Spades Tournament Rules

Dealing

• The dealer gives 13 cards to each player.

• The dealer must offer the player to his/her right, the opportunity to cut the cards after they are shuffled.

• MISDEAL - can be called for the following:

  • The player was not dealt exactly 13 cards

  • A player does not have any spades.

• The player to the left of the dealer starts the game.

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Playing

• Each round will be limited to 30-minute rounds, and all score sheets must be turned in to count for that round.

• Players must follow the suit of the card led if they have it

• If a player can't follow suit, they can play a spade or another suit--Spades can beat any other suit

• The Ace of Spades is the highest card in the deck

• Players must bet at least 1 trick

• NIL bets are allowed only in the semi-final and final rounds -- They are worth 100 points if no tricks occur. If the player wins a trick, 100 points will be deducted.

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Scoring

• The winner must reach 250 points in the first  few rounds, semi-finals and finals are played to 500 points

• A side that takes at least as many tricks as its bid receives a score

• Each trick is worth 10 points.

• Bags are worth an extra 1 point each

• A side that accumulates 10 bags will have 50 points deducted from its score

 

Other rules

No "table talk" or giving hints to a partner is allowed

A misdeal can be called if a player doesn't have exactly 13 cards, or doesn't have any spades or face cards

A player who reneges will have three tricks added to their bid--Once you let the card go, it's final.

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Fees to Enter Tournament Play

First round $100

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*TEAMS CAN REBUY ONLY ONE TIME AFTER THEIR FIRST LOSS. THE REBUY MUST TAKE PLACE IN THE FIRST TWO ROUNDS.