How to play

Starting the game

First, highlight the "Spades by JAMDAT" icon in the game menu on your phone. Once the game is highlighted, press the "OK" button to start the game.

Game Objectives

Spades is a four-player card game. The object of Spades is to reach 500 (or the set point limit) before your opponents do by winning your bids in subsequent rounds.

• At the start of the game, each player is dealt 13 cards. Each player, starting left of the dealer, places bids on how many sets of cards or "tricks" they will win.
• Now the play begins. When it is your turn, you must play a card. You must play a card of the same suit as the first card (the card that was led), if you can. If you don't have any cards in the suit that was led, you can play any card. A spade is always considered a trump, and will win over any card other than a higher spade.
• When each player has played a card, the person who played the highest card in the suit that was led wins these cards. This is called a 'trick'. The only exception would be if a person had no cards of the same suit played and threw a spade. The spade would win in this instance. Aces are the highest cards.
• The player who won the trick now leads with a card. Spades cannot lead until a spade has been played.

Play continues in this manner for each trick. The current round lasts until all 4 players have played all of their cards the points for the round are then tallied, and a new round is dealt. At the end of each round, points are awarded according to whether or not the players took the number of tricks they bid at the beginning of the round. The game ends once a player/team hits 500 points. In the event that both teams, or 2 players (see below for variations on game play) reach 500 at the end of the same round, then the one with the highest total score will be declared the winner. Different game modes will slightly change the aforementioned rules.

Main Menu

• New Game: The New Game menu allows the user to begin a game using one of several Spades game modes:
• Classic mode - Partner play with the standard rules
• Solo mode - Single player with 3 opponents and standard rules
• Custom Partners mode - Partner play with the option to customize rules
• Custom Solo mode - Single player with the option to customize rules

• Pass N' Play: This mode allows up to four players to play against each other on the same handset. Pass N' Play offers all of the game modes available in Single Player mode and utilizes AI players when four human players aren't available.
• My Stats: This menu allows the user to track their progress and stats.
• Settings: Within this menu the user can adjust difficulty; toggle sound, music, and vibration on and off; configure AI chat text; and reset user statistics.
• Help: The Help section contains a full description of all key commands and a full description of all game play rules and functionality.
• About: This section describes the game's copyright information and lists customer support contact info.

Modes of Play

JAMDAT Spades offers many diverse modes of Spades game play, including a customizable game mode:

• Single Player:
• Classic Mode - 2 on 2 partners; blind nil option at -200, 10 tricks for 200, win at 500, and lose game at -250.
• Solo Mode - Every man for themselves; 10 tricks for 200, win at 200, and lose the game at -150.
• Custom Partners Mode - 2 on 2 partners; options to change:
• Blind nil (-200, always, never)
• 10 tricks for 200 (on/off)
• Blind 6 (on/off)
• Blind 7 (on/off)
• Minimum bid (on/off)
• Amount of points to win (150, 250, 500, 1000)
• Amount of points to lose (-100, -250, -500, -750)
• Custom Solo Mode - Every man for themselves with the following options to customize:
• 10 tricks for 200 (on/off)
• Minimum bid (on/off)
• Amount of points to win (100, 200, 300, 500)
• Amount of points to lose (-75, -150, -200, -300)
• Pass N' Play:
• Pass N' Play offers all of the game modes available in Single Player mode.
• Up to four players can play against each other on the same handset.

Scoring:

Bids are made at the beginning of the round by each player, based on the amount of tricks he thinks he will win from the possible 13 tricks. The total number of tricks for all players does not have to equal thirteen. The follow bids and results can occur:

• How Tricks Are Scored, Winning Points: Win the number of tricks bid at the beginning of the round. Ten times the bid is awarded in points. If the bid is not made, ten times the bid is lost. In JAMDAT Spades, the maximum bid is 10.
• Bid 5 = 50 points
• Total Bid Met: Do not make your bid, but your partner makes up for your bid by getting over his required amount. This rule does not apply for solo modes of play.
• You bid 3, partner bids 4 = 7 total.
• You win 2, partner wins 5 = 7 total
• Bags: Bags are created when a player goes over his bid, as a team or solo. These extra tricks are added up in the ones column of the total score. When the number of bags reaches 10, the team or player has 100 points deducted.
• Player bids 3, partner bids 2 = 5 total = 50 points
• Player wins 5, partner wins 4 = 9 total = 54 points
• Nil: The player can opt to go nil and bid zero. This means that the player will win no tricks for this round, but will receive 100 points if he succeeds. When scoring for this in team mode, your partner and yourself are scored separately, and his books count only for his bid.
• Blind Nil: The player may opt to go blind nil. This is an optional rule where, before seeing your hand, you can elect to bid zero. This offers the player 200 points if successful. When scoring for this in team mode, your partner and yourself are scored separately, and his books count only for his bid.
• 10 for 200: When making your bid, you may desire to bid 10 tricks won, collectively as a team, or solo. If the bid of 10 tricks is made, 200 points are rewarded.
• Blind 6/ Blind 7: Before seeing your hand, you can choose to bid 6 or 7 for the round and receive double your bid times ten.
  • Blind 6 = (6*2*10) = 120 points
• Moon: A bid of 13 is called a moon. You can do this solo or as partners. A successfully taking13 is an automatic win and will reward 2000 points.

Rankings:

Rankings and user statistics are attained and recorded when playing in any single player game mode.

The following metrics are recorded:

• Total number of games won
• Total number of games played
• Current winning streak
• Max winning streak made by player
• Average score for all games played
• Opponents average score for all games played
• Min score made by player
• Maximum score made by player

Tips and Hints

• The Moon requires taking all 13 tricks within a round. This results in the player receiving 2000 points and an automatic win. Be careful, if you miss by one trick, it's a big loss too, -500.
• Counting cards is the key to success.
• Take into account what other players have bid before you bid. There are only 13 tricks; bidding under may mean you get bags.
• If a player goes nil, you may want to bid higher to take into account the extra tricks that may be taken.
• Remember which high cards have been played, especially spades.
• Note when the first spade has been played.
• Note when a player is out of a suit.
• Remember when another player cuts with a spade to avoid that player taking additional tricks.
• Take into account how many tricks your team has in total to avoid bags.
• Get rid of suits as quickly as possible. If you have 3 or less cards of any suit you can usually cut with a spade and win an extra trick.