Spades Bidding Guide — How Many Tricks to Bid

Team bid = your bid + partner’s bid

You sit across from your partner. Your team’s bid is the sum of both partners’ bids. Tricks won by either partner count toward the team total.

Example: you bid 4 and your partner bids 3. The team must win at least 7 tricks combined to score positively for the hand (see scoring guide). Either partner’s tricks count toward the team total, except tricks taken by a Nil bidder on this site (those count for Nil and sandbags, not toward the partnership contract).

How many tricks should I bid?

Bid the number of tricks you expect your hand to win on its own — not the team total. Your partner bids separately; the scoresheet adds both numbers.

Most hands fall between 3 and 7 tricks. Bid 0 only when you are attempting Nil. Bids of 8+ are strong: you usually need multiple aces, length, or trump control. If you are unsure between two numbers, beginners often do better bidding the lower one until they learn how sandbags punish overbids.

• 0: Nil attempt only — see when to bid Nil below.
• 1–3: few honors, short suits, or scattered low cards.
• 4–6: typical middle hands with a few sure winners plus some probable tricks.
• 7–9: strong aces, long side suits, or four-plus spades with high trump.
• 10–13: rare; usually dominant trump plus side winners — overbidding here creates sandbags fast.

Beginner bidding formula

Use this simple count before you lock in a bid:

• Step 1 — Sure tricks: count each ace as 1. Count a king in a 3+ card suit as 1 if the ace is not in your hand (otherwise count it as half).
• Step 2 — Length: add 1 for each side suit of 5+ cards if you also hold the ace or king of that suit.
• Step 3 — Trump: count the ace of spades as 1; add 1 more if you hold K♠ or Q♠ with at least three spades total.
• Step 4 — Round down: if you are between two numbers, bid the lower one unless your team is far behind and needs points.
• Step 5 — Sandbag check: if your team already has 7–9 sandbags, subtract 1 from your mental total before bidding.

How to count tricks before you bid

The formula above is a shortcut. In practice, strong players still separate “sure” tricks from “probable” ones:

• Count aces and kings in long suits as likely winners when opponents are short.
• Count extra length (5+ cards) as potential tricks once the suit is cleared — but only if you can reach the suit before trump cuts it.
• Treat high spades as trump winners; the ace and king of spades are often worth bidding even in a short trump holding.
• Discount queens and jacks in short suits unless you have entries or the suit is unbid by opponents.
• If you hold many spades, bid carefully: opponents may be forced to follow, but your side may take sandbags if you win more than the team bid.

Example hands and suggested bids

These are simplified teaching examples — real tables vary, but the counting logic is the same:

• Weak scattered hand: 2♠ 4♠ 7♦ 8♦ 3♣ 5♣ 9♣ J♣ 2♥ 4♥ 6♥ 8♥ 10♥ — no aces, no long suit. Suggested bid: 2 (maybe 3 if partner tends to bid aggressively).
• Balanced aces hand: A♥ K♥ 5♦ 6♦ 8♦ 9♦ 3♠ 5♠ 8♠ 9♠ 2♣ 6♣ 7♣ — two heart winners, possible diamond trick, small spades. Suggested bid: 4–5.
• Trump-heavy hand: A♠ K♠ Q♠ 4♠ 3♠ A♦ 7♦ 2♣ 5♣ 8♣ 3♥ 6♥ 9♥ — trump control plus a side ace. Suggested bid: 6–7; do not jump to 9 without extra side entries.
• Nil candidate: 2♠ 4♠ 6♦ 7♦ 9♦ 3♣ 5♣ 8♣ 2♥ 4♥ 6♥ 8♥ 10♥ — low cards, no aces, one short suit. Consider Nil if score situation fits; otherwise bid 2.
• Partner already bid high: you hold A♣ K♣ Q♣ 5♣ 3♠ 6♠ 2♦ 4♦ 7♥ 8♥ 9♥ 10♥ J♥ — your club length may set up partner’s winners. If partner bid 6, you might bid 3 instead of 5 because partner’s hand is doing heavy lifting.

When to bid Nil

A bid of 0 is called Nil: you are declaring that you will take no tricks. A successful Nil is worth +100 points to your partnership; a failed Nil is −100 points. (The rest of the team’s bid still scores normally.)

Nil is worth +100 when it works and −100 when you take any trick — so only bid 0 when your hand has few forced winners:

• Good Nil signs: short suits, small cards, no side aces, and a void or near-void you can use to discard danger cards.
• Bad Nil signs: scattered aces and kings, long protected suits, or honors you cannot afford to duck.
• Score context: Nil is attractive when +100 puts your team ahead or back in the match; avoid Nil when −100 would knock you toward the −200 loss line.
• Partner cover: only bid Nil if your partner’s hand can plausibly take the rest of the team contract — see the Nil guide for partnership tactics.

When to underbid because of sandbags

Each trick over your team bid is a sandbag (+1 point). Every 10 sandbags costs your team 100 points.

Sandbags reward accurate bidding. Each overtrick is only +1 point but counts toward a 10-bag penalty that costs 100 points. When your team is bag-heavy, bid as if you need one fewer trick than your hand suggests:

• At 7–9 team sandbags: subtract 1 from your normal bid — one extra bag could trigger the −100 penalty next hand.
• At 5–6 sandbags with a safe lead: still bid honestly, but avoid chasing “just one more” trick during play.
• When your team bid is already high (8+ combined): prefer the lower of two reasonable bids; big contracts create big bag piles when you win extra tricks.
• Endgame: if you are near 500 and ahead, underbid slightly and play to make exactly — bags matter less than setting opponents, but a −100 penalty can still cost the match.
• Team bid 7, team takes 9 tricks → 72 points (70 + 2 sandbags).

How partner’s bid changes your plan

You hear partner’s bid before you bid last (dealer) or right after them (non-dealer). Use it to adjust your count — you are building one team number, not two solo scores.

• Partner bid low (0–3): they may be attempting Nil or holding a weak hand — bid your winners honestly; the team may need your tricks to make contract.
• Partner bid high (6+): they likely have length or trump — you can bid lower if your hand is mostly fillers; do not inflate the team total with duplicate tricks.
• Partner bid Nil: cover their bid first in your head — can you take enough tricks for the rest of the contract while they duck? Bid your normal count minus tricks partner must win for you.
• Opponents’ bids: if both opponents bid aggressively, they may be vulnerable to being set — your side can sometimes bid a safe contract and play for bags on them instead.
• After the auction: remember the team target during play. If partner showed strength in hearts, lead hearts back when you regain the lead.

Common bidding mistakes

• Bidding only your own tricks and forgetting partner’s suit length.
• Ignoring sandbag risk when you already have a strong trump fit.
• Bidding Nil with easy winners in side suits (ace-high holdings).
• Underbidding spade length — four or more spades often produce extra trump tricks.
• Matching partner’s high bid with another high bid when your hand has no winners — team totals of 12+ fail often.

Frequently asked questions

How is the team bid calculated in Spades?

Add your bid and your partner’s bid. If you bid 4 and your partner bids 3, the team contract is 7 tricks. Tricks won by either partner count toward that total on Classic Deck Games.

Should I bid my own tricks or the team total?

Bid only the tricks you expect your hand to win. Your partner bids separately; the scoresheet adds both numbers into one team contract.

What is a sensible bid for a beginner?

Count aces and protected kings, add one for strong spade length, then round down. Most beginner hands land between 3 and 6 tricks before partner’s bid is considered.

When should I bid one trick lower because of sandbags?

If your team already has 7–9 sandbags, subtract one trick from your normal count. One more bag can trigger a 100-point penalty at 10 bags.

Can both partners bid Nil?

Rules vary by table. On Classic Deck Games only one Nil per team is typical in casual play — focus on one Nil attempt while your partner bids to cover the rest of the contract.

Who bids last in Spades?

Bidding moves clockwise. The player to the dealer’s left bids first; the dealer usually hears all other bids before locking in their own number.