Game Information

With Spades Challenge you can play with up to 3 additional networked players. To request a game with someone on another device, change their player type icon to a network player. Then enter their username which is the device's email address before the @ sign.

Check out Netplay for opponents!

- Human
- Computer

- Network Player (on another device), choose this player type for a networked opponent

Note: After a game has begun, you'll also see this icon...
- Host Player (networked player who originated the game)

The first dealer is randomly chosen and the deal rotates clockwise. Each player is dealt 13 cards

Players directly across from each other are partners during the game.

Each player must bid a number corresponding to the number of tricks they believe they will win during the round. Bidding starts to the left of the dealer and continues clockwise. Bids can range from 0 (nil) to 13. After the bidding has finished, bid counts are tallied up for each partnership and play begins.

The player to the left of the dealer begins play with any card except for a spade. Going clockwise, each player must then play a card of the suit led if possible. Spades may not be played or led on the first hand unless there are no other options. After all four cards have been played, the highest Spade on the board wins the trick, or if no spades have been played, the highest card of the suit led wins the trick. Playing the first spade is known as “breaking” spades. Spades may only be led to start a trick if they have been broken or if there are no other options. The winner of the trick leads the next hand. After all cards have been played, scores are calculated.

A partnership that takes at least as many tricks as they bid receives 10 points per trick bid and 1 point for every trick over what they bid (sandbags)

Example:
If a team has 51 points, bids 6 and takes 7, their score 51 + 6 tricks bid * 10 + 1 sandbag = 112.

If a partnership receives 10 or more sandbags, they lose 100 points and all sandbags beyond 10 are carried over to the next series of sandbags.

Examples:
If a team has 258 points, bids 4 and takes 6, their score is 258 + 40 + 2 sandbags = 300 – 100 (for 10 sandbags) = 200.

If a team has 258 points, bids 4 and takes 7, their score is 258 + 40 + 3 sandbags = 301 – 100 = 201.

If a team does not make its bid, it receives -10 for every trick they bid.

If a player bids 0 (nil) tricks and succeeds, their partnership receives 100 additional points towards whatever their score was to be. If this partner ends up taking tricks, the partnership receives -100 points and whatever tricks are taken do not count towards making the partner’s bid, but do count as sandbags.

The side which reaches 500 first wins.

You can choose from the following avatars:

The buddy list is a quick and easy way to store and access the usernames of other players. You can use the stored names in the buddy list to quickly initiate networked games with your favorite opponents.

Adding Buddies
From The 'Buddy List' Setup Menu - Enter 'Buddy List Setup' by pressing , then selecting 'Settings' and then 'Buddy List Setup'. Enter the username of your buddy in the text field and press the 'Add Buddy' button. Make sure to save to confirm your changes by pressing the 'Done BACK_BUTTON_GLYPH' button.

From A Network Game - While in a game with network players press then select 'Add Player To Buddy List'. A list of all of the networked players in the game will be displayed. Only networked players not already in your buddy list will appear in the list. Select the player's username from the list you would like to add. Press the 'Add Buddy' button to add the players to your buddy list.
Note: This will only be available during a game with network players.

Entering Buddies
Select the player name field in the 'Player Setup' window to highlight the name entry box. Press then select 'Insert From Buddy List Menu'. Clicking on the username of a buddy will populate the name field with the selected buddy's username.
You can also highlight a field and begin typing the username of a buddy and a list will appear with matching usernames. Select a name from the list to populate the name field with the selected buddy's username.

Note: If there are no buddies in your list, these features will not be available.

Deleting Buddies Press and select 'Settings' then 'Buddy List Setup'. Select the username(s) of the buddy/buddies from the list by pressing . Selected buddies will have an icon next to the name when selected. Press the 'Delete Selected' button to permanently remove the selected usernames from your buddy list. Make sure to save to confirm your changes by pressing the 'Done BACK_BUTTON_GLYPH' button.

You can chat with your opponents during a networked game. When someone has sent a message, a chat bubble icon will appear at the corner of your screen.

Opening/Closing The Chat Window - Press LEFT_SHOULDER_GLYPH or press and select 'Chat Window'.

Sending A Message - After opening the chat window, enter text in the text field and press the 'Send' button.

Emoticons - The following emoticons are available in chat:

Expressive Chat Bubbles

Yelling - type <yell> or <y> at the beginning of your message.
Thinking - type <think> or <t> at the beginning of your message.
Whispering - type <whisper username> or <w username> at the beginning of your message. The username should be the username of the buddy you wish to whisper too. A whisper is only viewed by the buddy you whisper to.

Hint: You need not type the entire username of the buddy as long as you enter enough characters for it to match to a unique player name.

For example, you have to type to whisper to a player with the username 'bobby' if there is also a player with the username 'bonnie'. Typing just or would not be successful since more than one user name starts with the same characters of 'bo'.

Notes
- Make sure to use the angled brackets around the keyword to use expressive chat bubbles.
- In games where whispering would constitute cheating, whispering will be disabled during the game, but will be available both before and after the game.

Font Size And Timestamps - Press and select 'Settings'. Here you can change the chat font size and toggle the display of time stamps on and off.

The network profile allows you to create and set your own default avatar for network game play. This will be the avatar that is used in a network game.

Setting Up Your Profile - Press and select 'Settings' then 'Network Profile'.

Note: This avatar will always be used when you're challenged to a network game.

To use this avatar when sending a challenge, click on the avatar icon in the 'Player Setup' window. Press the 'Load Profile' button from the avatar setup menu, then press the 'Done BACK_BUTTON_GLYPH' button to confirm your changes.

Note: This button will only be available if the player type is set to human.

Sharing Settings - For your convenience, when you change your network profile, buddy list or chat settings these settings will also be reflected in other Requiem games, when applicable.

You can choose from the following avatars: