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  Spades Tips and Strategies

Spades Column of the Month – December 2006

By Joe Andrews, author of ‘The Complete Win At Spades’

Answers to the annual Spades Holiday Quiz

Here are the answers to last month’s annual Spades Holiday Quiz:

1. What was the name of the original Internet card-playing service which became the MSN Gaming Zone in the mid 1990's?

The Village

2. Assuming a 500 point limit, and no double Nils, what is the highest possible score by one partnership in a game of Spades?

729 points (499 and bids of Nil and 13)

3. What is the name of the Spades variation in which each player must bid the number of spades (trump) in his/her hand for each and every deal?

Mirrors

4. In which city was the 1999 U.S. Open Spades and Hearts tournament held? (This live event later evolved into the Grand Prix World Series of Spades.)

Las Vegas (Harrah’s). This was the first of the annual national Spades events.

5. What is a "parasite" or "piggyback" Nil?

A “parasite” Nil is bid by one player after a player on the other team bids Nil.

6. What does the term "ruff" mean? (And no, it’s not the sound a dog makes.)

Trumping a plain or side suit with a Spade.

7. Which other two partnership card games are in the same family or group as Spades? (Hint: these two games are very similar to Spades, as they have at least one round of bidding, 13 tricks, and a declared trump suit).

Bridge and Bid Whist.

8. Nancy Landau, from Indianapolis , IN, has a Spades-related claim to fame. What is it?

She organized the first “live” Spades tournament in 1997.

9. How does “Old School” or Classic Spades differ from the modern game?

A variation of Spades which has no Nils, no bags, and spades may be led at any time. Other options include the use of Jokers and the designation of the deuce of Spades as a trump which outranks the Ace of Spades.

10. What is a “Nil Reverse” signal, and can you provide an example?

This is the play (by the Nil bidder) of a low card, followed by a higher card in the same suit.

11. Who are the only two players (the same partnership) to win the Grand Prix World Series of Spades championship more than once?

John Crehan and Jeff Higgins.

12. Assume that you hold the Queen and one small Spade. The rest of your hand consists of safe low cards in the other suits. What are the odds that your partner will be able to cover a Nil bid by you? (In other words, it is hoped that he has the Ace and/or King of Spades.)

54.5%.

13. What is the most common name for an AI computer "player" who might be required to replace your partner or opponent during a game?

A “bot” (short for “robot”).

14. Assuming no double Nils and a minus 200 point limit, what is the lowest possible score by a partnership in a game of Spades?

Minus 459 points (minus 199 and minus 260 from two set 13 bids.)

15. What is the difference between a Double Nil and a Twin Nil?

A Double Nil is the same as a Blind Nil. A Twin Nil denotes each member of the same team bidding Nil independently.

16. Which variation of Spades features the same hands played by different pairs, and then match-pointed in order to compare the results?

Duplicate.

17. What are the odds of having a 13-card suit dealt to any one player, and what are the odds of all players receiving a 13-card suit?

Receiving 13 cards on one suit – 1 in 158,753,389,900.

18. Who created the Big 5 Convention, which promises 4 to 6 tricks and the Ace or King of spades in the same hand?

Herm Carney and Roger DeNino, two participants in the Indianapolis, IN., “live” Spades conventions of 1997 and 1998.

19. According to Bridge author George Coffin, in what city and year was the game of Spades created?

Cincinnati, OH., in 1937. Interestingly enough the game was created by Whist players.

20. According to the history of card games, what did the Spades suit represent in medieval times?

Royalty and nobility and/or the military.

And the winner is (drum roll, please...) CC-SI.  He answered 16 of the 20 questions correctly. Our resident Spades expert, John “Galt” Strichman of CO., also took the challenge and answered 18 of the 20 questions correctly.  Mr. Strichman is no stranger to Spades and is one of three published Spades authors. More than 100 entries were received. Thanks to all who participated!

Another year in the books… it has been fun! Have a happy Holiday Season and a prosperous 2007! Sincerely and goodbye!