Want to get out of the house, stay warm, drink a winter ale, and play an addictive game with a small, intimate group of friends? Around the first snowfall, my three friends and I meet up at our usual spot, an Irish bar in Cleveland Park in Washington, D.C. and armed with a 52-card deck and ten bucks; we spend a few hours competing in pairs to be the first team to reach 500 points in the game of Spades.
What is Spades?
Spades is an easy card game where you play with four people in two partnerships; partners sit across the table from each other. All cards are dealt, each player has 13 cards, and players bid for books. A book, also known as a trick, is the completed round of four cards, where everyone plays a card into the center, attempting to claim the book. Face cards (Ace, King, Queen, Jack) count for the most points, but Spades trump all other cards. The team that matches the amount of books they collected to the amount bid for is in the best position to score the most points. First partnership to 500 points, wins. There are multiple versions of Spades, so investigate to find the rules that work best with your Squad.
Use a 52-card deck. This can be purchased for under $3 at a convenient store or gas station. Or, even better; just borrow the house cards from the pub.
A Good Pair
Pair up with good people. My Spade’s Squad consists of my boyfriend Tony, his best friend Tim, and my best friend Morgan. Tony and I (“Taub”) pair up against Timmy and Morgan, whom we call “Torg”. The best partnerships come from knowing your other pair very well, projecting what he or she is bidding and whether or not they are bluffing. It could be a good date night, too!
Keep it Local
Play at a local pub, one that serves seasonal beers, has a friendly staff and atmosphere, and ideally, has a burning fireplace for that wintry, holiday feel. The idea is to make this night easily accessible to everyone and relaxing. My Spades Squad plays at the Irish pub Nanny O’Briens on Connecticut Ave in D.C. that takes less than 10 minutes to walk to and Mike, the head bartender, knows that I prefer the Guinness. Don’t pick an Irish bar that is a 45 minute metro ride away; pick the one that takes less than 15 minutes to ride, park, or bike to for the entire group. If you don’t live in an area where an establishment of these criteria exists, the next best thing is to host at your home.
Weekday Option
Play on what I like to call an uneventful weekday. Tuesdays and Wednesdays are great because if you play at 7 p.m. you will be done before 9 p.m., giving yourself plenty of time to compose yourself for the following day’s workload. Plus the bar is quiet and less crowded, providing maximum attention from the staff and the intimate game setting vital to Spades.
Cheap Night!
My Spades Squad eats before we head out, keeping cost to a minimum-we each buy a pint and order the wing special, spending as little as $6 each (or $8 if you prefer the Irish warmth of a Guinness).
The Result
Have fun! Make friends with the bartenders, they are curious about the exciting game you are playing. Take a moment to explain it a bit -and if you get into it—which you will-interest will spark in the tables around you, prompting intrigue and fortunately, more friends and potential competitors!
