The short answer
Your Turn: Bid This Hand
Count your sure tricks, then choose your bid.
Count your winners
Start with sure tricks: an Ace is almost always a trick; a King usually wins unless it's trumped; high spades win because spades are trump. Then add potential tricks from long suits and trump length, and subtract when you're vulnerable to being trumped.
Read the shape
- Voids (no cards in a suit) let you trump in — extra trump tricks
- Shortness (one or two in a suit) gives trump potential
- Spade length with high spades is powerful
- Few high cards and low spades? Consider Nil
Nil and team contracts
Nil (+100) is a bid of zero. Play it with a hand that can duck every trick; your partner covers by taking tricks you'd otherwise win. Remember the team contract: if you bid 3 and partner bids 4, you need 7 together — it doesn't matter who takes them.
Common mistakes
- Overbidding on aces that will be trumped
- Ignoring bags — winning too many tricks adds up to −100
- Bidding Nil without a plan to dump high cards
Ready to try it for real?
Practice it
The interactive bidding lesson deals you a real hand, analyzes its strengths and risks, and suggests a range. Then test yourself on the daily challenge.
How do I count my bid in Spades?
Count likely winners: sure tricks (high aces and kings), plus trump tricks from your spade length and high spades, then adjust for voids and short suits that let you trump in.
When should I bid Nil?
Bid Nil with a hand low enough to avoid winning any trick — few high cards, low spades, and suits you can dump. Your partner covers by winning tricks you would otherwise take.
What is a team contract?
Your bid plus your partner's bid. You must win that many tricks combined; it does not matter who takes which.