Retreat At Hope Farm

"Access Granted"

Post Labor Day Spades Showdown 2025 House Rules

Tournament House Rules

💥 Double Elimination • Teams of 2 or Solo Players

Play hard. Cut heavy. Come correct.

🔥 Tournament Format: Double Elimination

  • Every team must lose twice to be eliminated.
  • After the first loss, a team drops to the Loser’s Bracket.
  • The final match is between the Winner’s Bracket Champion and the Loser’s Bracket Champion.
  • If the Loser’s Bracket team wins the first match in the finals, a rematch (“reset”) is played to determine the champion.

🧩 Team Structure

  • You may register (18 yo or older):
    • ✅ As a Team of 2
    • ✅ As a Solo Player (we’ll match you with another solo at check-in)
  • Maximum: 40 teams (80 players)

🃏 Game Rules

Deck & Deal:

  • Standard 52-card deck, no jokers.
  • Each player gets 13 cards.
  • Deal rotates clockwise. All bids and books must be made in silence (no table talk).

Bidding:

  • Teams bid total number of books.
  • Nil allowed.
  • Blind Nil allowed only in the Loser’s Bracket after Round 1.

Gameplay:

  • Must follow suit.
  • Spades can’t be led until broken (played on another suit).
  • Reneging = Automatic loss of that game.

🧮 Scoring

  • Bid made: +10 points per book
  • Extra books (bags): +1 point each
  • 10 bags = -100 penalty
  • Failed bid: 0 points
  • Successful Nil: +100 | Failed Nil: -100

🏆 Winning & Advancement

  • Each round is a single game to 300 points.
  • Winner moves on, loser moves to the bracket below.
  • Loser’s bracket has no mercy. One more L and you’re out.

🎉 Tournament Prizes

  • 🥇 1st Place: $500 + Trophy + Farm Gift Box
  • 🥈 2nd Place: $100 + Custom Spades Deck
  • 🧥 Participation Shirt for All Players
  • 🔥 Fan Favorite Team: Crowd pick gets bonus merch

🚫 No-Nonsense Rules

  • ❌ No talking across the table (1 warning → penalty).
  • ❌ No phones during hands (DQ if caught cheating).
  • ❌ No arguing with table refs or hosts.

💬 Vibe Check

  • Talk slick, but respect the game.
  • Laugh loud, but keep your cool.
  • It’s Spades in the Soil—where country chill meets city skill.