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Table Talk 101 · How to Play Spades
What Are Bags?
Bags are books above your team’s regular bid when the bag rule is enabled.
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Written steps
- 1
Count the extra books
Your team bids five and wins seven. The two extra books are two bags.
- 2
Track them across hands
Classic adds one point per bag and carries the bag count forward. At ten accumulated bags, it deducts 100 points and removes ten bags from the count.
- 3
Check the house setting
Custom rules can change or disable bags. Read the actual penalty before deciding whether an extra book helps your score.
Try it at your table
Work out the bag count for a team that bids six and wins eight.
Quick check
Bid five, win seven: how many bags?
Two bags, when bags are enabled.