nil or a set, can end things early or drag them out.
Choosing your session length
If you only have a few minutes, play a hand or two, or take the one-and-done daily challenge. For a longer sitting, start a full match at Partnership Spades. Because it saves as you go, you can generally step away and return to your progress.
The fastest way to make this stick is to deal a hand and try it.
Keep reading - related questions
How do you play Spades?
Spades is a trick-taking card game for four players split into two partnerships that sit across from each other. Everyone is dealt 13 cards, each player bids the number of tricks they expect to win, and play goes clockwise one card at a time. You must follow the suit that was led when you can, spades always outrank the other three suits, and your team scores by taking at least as many tricks as it bid.
How is Spades scored?
In Spades you score 10 points for each trick your team bid when you make the contract, and you lose 10 points per trick bid when you fall short and get set. Every trick you win beyond your bid counts as one bag, worth a single point but triggering a 100-point penalty once your team collects ten of them. Nil bids add or subtract 100 points on their own.
Can I play Spades offline?
Yes, you can play single-player Spades offline. Spades.now is a progressive web app, which means that once the site has loaded in your browser it can keep working without an internet connection. Games against the computer, including all the variants and the daily challenge, run offline, while online features like real-time multiplayer and the shared leaderboard need a connection.