Why is Spades card game so addictive?

Since March 30th, 2024, my weekends have been consumed by this card game that has taken over my social circle, including my entire birthday weekend getaway to Orcas Island. In fact, I’ll go as far as to say that identities are being formed, alliances being forged, and friendships being built during its gameplay.

So, what is it about games like Spades (and Poker, for that matter) that is so addictive? Well, it’s definitely not just the rules (which we don’t always follow to the dot).

1/ Unpredictability

In this game, there’s a bidding process followed by playing one’s hand taking turns. Before each hand, players must predict how many bids they think they can win based on the cards they hold. It’s a mini-gamble within the game, and the anticipation of matching your bid will keep you engaged. Will you bid conservatively or go for broke? This anticipation is bolstered by the fact that towards the end of the game — there will be up to 100 points up for grab in a single round with each player having 10 cards each compared to max of 10 points in the first round. So the risk curvature increases as the game goes on. Due to this hidden information, spades requires making decisions based on incomplete information. Players must balance the probabilities of different actions, such as bluffing or bid frequencies, to avoid being overpowered.

The guessing also brings out individual personality traits and their risk appetite. This constant uncertainty keeps everyone on their toes, trying to read their opponents’ hands and strategize accordingly.

2/ The power of teamwork when it comes to total bids in the system

Spades is typically played with multi-people in partnerships. This team dynamic adds a whole new dimension to the game. Communicating with your partner through bids and plays, trying to support each other’s strategies, and working together to outscore your opponents adds to the gameplay.

3/ Flexible rules for any occasion

Another appealing aspect of Spades is its flexibility. The game can be easily adapted to accommodate different numbers of players. Whether you have just two people or want to organize a larger group, Spades can be played in pairs or even with multiple teams. This versatility makes it easy to gather a group and start playing.

For example, we introduced two new rules to mix it up and make it more engaging and it was a seamless process:

1/ Flexible max underbid count until a penalty hit (reduce or increase based on time commitment or players playing)

2/ Winning team being captains in future rounds (easier dimension to shuffle teams on)

4/ Easy to learn, challenging to master

Spades has a relatively simple ruleset, making it easy for new players to learn. The basic strategies are obvious until you realize there are subsequent tactical changes you can make as the game progresses. The game’s depth becomes apparent as players develop their skills and have their unique style. Mastering bidding, reading opponents, and executing advanced strategies adds a level of complexity that keeps us hooked.

5/ The combination of luck and skill (and the reason why I believe Spades trumps Chess in terms of gameplay/engagement)

Even though Chess has a game tree complexity of around 10¹²⁰ possible game states, and Go with a even higher one at 10¹⁷⁰. IMO, spades (or games like spades in poker) is harder.

The luck of the draw levels the playing field, giving even novice players a shot at winning. Skills involve the ability to read people, balancing risk appetite based on your hand and total points scored up until that round, keep track of historic cards dealt etc. In Spades, you’re not just playing against the cards, you’re playing against people.

P.S

For a weird reason, there seems to be identifies being built around RCB — an IPL cricket team potentially making it to the playoffs at the moment with people either siding with them or being against them. Hard to explain, but does not matter as long as the team is winning. Also, thanks Sandhya for introducing the game.