Every Way to Play Spades
Spades is really a whole family of games sharing one idea: spades are trump, you promise a number of tricks, and then you go make good on it. Spades.now gathers eight of the best-loved versions in one place, all free and all instant in your browser. Learn the team game in Partnership Spades, go it alone in Solo, or let the deck set your bid in Whiz and Mirror. New to the promise? The rules hub walks through each one, or jump into today's daily deal or a live head-to-head duel.
The Spades family at a glance
Not sure which to deal? This table lines up all eight variants by how many play, which deck they use, how the bidding works, and what each one is best for.
| Variant | Players | Deck | Bidding | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Partnership Spades | 4 · two teams | 52 cards | Free choice, Nil allowed | The classic team game |
| Solo Spades | 4 · every player alone | 52 cards | Free choice, Nil allowed | Cutthroat with no partners |
| Whiz Spades | 4 · two teams | 52 cards | Spade count or Nil | Sharp, play-driven bidding |
| Mirror Spades | 4 · two teams | 52 cards | Forced spade count | Pure card play, no guesswork |
| Suicide Spades | 4 · two teams | 52 cards | One forced Nil per team | High-stakes, big swings |
| Joker Joker Deuce Deuce | 4 · two teams | 54 (+2 jokers) | Free choice, high bids | Fast, aggressive, high-scoring |
| 3-Player Spades | 3 · every player alone | 51 (no 2♣) | Free choice, Nil allowed | When you are a player short |
| 2-Player Spades | 2 · head to head | 52 (draw phase) | Free choice, Nil allowed | One-on-one card counting |
| 6-Player Spades | 6 · three teams | 104 (two decks) | Free choice, Nil allowed | The big social table |
| 10 for 200 | 4 · two teams | 52 cards | Free, 10 bids 200 | Jackpot-or-bust scoring |
| Blind Spades | 4 · two teams | 52 cards | Bid before you look | Pure gamble on the bid |
Which Spades should you deal tonight?
Pick by mood - here is a quick steer to the right table.
New to the promise? Start here
Begin with Partnership Spades, the four-player classic where you and a partner share one bid. When you want the number decided for you so you can concentrate on the cards, switch to Whiz.
You want the bidding decided for you
Whiz forces you to bid your spade count or go Nil, while Mirror removes even the Nil escape - your bid is always exactly how many spades you hold. Both put the whole contest in the play.
You crave drama and big swings
Suicide forces one partner to bid Nil every hand, and Joker Joker Deuce Deuce adds two super-trumps for a fast, high-scoring shootout. Scores lurch up and down all night.
You love ruthless, no-partner play
Solo (Cutthroat) pits four lone players against one another, and 3-player Spades is the same everyone-for-themselves game trimmed to three seats and seventeen-card hands.
You are short a seat
Only three at the table? Deal 3-player Spades. Just two of you? 2-player Spades turns the classic into a memory-heavy duel with a draw phase before play begins.
Classic Spades
The everyday ways to play Spades - free-choice bidding, spades always trump, and a promise you keep with a partner or entirely on your own.
Nil Variants Spades
Formats built around the zero bid and the forced bid, where a hand can hinge on a single Nil and where the bidding decision is often taken out of your hands.
Special Decks Spades
Spades with extra firepower - two jokers added as super-trumps and low cards promoted into the suit - for a faster, bigger, higher-scoring deal.
Table Sizes Spades
Spades sized to your table - Trim the deck for three, borrow a draw phase for two, or add a second deck and a third partnership for six.
House Rules Spades
The scoring and bidding twists real tables layer on top of the classic game, from the 200-point board jackpot to committing your bid completely blind.
Ways to Compete
Sister Sites
If you like Spades, you will feel at home on our sibling card-game sites. Same idea everywhere: free, fast, and no download.
Questions about the variants
How many kinds of Spades can I play here?
Eleven. Spades.now offers Partnership and Solo Spades, the forced-bid trio of Whiz, Mirror and Suicide, the joker-loaded Joker Joker Deuce Deuce, two-, three- and six-player tables, plus the house-rule favourites 10 for 200 and Blind Spades. Every one is free and needs no download or signup.
Which Spades variant is best for beginners?
Start with Partnership Spades, the version most people mean when they say 'Spades'. It teaches the core promise of bidding tricks and then making them, with a partner to share the risk. Once bidding feels natural, try Whiz or Mirror, which decide your bid for you and let you focus purely on the play.
What is the difference between Partnership and Solo Spades?
Partnership Spades pairs you with the player across the table and adds your two bids into a single team contract, so covering each other is everything. Solo (Cutthroat) Spades removes teams entirely: every player bids and scores alone, and no one is obligated to help you make your bid.
Are all the Spades games here really free?
Yes. Every variant, the daily deal, the leaderboards and live head-to-head multiplayer are all free to play right in your browser, with no download and no account required.