1. Start a new game with four players—either with AI or real players—divided into two teams of two.

2. Each player is dealt 13 cards from a standard 52-card deck.

3. Before play begins, each player bids on how many tricks they think they can win in the round. You and your partner’s bids are added together for a team total.

4. You may also choose a Blind Nil bid, where you commit to winning zero tricks without seeing your cards, for extra points if successful.

5. The player to the dealer’s left leads the first trick by playing a card, but spades cannot be led until they have been “broken” (a spade has been played in a previous trick).

6. Players must follow the suit of the card led if they can. If not, they may play a card from another suit or a spade.

7. The highest card in the suit led wins the trick, unless a spade is played—in that case, the highest spade wins.

8. The winner of each trick leads the next one.

9. After all 13 tricks are played, scores are calculated based on how many tricks each team won versus their bid.

10. The game continues until a team reaches the winning score, typically 500 points.