How long does a game take?

It varies enormously. The dice and arcade games are usually done inside five minutes. Card games run ten to twenty. A board game against a thinking opponent can take half an hour, and the tile puzzles take as long as you let them - there is no clock on most of them.

Can I play any of these with someone else?

Several of them, yes. The card and board games include head-to-head modes, and a few run real-time multiplayer where both players see the same position. The puzzle and arcade entries are solo by nature, though scores are comparable.

Which should I try first?

The list is ordered with the closest relatives at the top, so the first group is the safest bet. If you would rather pick by mood than by category, the shorter the game the easier it is to abandon - start with something that takes five minutes.

What other free games can I play?

Nineteen are listed on this page, all free in the browser with no download and no signup. They cover puzzle and arcade games, a full card cabinet, board and tile games, dice games and a free chess clock. Every one of them plays instantly as a guest.

Other games to play after Spades

Bidding and making your contract is a particular pleasure, and it has close cousins worth knowing. This page is a shortlist of 19 games worth playing - all free, all instant in the browser, none of them asking you to download or sign up for anything.

Five groups. The rest of the card cabinet is the natural next step, especially the games that reward counting. Puzzle and tile games move the same attention onto a board. Board games strip out chance, the dice games celebrate it, and the last entry is a clock.

When you want to count something

Solitaire - The full patience cabinet - Klondike, Spider, Pyramid, TriPeaks, Golf, Yukon, Russian, Scorpion, Canfield and Forty Thieves - with a daily deal and leaderboards. Play Solitaire online →

FreeCell - Every card face up, four free cells, and a deal that is almost always winnable if you plan it. Play FreeCell online →

Hearts - The trick-taking game where winning tricks is usually the last thing you want. Play Hearts online →

Rummy - Draw, meld, discard - and read what everyone else is collecting from the pile. Play Rummy online →

Gin Rummy - Ten cards, one draw, deadwood to manage and the constant question of whether to knock now or hold for gin. Play Gin Rummy online →

Canasta - Melds of seven, wild cards, frozen discard piles and the deep partnership scoring that made Canasta a household game. Play Canasta online →

Blackjack - Seventeen variants and a strategy chart - the correct move is known, following it is the hard part. Play Blackjack online →

When you want to read a board

Tetris - Stack the falling pieces, clear the lines, and try to keep up as the gravity accelerates. Play Tetris online →

Puzzle - Sliding tiles, logic grids, nonograms and a dozen more - a different shape of problem each time. Play free puzzle games →

Mahjong - Match free tiles to clear Turtle, Pyramid, Fortress, Dragon, Butterfly, Cat, Spider, Tower, Gate, Crab and Cross layouts, with a daily challenge and leaderboards. Play Mahjong online →

Pac-Man - Learn the maze, learn the four ghosts, and find out how far pattern beats reflex. Play Pac-Man online →

When you want no clock at all

Checkers - Compulsory capture turns every sacrifice into a forced sequence you can calculate to the end. Play Checkers online →

Reversi - A minute to learn, a lifetime to master - corner control, mobility and the counter-intuitive value of owning fewer discs mid-game. Play Reversi online →

Dominoes - Match the ends, count the suits, and work out which numbers the board can still accept. Play Dominoes online →

Ludo - The race-home board game in eight regional flavours, with a daily challenge and real-time multiplayer. Play Ludo online →

Tic Tac Toe - The 3x3 game is solved - which is exactly why the bigger boards are the interesting ones. Play Tic Tac Toe online →

When you want the luck in plain sight

Yahtzee - The dice-and-scorecard classic, where the upper-section bonus quietly decides most games. Play Yahtzee online →

Craps - The loudest game on the floor, with play chips only and no real gambling. Play Craps online →

When the game is happening off-screen

Chess Clock - A free browser clock that makes draughts, dominoes and Scrabble move a great deal faster. Use a free online chess clock →

Not leaving the table?

Plenty of reasons to stay with Spades, too. If you would rather stay, the main game is one click away, the rules hub covers how everything works, and the FAQ answers the common questions.