Spades Tricks - Practical Tips for Better Play
Setting Opponents' Nil Bids
When an opponent bids nil, your team has a clear target: force that player to take at least one trick. Setting a nil bid earns your opponents a -100 point penalty (they lose 100 points), which is a massive swing.
The First Three Tricks Are Critical
The best time to set a nil bid is early, before the nil bidder has voided suits:
| Trick | Strategy |
|---|---|
| 1st | Lead your longest suit to test the nil bidder's holding |
| 2nd | Lead a different suit to find weaknesses |
| 3rd | Lead high cards in suits where the nil bidder played low cards |