Most games of Spades are played to 500 points, and the first team to reach 500 wins. That’s the short answer, and for the majority of tables it’s all you need. But there’s a bit more worth knowing, because the target you choose decides how long you’ll be playing and groups don’t all use the same number. This page covers the common winning scores, how long a game runs, and how to pick the right target for your table.
If you’re brand new and just want to get a game going, the how to play page walks through a full hand, and the Spades rules page has the complete rule set.
How Many Points to Win
The standard winning score is 500 points. You play hand after hand, adding each team’s result to a running total, and the first side to hit 500 takes the game. Your score climbs as you make your bids and dips when you get set or collect the bag penalty, so the totals don’t march up in a straight line. Exactly how those points are earned each hand is laid out on the Spades scoring page; here we’re only concerned with the finish line.
It’s worth saying that 500 isn’t a rule handed down from anywhere official. It’s simply the number most people have settled on because it makes for a satisfying game that isn’t too long or too short. Plenty of groups play to something else, and none of them are wrong.
How Long a Game Lasts
Reaching 500 usually takes somewhere between eight and thirteen hands, depending on how boldly everyone bids. Tables full of big bids and the odd successful Nil get there faster, while cautious play stretches things out. In real time, a single hand runs a few minutes, so a full game to 500 tends to land somewhere between three quarters of an hour and an hour and a half.
If that sounds like a lot, it’s because Spades rewards patience. The game isn’t built to be over in five minutes, which is part of why it’s such a good fit for a long evening at the table.
Shorter Targets for Quicker Games
When you’re short on time, or teaching someone, or just want a faster game, lower the target. Playing to 250 or 300 points cuts the game roughly in half and still gives every kind of hand a chance to come up, including a Nil or two. Some casual groups go as low as 200 for a quick round.
These shorter games are perfect for newcomers. A beginner can play a whole game to 250, see how the scoring shakes out, and be ready for a full 500-point game next time without having sat through a marathon to learn the ropes.
Crossing the Line at the Same Time
Once in a while both teams will cross the winning total in the very same hand. The rule for that is simple: the team with the higher score wins. So if you’re playing to 500 and one team finishes the hand on 540 while the other lands on 510, the 540 takes it, even though both are past 500. In the rare event that both teams end up tied and over the line, you play one more hand to break it.
This is one reason the back end of a close game gets tense. When both sides are near the target, the hand that pushes you over has to push you over by more than your opponents, which can turn a quiet late hand into a real scramble.
The Losing Threshold
A lot of groups add a second finish line at the bottom. Because a badly missed bid or a stack of bags can drag a team into negative numbers, some tables rule that a team falling to a set low score, often minus 200, loses the game on the spot. It’s a way of ending a lopsided game early rather than grinding on while one team digs out of a hole.
Like the winning number, this losing threshold varies. Some groups set it at minus 200, others at minus 250 or further down, and many don’t use one at all. It’s worth a quick check before you start so nobody is surprised when the game ends from the wrong direction.
Picking the Right Number for Your Table
There’s no single correct target, just the one that fits the time you have and the people you’re playing with. For a standard evening of Spades with players who know the game, 500 is the comfortable default and the number most people mean. When time is tight or you’re bringing someone new along, drop to 250 or 300 for a brisker game. And if you’ve got a long, lazy afternoon and a group that loves it, nothing stops you from setting the bar at 700 or even 1000 and settling in.
Whatever you choose, agree on it before the first deal, along with whether you’re using a losing threshold. Sort that out up front and the only thing left to argue about is who’s dealing first.