Run a Yard in Spades

One of the most entertaining things about the game of spades is that it has its own lingo. You will hear many different hands in spades described in a certain way. For example, to run a yard in spades means that a team is able to catch every single book that is available. To run a yard also means an automatic win for the team that accomplishes this difficult feat.

The Origin of Run a Yard in Spades

Like many of the expressions that are used in a spades game today, the precise origin of run a yard is unknown. It seems to have evolved out of the term Boston, another way of saying that a team is bidding all 13 books. Another term for this in spades is Wheels.

The meaning of run a yard may be one or more things. It can be to run the yard as in running the schoolyard. In other words, the team that makes the run a yard bid are the schoolyard bullies in control of the game. Or, it may be a reference to the skills of a football running back who must run a yard to achieve a first down for his team.

In either situation, the term means that a team is trying to run over its opponents when the run a yard bid is made. It takes a lot of confidence in one's hand to produce this kind of bid, and even a little luck to pull it off.

How to Run a Yard in Spades

The first step to running a yard in spades is to evaluate your hand and see if it is possible to catch all 13 books. In even the best of circumstances this can be a very hard thing to do. In addition to skill you will also need a little bit of luck to pull it off.

You and your partner will have a chance to discuss the possibility of the bid before you make it, within the rules of spades. This means that you can tell your partner how many books you think you can catch, but you must not reveal what you hold. There is a fine line here.

Some teams have become very good at sharing what they hold without saying it outright. There is nothing that says you cannot employ this skill. Just be prepared to encounter hard feelings if the team that you are playing believes you are crossing the line.

What makes bidding this run a yard spades hand so difficult is that there is zero room for error. You do not get to have a second chance, nor is there a minor award for making a part of the bid. If you catch 12 books, this is impressive. It will still lose the bid though, and you will be punished on the score pad.

The Reward for Running a Yard

Now, as you might expect, running a yard involves a reward that is commensurate with its risk. As a general rule, the successful completion of this bid means that the team bidding it wins the game automatically. This is regardless of the score as it stands before the bid is made. You can be behind by 200 points and win the game by running the yard.

Even more attractive is that you don't automatically lose the game if you fail at the bid. In some cases you may only lose 100 points if you don't catch all 13 books. This can vary according to the house rules of each spades game, so be sure to check and see what those are before you begin to play.

When is the Best Time to Bid 13 in Spades?

This can be a subject of disagreement among spades players. Some think that running a yard is always a good idea in spades if you think you have the hand. Others believe the bid is a weapon that needs to be used sparingly if at all.

We think that running a yard is so hard to achieve that the risk almost always outweighs the reward. A good example of when to make the bid would be when you are behind by a large number of points and need a miracle to recover. Sometimes, a Boston bid is the only thing that will save you.

Likewise, if your opponents only need four books to go out and win the game you might want to think about giving the Wheels bid a try. What have you got to lose? If you are able to goad your opponents into bidding more than what they need and you both go set, you may live to fight another day.

This rule is common to almost all types of spades games. You should learn what the bid involves and how to make it if you intend to play spades on a regular basis.