In 3-player Spades, each player gets 17 cards.
Most three-player rules remove the 2 of clubs from a standard 52-card deck, leaving 51 cards. The cards divide evenly among three players:
51 cards ÷ 3 players = 17 cards per player.
| Players | Cards Used | Cards per Player |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | 51 | 17 |
Three-player Spades is usually played as cutthroat Spades. Each player bids and scores individually instead of playing with a partner.
Some house rules leave one card undealt rather than removing the 2 of clubs. In either setup, each player still receives 17 cards.