What is Spades Master?

A sophisticated online Spades platform featuring interactive learning, strategic AI, and real-time competitive multiplayer with a focus on skill development and polished, modern gameplay.

Nil in Spades — How to Bid, Cover, and Set Nil

Nil is a bid of zero tricks — bold, valuable, and dangerous. Here is how to decide when to bid Nil, how to cover your partner, and how opponents try to break it. Try it yourself below.

The short answer

Nil is a bid of zero tricks. Make it for +100; fail and lose −100. Bid Nil with a hand that has few high cards, low spades, and suits you can dump. Your partner covers by winning tricks you would otherwise take. Opponents try to force you to win by leading your short suits.

Your Turn: Nil or Nah?

Look at this hand. Would you bid Nil?

What Nil is

Nil is a bid of zero tricks. If you take no tricks, you score +100. If you take even one, you fail and lose −100. It is the highest-risk, highest-reward bid in Spades.

When to bid Nil

Few high cards — no aces or kings likely to win
Low spades, so trump will not force you to win
Suits you can dump (play low) when others lead
A partner who can cover

Covering your partner's Nil

When your partner bids Nil, your job is to win the tricks they would otherwise take. Lead suits they are strong in so they can dump low; take tricks with your high cards, especially aces and kings that could fall on the wrong lead. A good cover saves a Nil that would otherwise fail by one trick.

How opponents set a Nil

Opponents will lead suits where you hold high cards, hoping to force you to win. They may also lead trumps to flush out high spades. A good Nil bidder keeps low cards in every suit and ducks whenever possible.

Blind Nil

Blind Nil is a Nil bid made before looking at your hand. It is worth double — +200 made, −200 failed. On Internet Spades, Blind Nil is available only in Private Table creation — not in public Quick Match or Practice vs AI. Enable it in match settings when you create a private table.

Ready to try it for real?

Learn it interactively

The interactive Nil lesson lets you see a Nil hand and practice covering. Then read the bidding guide for how Nil fits your overall bid, and the scoring page for the full +100/−100 math.

What is Nil in Spades?

Nil is a bid of zero — you commit to winning no tricks. Make it for +100; fail and you lose 100.

When should I bid Nil?

Bid Nil with a hand low enough to avoid winning: few high cards, low spades, and suits you can dump safely.

How does my partner cover a Nil?

Your partner tries to win any trick you would otherwise take, especially with high cards in suits you are weak in.

How do opponents set a Nil?

Opponents lead suits that force you to win — high cards in your short suits, or trump situations where you must take a trick.

What is Blind Nil?

A Nil bid made before looking at your hand, worth +200 if made and −200 if failed. On Internet Spades, Blind Nil is available only in Private Table creation.