Blind Six Bidding in Spades

> F ind it at one game while it is not permitted at another.

There are times when you will encounter unique rules in the game of spades. Often referred to as house rules, these can vary according to the game you are playing. Blind Six bidding in spades is such a rule. You may find it at one game while it is not permitted at another.

A Blind Six bid in spades is a strategic play that can either make or break your team. It can turn the game around in your favor, or it can cause you to lose the game. Here is a closer look at the Blind Six bid, how it is made, and the strategic efforts needed to play it successfully.

The Basics of a Blind Six Spades Bid

The Blind Six bid basically works this way. To make the bid your team must be behind by a total of 100 or more points. If you meet this criteria, you may announce a Blind Six bid prior to the dealing of the cards.

If a single card has been dealt, a Blind Six bid cannot be made. Once the bid has been made it cannot be retracted. The team must catch a minimum of six books to win the bid. If the team succeeds, they are allowed to receive double the amount of points that would have been awarded for the bid. If the team fails, they are considered set for the hand.

Risk versus reward is what the Blind Six is all about. In exchange for bidding a hand without looking at it first, a team is rewarded with a higher number of points when they make the bid. This type of bidding can allow a team that is far behind to catch up quickly, but it can also cause a team to fall so far behind that they have no hope of coming back to win the game.

The Blind Six Bid Restrictions

It bears mentioning once again the restrictions that are designed to accompany a Blind Six spades bid. The first of these is that a team making the bid must be a total of at least 100 points behind. They can be more than 100 points behind, but not less.

The second restriction is that the team is not allowed to peek at their cards before making the bid. If the other team is able to deal just one card, no Blind Six bid can be given. This can cause some poor etiquette at the spades table. There have been many cases when a team hurries up to deal the cards before an opposing team can realize they meet the requirements for the bid.

The proper way to play is to always allow a team plenty of time to declare the bid before dealing the cards. You should even be willing to allow the opposing team to discuss the bid between themselves before dealing. After all, you would want the same courtesy if you were the one in the position of making such a bid.

Strategic Use of a Blind Six Bid

Like many other types of spades bids, the Blind Six is meant to be used as a strategic weapon. Just because you meet the conditions that are required to use the bid does not mean that you should use it every time. The best spades teams are those who use the bid when it offers the most advantage to them. That usually means when you are in the later stages of a game and need to mount a big comeback.

If you are more than 100 points behind and your opponents only need 100 to win the game, the Blind Six bid makes sense. In this situation you would be hoping to not only make the bid but to also set your opponents in the process. This would be a double whammy that would probably put you back in the running to be competitive.

On the other hand, trying the bid in the earlier stages of a game can also give you more time to recover if you don't make it. In the end, it is up to team members to determine when to try the bid.

One thing is certain. If you attempt the bid too often, disaster is bound to strike. When you make a Blind Six bid you are stating that you will catch almost half of the books in play without even looking at your cards. The odds would seem to be only slightly in your favor when you try it, but think for a minute how many hands you have been dealt which would not merit a bid of six books.

Variations of the Blind Six

It is interesting to note that you are not limited to the Blind Six. It is also possible for you to bid a Blind Seven or even a Blind Eight. As you might imagine, making this type of bid increases the risk. It also increases the reward if you happen to be successful when bidding.

A Blind Seven bid will net you 140 points. A Blind Eight will score 160. This is tempting, especially when you are in a position that seems hopeless. Our recommendation would be to go for it if you are backed against the wall and have no other choice for success.

There is a way to avoid the use of the Blind Six bid altogether. The way is to play good spades from the beginning and not fall behind. Of course, all teams will fall behind at some point. In that case it is good to have a weapon that you can use.

Just remember that the Blind Six bid is not allowed in all spades games. It can only be used when the house rules allow it, and only when the teams that are playing the game agree. Never try to use a Blind Six when it has not been agreed upon beforehand. You should also avoid the bid when one team is unfamiliar with it unless you take the time to explain the bid before play begins.

Blind Six Bidding in Spades

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