Spades

Spades is a simple trick-taking card game in which spades are always trumps. The object of the game is to take at least the number of tricks (also known as "books") that were bid at the start of each round. The game may be played with two or more players playing individually or in partnerships, but it is mostly played with four players in pairs.

Spades first appeared in the Mid-West of the United States in the 1930s, but its popularity increased immensely in the 1940s, due to World War II and its popularity among members of the armed forces because of its simple rules and being easy to pick up play again after interruptions, which were common in war zones. Since American troops were stationed all around the world, it became a popular game among the people of other counties. After the war, due to increased veteran college attendance due to the GI Bill, it became popular among college students. In recent years, Spades has become more popular internationally because of online gaming.