Contract Bridge vs. Spades
Comparing 2 standards across 20 specifications. 18 key differences identified.
Contract Bridge is a trick-taking card game for four players in two fixed partnerships, governed internationally by the World Bridge Federation (WBF). Play consists of an auction bidding phase to determine the contract (trump suit and number of tricks required above 6) followed by card play, scored using vulnerability and penalty multipliers.
Spades is a standard 4-player partnership trick-taking card game where Spades are permanently the trump suit. Players simultaneously bid the exact number of tricks they expect to win. Bidding Nil awards a +100 point bonus (or -100 penalty), while taking extra tricks beyond the bid accumulates 'bags', triggering a 100-point penalty for every 10 bags.
Specification Comparison Table
20 Parameters| Parameter / Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Total Players
|
4 in 2 partnerships (North-South, East-West) | 4 in 2 fixed partnerships |
|
Deck Size
|
52 cards (13 dealt per player) | 52 cards (13 dealt per player) |
|
Governing Body
|
World Bridge Federation (WBF) | — |
|
Base Book Tricks
|
6 tricks (contract level adds to 6) | — |
|
Total Tricks Available
|
13 tricks | — |
|
Suit Hierarchy (Low to High)
|
Clubs (♣), Diamonds (♦), Hearts (♥), Spades (♠), No Trump (NT) | — |
|
Major Suits
|
Hearts (♥), Spades (♠) 30 pts per trick | — |
|
Minor Suits
|
Clubs (♣), Diamonds (♦) 20 pts per trick | — |
|
No Trump 1st Trick Value
|
40 points (30 pts subsequent) | — |
|
Game Threshold
|
100 trick points in one deal | — |
|
Small Slam Level
|
12 tricks (Level 6 Contract) | — |
|
Grand Slam Level
|
13 tricks (Level 7 Contract) | — |
|
Permanent Trump Suit
|
— | Spades (♠) always trumps other suits |
|
Rank of Cards
|
— | Ace (High) to 2 (Low) |
|
Standard Winning Score
|
— | 500 points |
|
Contract Trick Points
|
— | 10 points per bid trick won |
|
Overtrick (Bag) Points
|
— | 1 point per extra trick |
|
10-Bag Penalty
|
— | -100 points deducted at 10 bags |
|
Nil Bid Bonus / Penalty
|
— | +100 / -100 points (0 tricks won) |
|
Blind Nil Bonus / Penalty
|
— | +200 / -200 points (bid before looking) |