Counting tricks
- Aces outside spades are usually one trick each. Kings are about half a trick, more if you also hold the Ace.
- Spades: the Ace is a sure trick, the King almost, the Queen if you have two more spades with her. Every spade past your third is roughly another trick.
- Short suits: with spare spades, a void or a single card in a suit lets you trump in early.
The game suggests a bid when it's your turn, worked out this way. Bid a little under it if you're unsure.
Bidding Nil
Bid Nil with no Aces or Kings, few spades and nothing higher than about a 9 of spades. Low cards in every suit help. Once you've bid Nil, play your highest card that still loses each trick, and throw away your big cards whenever you can't follow suit.
Covering your partner
When your partner bids Nil, your job is to win the tricks they can't afford to. Lead high cards, and play over them when they're winning a trick.
Bags
Once your team has its bid, stop winning. Play under the winning card, and let the other team take tricks they don't want. Ten bags cost 100 points, more than most hands are worth.
Setting the other team
If the other team's bids add up high, they'll need almost every trick. Holding on to a winner, or trumping one of their sure tricks, can set them for a big loss.