Preparing to Play
Team Names – Each team must create a Team Name. Have fun making up your Spades identity.
Arrival Time - layers should plan to arrive at least 30 minutes prior to the start time. Use that time to determine which teams you will be playing; which table or section; grab food & drinks; and discuss strategy with your partner.
Style of Play
Card order is Ace High to Deuce Low, with no Jokers. Nil bids are legal and + or - 100 points. Nil bids are written as "0" on bidding chips. Scoring is classic standard 10 times bid plus 1 for each extra trick.
· Nil books count toward partners' total bid
· Spades cannot be played unless broken, or no other cards are available to play
· You must rake your own books for renege verification purposes
· If a person bids Nil and the partner collects that book, it looks like the partner made that book when they had not
· Once a book has been collected it cannot be looked at during the hand, unless a renege challenge is initiated
· Talking strategy of any kind is ONLY permitted between partners before or after a game and should not be heard by other players which can interfere with the remaining games being played
· The referee/host will provide warnings and assess point penalties against teams that violate the rules of play
The following are not acceptable methods of play:
a. Not BBQ Spades
b. No blind 6's or 7's
c. No 10 for 2's
d. No Joker Joker Deuce
e. No Joker Deuce
f. No Board 4s or 3s
g. No “possible” bids and partner discussions then adding bids after the bids go around the table
h. No throwing in your cards if there are no face cards. Minimum bid is 1.
i. No Double Nils
j. No first hand bids itself
Duration of Game
Games are played to 500 points or when time has expired. The game timer will begin and will run for the duration of the game as listed below:
3 rounds of play – 100 minutes
4 rounds of play – 75 minutes
5 rounds of play – 60 minutes
6 rounds of play – 50 minutes
Cards not dealt prior to the expiration of time will result in the round not being played. Cards already in play when time expires will be played until the round is completed.
10-Minute Breaks – Breaks are provided between each round of play and will begin as soon as the last table has completed their game in that division.
Seat Selection- Partners sit diagonally across from each other at the table. Seats cannot be changed once the game has begun.
Substitutes
Substitutes are allowed as long as one of the two regular teammates is available to play. If two individuals from two different teams want to sub on each other’s team, then both teams will accrue points. However, although a team that uses a substitute can win a regular tournament, that tournament will not be counted toward the total wins required to enter the Tournament of Champions. No subs are allowed to play in the Tournament of Champions; and only teams that have played in at least one tournament together as an established team can qualify for the Tournament of Champions.
Prize Money
The prize money depends on the number of registered teams and associated entry fees. Winning teams can expect to win between approximately $128 and $220 for a regular tournament. Runners-up win vouchers for one-half or full cost discounts on future tournaments; with discretionary cash prizes awarded depending on the number of teams registered for the tournament.