Oh Hell! vs Spades
In Oh Hell each player bids the exact number of tricks they will win, and anything else scores nothing. Hands grow from one card to a maximum and back down again, a card turned after the deal sets trump, and the dealer cannot make the bids total the hand size.
Spades is for four players in two teams, with spades always trump. You bid as a team, and winning more tricks than you bid is not a disaster, only a bag, though ten bags cost 100 points. A Nil bid to win nothing adds a high-risk option.
Oh Hell! and Spades at a glance
| Oh Hell! | Spades | |
|---|---|---|
| In one line | Bid exactly how many tricks you will take; hands grow then shrink. | Partnership trick-taking: bid your tricks, spades are trump. |
| Players | 3–6 | 4 |
| Type | Table game | Table game |
| Family | Trick-taking | Trick-taking |
| Options | Max cards: 7 or 5 or 10 or 13 | Play to: 250 or 500 |
| Turn timer (online) | 30 seconds | 30 seconds |
| Cost | Free, no download | Free, no download |
Choose Oh Hell! if…
- You want to play on your own with three to six players.
- You like the challenge of hitting an exact number.
Choose Spades if…
- You want to team up with a partner.
- You like a game where a small overbid is forgiven.