How do I register for a Spades tournament? The only place to register for a Spades Bowl tournament is spadesbowl.com. Each Spades Bowl tournament will have its own unique registration page for that particular tournament. You can either register as a team or as a “FREE AGENT” or single player to hopefully be matched with another single player. 

What is the format of the tournament (e.g., single elimination, double elimination, round-robin)? Most Spades Bowl tournaments will follow a round-robin format (see tournament rules section) however, some exhibition tournaments may feature a single or double elimination format and will be properly noted on the event page for that tournament If so.

What are the rules for gameplay in the tournament? All Spades Bowl tournaments will follow our standard “house rules” listed in the Tournament Rules section of the website. 

How many players can participate in each tournament? The minimum number of teams to execute a Spades Bowl tournament is (12) teams or 24 players.  The current maximum is (32) teams or 64 players for a Spades Bowl tournament. 

Is there an entry fee to join the tournament? Yes, entry fees can range on average from $30-$75 per player depending on the type of tournament and the stakes involved.

What are the prizes for the winners? All Spades Bowl tournaments will feature a cash prize for the 1st place team determined by the entry fee and the total number of teams registered for that tournament. Some tournaments may also include additional prizes for the 1st place team in addition to a cash prize. 

Is JJDD the only format Spades Bowl tournaments are played? All official Spades Bowl Finals qualifying events will be playing using JJDD card order rules.  Some exhibition tournaments may feature alternate card order rules on a trial basis. 

Are there age restrictions for participating in the tournaments? Yes, due to assumed venue restrictions all Spades Bowl tournament participants must be 21 years of age or older. 

Can I form a team with my own partner or will partners be assigned randomly? Players are expected to form their own teams when playing in a Spades Bowl tournament with the exception of "FREE AGENTS" who will be assigned a team randomly if available.

What happens if a player or team doesn’t show up for their scheduled game? Teams will forfeit any games they are not present for during any tournament including single and double elimination tournaments. Teams can resume play once they are able to if the forested games did not eliminate them from the tournament. 

How do I report a score or dispute an outcome? Teams will be responsible for managing the gameplay at their respective tables during each match. Event coordinator’s will be on-site during all tournaments to monitor gameplay and handle any gameplay or scoring disputes that may arise. As matches end completed score sheets are turned in to the score table to be recorded.

What is the tiebreaker process if teams are tied at the end of a game? If teams are tied at the end of a timed round the team with the least amount of sand bags is determined the winner. If each team has equal number of sandbags the match is considered a tie. 

Are there specific conduct or sportsmanship rules I need to follow during the tournament? Under no circumstances is physical violence in any form tolerated from any participant and will be grounds for immediate disqualification. This includes verbal assaults and/or discriminatory remarks of any kind. Playful and competitive banter is allowed as long as there is mutual respect with the exchange. Spades Bowl staff reserves the right to determine what is allowed under the league’s code of conduct and rules of engagement.

How can I get updates and notifications about my matches? All tournaments will have a live link allowing players to follow the progress of the tournament including match results, upcoming opponents and table placement for matches.

Can I register as a solo player and be paired with a partner? Yes, players can register as a “FREE AGENT” and will be assigned a partner (if available) during the check-in portion of the tournament. Note all “FREE AGENTS” will be paired in the order they register with the chance “FREE AGENTS” will not be able to participate if an odd number are registered and all players cannot be paired. 

Is there a limit to the number of tournaments I can enter? There is no limit to the number of Spades Bowl tournaments teams can participate in regardless of your home region.

What happens if my partner can no longer attend the tournament? As long as one of the two registered participants are present an alternate player can be substituted in. The substitute player must play the duration of the tournament or the team will forfeit all remaining matches. 

How do I withdraw from a tournament after registering, and is there a refund policy? Refunds can only be issued outside of 7 calendar days to the event date. Any refund requests inside of 7 days will receive a credit toward another Spades Bowl tournament of your choice. Registration is also transferrable in the event you cannot attend.

How can I get a Spades Bowl tournament circuit going in my city/region? Spades Bowl is always looking to expand out footprint into additional cities/regions who have a strong community of Spades players.  If you are a venue owner or promoter willing to host a Spades Bowl tournament in your region please send us an email by using the CONTACT link on the website expressing your interest in doing so and a Spades Bowl team member will contact you to discuss further.