Spades: Beware The Predators
This Nugget has been written by Spades Master on 20 Sep at 8:54PM
Category: Whist
There are a number of ways in which an experienced opponent can bedevil and befuddle the unwary player. One of the most successful and demoralizing tactics is by way of the experienced player deliberately underbidding his hand during a round... not by just one trick, but by as many as FOUR or FIVE tricks! 
I call these players "Predators" because their tactic will almost always compel one or more of the opponents to mistakenly overestimate their own cards. Once the trap is sprung, he'll prey on the opponents until one or all of them are set. Here's how it typically works:
1. Predator is dealt a very strong hand. He can easily win about five or six tricks.
2. Predator bids only one trick! ...and places a hand over his mouth to muffle evil laughter. Bwah-ha-ha-hahaha!
3. When it comes time for the 4th player to bid, he can't help but notice a huge discrepancy in the bids already in place. In each round, there are 13 possible tricks, but only four total tricks have already been bid by the three other opponents. That leaves 9 tricks for the taking. That's 90 points up for grabs! Hmmmm...
4. Player 4 succumbs to the trick and overbids his hand, rationalizing that all his Kings and Queens will somehow win a trick... and thinking HE is the one taking advantage of this round because he sees his opponents as playing overly cautious... and why shouldn't he pickup an extra 30 or 40 points for their timidity? Woo-hoo!
5. The trap is sprung as Player 4 is rudely awakened when the Predator gobbles up all of his spades and cuts his Aces and Kings to shreds. After the round, Player 4 is traumatized. He still doesn't know what hit him, and he briefly contemplates resigning the game. The end?
The moral of the story is DON'T BE GREEDY. There was another nugget article I wrote earlier called, "How Good Are Your Cards... for SPADES", which will give you a more accurate idea of how strong your hand really is. To that article I would add this word of advice: if there is a big discrepancy in the bids, be especially wary and suspicious that a Predator is lurking behind one of the opponents' bids. Don't take the bait. Bid smart and be patient. Sooner or later you WILL be dealt a killer hand, after which you can legitimately run the table on your opponents - Predators included. Happy hunting.
I call these players "Predators" because their tactic will almost always compel one or more of the opponents to mistakenly overestimate their own cards. Once the trap is sprung, he'll prey on the opponents until one or all of them are set. Here's how it typically works:
1. Predator is dealt a very strong hand. He can easily win about five or six tricks.
2. Predator bids only one trick! ...and places a hand over his mouth to muffle evil laughter. Bwah-ha-ha-hahaha!
3. When it comes time for the 4th player to bid, he can't help but notice a huge discrepancy in the bids already in place. In each round, there are 13 possible tricks, but only four total tricks have already been bid by the three other opponents. That leaves 9 tricks for the taking. That's 90 points up for grabs! Hmmmm...
4. Player 4 succumbs to the trick and overbids his hand, rationalizing that all his Kings and Queens will somehow win a trick... and thinking HE is the one taking advantage of this round because he sees his opponents as playing overly cautious... and why shouldn't he pickup an extra 30 or 40 points for their timidity? Woo-hoo!
5. The trap is sprung as Player 4 is rudely awakened when the Predator gobbles up all of his spades and cuts his Aces and Kings to shreds. After the round, Player 4 is traumatized. He still doesn't know what hit him, and he briefly contemplates resigning the game. The end?
The moral of the story is DON'T BE GREEDY. There was another nugget article I wrote earlier called, "How Good Are Your Cards... for SPADES", which will give you a more accurate idea of how strong your hand really is. To that article I would add this word of advice: if there is a big discrepancy in the bids, be especially wary and suspicious that a Predator is lurking behind one of the opponents' bids. Don't take the bait. Bid smart and be patient. Sooner or later you WILL be dealt a killer hand, after which you can legitimately run the table on your opponents - Predators included. Happy hunting.
:pow:
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A Downvote?!
Posted on 26 Jun at 4:07PM by Spades Master
I give tips to improve Spades tactics for others and make players aware of some tricks which advanced players use to exploit the average player.
If you disagree with my advice, that's fine. If you feel strongly enough to give my advice a negative downvote, then that's OK, too.
I just wish that player had the guts to comment on why he/she disagreed so forcefully, and backup his/her judgement. Otherwise, it makes you look like a cowardly troll.
Just my two cents. Keep up the good fight!
If you disagree with my advice, that's fine. If you feel strongly enough to give my advice a negative downvote, then that's OK, too.
I just wish that player had the guts to comment on why he/she disagreed so forcefully, and backup his/her judgement. Otherwise, it makes you look like a cowardly troll.
Just my two cents. Keep up the good fight!
overbidding
Posted on 14 Nov at 9:38AM by marshmud
I think those who overbid should be dealt with. For an example if you get 10 extra tricks, or 10 in the ones column you go back 100 points
Underbidding... on purpose
Posted on 23 Nov at 8:36AM by Spades Master
Posted on 14 Nov at 9:39AM by marshmud
I think those who overbid should be dealt with. For an example if you get 10 extra tricks, or 10 in the ones column you go back 100 points
Sound advice, marshmund... if you're playing anywhere else but Goltoken. At this site, extra tricks are NOT penalized. If you accumulate 10 extra tricks here, you will NOT go back 100 pts. Sorry, but those are the facts.
Don't blame the messenger, I didn't make the rules here. My tips are merely designed to take advantage of this rules oversight.
If you feel that deliberately underbidding "should be dealt with," (because it's somehow gaming the system?), then by all means, bid only the tricks you think you actually have.
Deliberate underbidding is just a tactic... one allowed here by Goldtoken. One can choose to take advantage of it or not.
I think those who overbid should be dealt with. For an example if you get 10 extra tricks, or 10 in the ones column you go back 100 points
Sound advice, marshmund... if you're playing anywhere else but Goltoken. At this site, extra tricks are NOT penalized. If you accumulate 10 extra tricks here, you will NOT go back 100 pts. Sorry, but those are the facts.
Don't blame the messenger, I didn't make the rules here. My tips are merely designed to take advantage of this rules oversight.
If you feel that deliberately underbidding "should be dealt with," (because it's somehow gaming the system?), then by all means, bid only the tricks you think you actually have.
Deliberate underbidding is just a tactic... one allowed here by Goldtoken. One can choose to take advantage of it or not.
Bags
Posted on 7 May at 1:28PM by DoubleU
What's interesting is this probably happens less on versions with bags. You get one "bag" per overtrick, or extra trick beyond what you bid, in addition to one extra point. Every ten bags you get are traded in for a 100-point penalty. As a consequence, it does NOT pay to bid too low OR too high.
bag or not to bag?
Posted on 9 Jul at 5:31PM by Spades Master
since this site does not penalize for bags, it is advantageous to slightly underbid. it is better safe than sorry, better to steadily increase your score rather than suffer a shocking decrease when something unexpected happens.
another perk is the extra bags may factor into a win for you in close finishes.
there are always risks, but limit the risks with caution. when the time comes when you are dealt a killer hand, then you can run the table on points. until then, my advice is to bid smart and safe.
another perk is the extra bags may factor into a win for you in close finishes.
there are always risks, but limit the risks with caution. when the time comes when you are dealt a killer hand, then you can run the table on points. until then, my advice is to bid smart and safe.