Spades Scoring
Everything that counts in Spades — made bids, sets, bags, Nil and the run to 500 — with worked examples so you can score a hand by hand. For the full rules of play see the Spades rules.
Play Spades NowThe scoring table
Spades is scored by team, after each of the 13 tricks has been played. The partners' numeric bids are added together and compared with the tricks the team took.
| Result | Points | Bags |
|---|---|---|
| Team makes its bid exactly | +10 × bid | 0 |
| Team makes its bid with overtricks | +10 × bid, +1 per overtrick | +1 per overtrick |
| Team falls short (is set) | −10 × bid | 0 |
| Nil made (0 tricks) | +100 | 0 |
| Nil failed (1+ tricks) | −100 | +1 per trick taken |
| Bag count reaches 10 | −100 | −10 from the count |
Nil and the numeric bid are scored separately and then added together for the team. A team can make its Nil and be set on its numeric bid in the same hand, or the other way round.
Making and missing a bid
Suppose you bid 3 and North bids 4, for a team bid of 7.
- Take exactly 7: 7 × 10 = +70. No bags.
- Take 9: 70 for the bid plus 2 for the overtricks = +72, and 2 bags go on your running count.
- Take 6: you are set. −70, and the 6 tricks you did win are worth nothing.
That asymmetry is the whole game: an overtrick is worth 1 point, but every trick you bid and fail to take costs you 10 — and the tricks you did take are wasted. It is why an accurate bid of 4 beats an ambitious bid of 6 in the long run. The strategy guide covers how to count your hand.
Bags (sandbags)
Every overtrick is a bag. Bags earn 1 point each at the time, but they carry over from hand to hand. Each time a team's running bag count reaches 10, the team loses 100 points and 10 bags are subtracted from its count. The remainder stays on the count, so a team at 8 bags that takes 3 more goes to 11, loses 100, and continues with 1 bag.
Tricks won by a failed Nil bidder are bags too, even though they cost 100 points already. CardCouch shows each team's bag count on the scoreboard, so you always know how close you are to the penalty.
Scoring Nil
A Nil bid is judged on the bidder's own tricks: zero tricks scores +100, any tricks at all scores −100. The Nil bidder's partner is judged on their tricks alone, and the Nil bidder's tricks never count toward the partner's bid.
- North bids Nil, you bid 4, North takes 0, you take 5: +100 for the Nil, +41 for your bid = +141, 1 bag.
- North bids Nil, you bid 4, North takes 1, you take 4: −100 for the Nil, +40 for your bid = −60, 1 bag.
- North bids Nil, you bid 4, North takes 0, you take 3: +100 for the Nil, −40 for the set = +60.
A worked hand
Here is a full hand scored for both teams. Before the hand, You & North have 7 bags; West & East have 2.
| Team | Bids | Tricks | Working | Hand score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| You & North | 3 + 2 = 5 | 8 | 50 + 3 bags = 53; bags 7 → 10 = −100, count resets to 0 | −47 |
| West & East | Nil + 5 | 0 + 5 | Nil made +100; bid 5 made +50; bags stay at 2 | +150 |
Notice how the three "free" overtricks turned a +53 hand into −47. Taking tricks you did not bid for is never free once your bag count is high.
Ending the game
Hands are played until a team's total reaches 500 points. If both teams cross 500 in the same hand the higher total wins, and an exact tie is settled by another hand. A team that sinks to −200 loses on the spot. Because a set can cost 130 points and a bag penalty 100, games swing late — a 150-point lead is not safe.
Scoring variations you may meet
- Five-bag penalty: −50 at every 5 bags instead of −100 at 10.
- Blind Nil: ±200 for a Nil declared before looking at the hand.
- Ten-for-two hundred: a team bid of 10 that is made scores 200.
- Bags not scored: some tables ignore the 1 point per overtrick and only count the penalty.
- Shorter games: to 250 or 300 points.
CardCouch uses the standard scoring described above: 10 per trick bid, 1 per bag, −100 at ten bags, ±100 for Nil, 500 to win, −200 to lose.
Frequently asked questions
How many points is a trick worth in Spades?
Each trick you bid is worth 10 points if your team makes the bid. Tricks taken beyond the bid are worth only 1 point each and count as bags. If the bid is missed, every trick bid costs 10 points instead.
What are bags in Spades and why are they bad?
Bags (or sandbags) are overtricks — tricks taken above your bid. Each is worth 1 point, but they accumulate from hand to hand, and every time your team's running total reaches 10 bags you lose 100 points and 10 bags are removed.
How many points is Nil worth?
A successful Nil (zero tricks) earns your team 100 points. A failed Nil costs 100 points, and every trick the Nil bidder took is added to the team's bags.
What happens if you don't make your bid in Spades?
Your team is 'set' and loses 10 points for every trick it bid. Bid 6 and take 5, and you lose 60 — the tricks you did win count for nothing.
Can you have a negative score in Spades?
Yes. Sets, failed Nils and bag penalties can all push a team below zero. On CardCouch a team that falls to −200 loses the game immediately.
How do you win a game of Spades?
The first team to reach 500 points wins. If both teams pass 500 in the same hand, the higher total wins; an exact tie is played off with another hand.