|
We should explain first that no one bidding strategy works all the time in Spades. That's because no matter how much you count cards or plan your hand, the deal is a random deal and sometimes the cards just don't fall the way you would like. There are also variations in bidding strategies based on individual personalities. Some people are aggressive bidders going for as many tricks as possible, others are conservative, trying to set the opponents, making sure not to get too many extra bags, and so on. And any bidding strategy must take into account the playing style of your partner.
Single Play
Spades on the Zone has been built so as many as four and as few as one can play the game. If you're new to Spades, read the Game Help pages first, then enter one of the rooms. To play against three computer opponents, click on a chair, then click the button to start the game. This is an excellent way to learn the game and get used to some of the conventions. While single play is a great way to learn and practice the game, the computer players are no match for real humans in a real game. The computer AI doesn't play the bid of Nil very well, and in fact, it often messes up by playing the wrong card on your Nil bid. The computer also can't learn your play pattern, and for that, you need a partner.
Partners
The only place to get a partner is in one of the Zone Spades rooms, or you can call up a friend first and have them meet you online. Practicing with a partner against the computer is an excellent way to get comfortable with the game, and with each other's bidding patterns. Talking across the table is not allowed in a fully human game, but with two computer opponents, you can discuss why you've played certain cards and what you expect your partner to play in response. Of course, that brings up the question: what should you play and what should you bid?
Trump in the Hand
Since spades are always trump, there isn't the problem of deciding which suit is stronger in your hand. Spades Rule! The more spades, the more tricks you can bid, but it's important to consider the distribution. There are only 13 trump cards in a suit, so get in the practice of counting trump, starting with those in your hand. Not every spade can take a trick. But you would be surprised at the power of a Two of Spades when everyone else is playing red and you don't have a single red card.
Judge your Spade total against the rest of your hand. Are you all out of any particular suit? If so, and that suit is led, you can trump in with your Spades. Match your Spade total with other high suit tricks, count the number of automatic tricks first, then imagine how the cards would fall under those tricks, and see if your remaining cards will be high.
Aces
The Ace of Spades is an automatic trick. Most other Aces are, too. You can actually discard Aces if you need to while playing a Nil, but they're worth more as trick takers. Having an Ace-King combination is especially useful because it will often guarantee you two tricks. Ace-King-Queen may be good, but the distribution usually means that someone will trump in by the time you play all three cards.
Kings
A bare King, meaning that it is your only card in that suit, is practically worthless. Toss it when you can. If it's the King of Spades, the bid is a bit trickier. It is quite possible that you can use it to trump in, even on a table full of trump, and come away with the trick. It is also possible to have the Ace led by your opponent in order to draw trump, and then you lose the King. It's still a good bet. Kings of a different suit can also provide a trick, if they have a spot protecting them to be bled away by the Ace of that suit.
Queens
Some people never bet Queens. But if a Queen has enough spots below it to match the Ace and King, or if it's the Queen of Spades, it is often a trick taker. Aggressive players may bet the Queens, and timid players will find an opportunity to bury the card.
Jacks
These should only be considered as trick takers if they're Spades. You may take a garbage trick with a Jack of another suit, but don't count on them for points. And even if it's a Spade, judge the card against the rest of your hand. If it's one of the high cards, don't bid it.
Spots
The numbered cards, two to ten, are referred to as spots, and most people don't think of them as trick takers. But it's surprising how many garbage tricks you will be forced to take because of a high spot in your hand. And Spades spots are especially interesting. They provide a nasty way to set your opponents by using a low card to trump in over their trick. Lots of Spades spots usually means lots of tricks.
Nil and Double Nil
Some players find it easy to bid Nil, where you deliberately do not take a trick. Since the scoring penalty for taking a trick is steep, your opponents will be trying very hard to set you. There is more luck in scoring a successful Nil than in other bids. Paradoxically, there is also more strategy in playing a successful Nil. It is quite possible that you can take a trick with a Five spot, as your opponents will be trying to lay off their low cards. But you can also discard Aces on a different led suit. This means that your partner is the real key to making a Nil bid. Your partner must be alert and jump on a trick aggressively. If your partner plays high, this allows you to play some of your high cards and bury them underneath the partner's play. The Nil is more important than taking too many bags, so the partner must be willing to play high cards and trump liberally.
As for the Double Nil bid, this may not be recommended in many games on the Zone. The bid is completely blind, and basically a shot in the dark. If you get a high trump, you're ruined. It can be fun to try and do this when you're down in the score, but it might be a good idea to ask your partner first. This is the one instance where table talk is usually accepted by the players.
Other Tricks of the Trade
These bidding strategies are just the fundamentals of bidding in Spades . There are many elements of a hand that need to be addressed when playing the game.
- Pay attention to your partner's bid and help him or her make that bid, as well as paying attention to your own bid.
- Avoid the bags, or overtricks, by playing into your partner's hand or by sloughing off cards. If you can set an opponent, do so, but it's just as bad when you have ten bags and go down.
- Bid based on your score at the time. There's no point in bidding a Nil if you're only 30 points away from winning the game.
- Have fun! This game is meant to be a joy to play, so leave your anger and frustration outside of the Zone and enjoy your trump.
|
