trick-taking · USA / Worldwide

Spades Nil

Also known as Nil Spades · Blind Nil Spades · Spades with Nil

Spades Nil is classic 4-player partnership Spades with the spotlight on the boldest call in the game: the Nil bid. Promise to win exactly zero tricks for a +100 bonus, or go all-in with a Blind Nil before you even look at your cards. It runs on our standard Spades engine — same trump-spades rules, same bags, same scoring — with Nil and Blind Nil fully supported. Play free in your browser against smart bots or with friends, no download and no signup.

4–4 players · free · no download · no signup

How to play Spades Nil

Decide your bid: a number of tricks, Nil (zero tricks), or Blind Nil before you see your cards.
Your bid plus your partner's bid forms your team contract.
Follow the led suit; spades are trump and win any trick they're played in — but you can't lead spades until they're broken.
If you bid Nil, lose every trick on purpose; if your partner bid Nil, win the tricks so they don't have to.
Score it: +10 per bid trick, +1 per bag (10 bags = -100), and +/-100 for Nil (or +/-200 for Blind Nil). First team to the target wins.

Spades Nil rules

It's standard Spades

Spades Nil isn't a separate ruleset — it's regular partnership Spades played on our Spades engine, with the Nil and Blind Nil bids front and centre. Four players form two partnerships sitting across from each other, all 52 cards are dealt 13 each, and spades are permanently trump. If you know Spades, you already know Spades Nil. If you prefer to play with no Nil at all, our standard Spades and Callbreak pages cover those styles.

Bidding (with Nil)

Each player bids how many tricks they expect to take, and the two partners' bids combine into one team contract. Instead of a number you may bid Nil — a promise to win zero tricks this hand. Your partner still bids a normal number and plays to help you dodge every trick. Make Nil for +100; take even one trick and it's -100.

Blind Nil

Blind Nil is a Nil declared before you look at your hand, usually only allowed when your team is trailing by a set margin (commonly 100+ points). The reward and penalty are bigger — typically +/-200 — making it a swingy comeback play. Some tables let Blind Nil bidders swap a card or two with their partner before the first trick.

Playing

Follow the led suit if you can; otherwise play anything, including a spade to trump. The highest card of the led suit wins unless a spade is played, in which case the highest spade takes the trick. You can't lead spades until they're 'broken' — played when someone couldn't follow suit.

Scoring

Make your combined bid for 10 points per bid trick. Overtricks are 'bags' worth 1 each, but every 10 bags accumulated costs your team 100 points. Miss the bid and you lose 10 per trick bid. A successful Nil adds +100 (Blind Nil +200) on top of the team's regular score; a failed one subtracts it. First team to the target score (often 300–500) wins.

Strategy tips

Only bid Nil with a hand of low cards and few or no spades — high cards and middling spades are trick magnets.
Duck early: dump high cards under tricks you're not winning so you have small cards left to lose later.
If your partner went Nil, bid a touch higher and play aggressively to grab the dangerous tricks for them.
Save Blind Nil for when you're well behind and the bigger swing is worth the gamble.
Watch the bags — chasing overtricks to protect a Nil can still sandbag your team for -100.

Variants

Nil (zero-trick bid) · Blind Nil (declared before looking) · Suicide Spades (double nil) · Partnership Spades · Standard Spades (no Nil) · Callbreak

Spades Nil — frequently asked questions

Is Spades Nil a different game from Spades?

No — it's the same game. Spades Nil is standard partnership Spades played on our Spades engine, just highlighting the Nil and Blind Nil bids. The trump-spades rules, bags and scoring are identical to regular Spades.

What is a Nil bid?

A Nil bid is a promise to win zero tricks for the whole hand. Pull it off and your team scores +100; take even a single trick and it's -100. Your partner bids a normal number and helps you avoid winning anything.

What is Blind Nil?

Blind Nil is a Nil you declare before looking at your cards, usually only when your team is trailing by 100 or more. It's worth a bigger swing — commonly +/-200 — and on some tables you may swap a card with your partner first.

How do you cover a partner's Nil?

Bid a little higher and take the tricks your partner can't safely lose — lead high, win the dangerous suits, and soak up any forced tricks so their hand stays clean for zero.

Can I play Spades Nil free online?

Yes — Spades Nil is free to play in your browser at Love Card Games against smart bots or friends, with no download and no signup. Prefer no Nil? Try our Callbreak, Oh Hell or Bid Whist tables instead.