Blind nil is a bid of zero tricks made before you look at your cards. You are betting that you will win no tricks during the hand.
| Bid | When you make it | Typical score if successful | Typical penalty if unsuccessful |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular nil | After viewing your cards | +100 points | -100 points |
| Blind nil | Before viewing your cards | +200 points | -200 points |
These scores are common, but blind nil is a house-rule variation. The bonus, penalty and eligibility rules can differ between games.
How Blind Nil Works
- You declare "blind nil" before looking at your hand.
- You pick up and examine your cards.
- You try to avoid winning every trick.
- If you win zero tricks, your team receives the blind-nil bonus.
- If you win one or more tricks, the bid usually fails and your team receives the penalty.
Your partner still makes a normal bid. The team must generally complete that bid while helping the blind-nil player avoid taking tricks.
Blind Nil Versus Regular Nil
A regular nil is declared after you see your cards. A blind nil is declared before you see them, so it carries more risk and usually offers a larger reward.
| Result | Typical score |
|---|---|
| Regular nil succeeds | +100 points |
| Blind nil succeeds | +200 points |
| Blind nil fails | -200 points |
Some games let the blind-nil player exchange one or more cards with their partner after viewing the hand. Other games do not allow card passing.
When Can You Bid Blind Nil?
There is no single rule used in every Spades game. Common variations include:
- Blind nil can be bid at any time.
- Blind nil is allowed only when a team is behind by 100 points or more.
- Blind nil is allowed only once per game.
- Blind nil is not allowed.
For example, the World Spades Championship rules define blind nil but do not allow blind-nil bids in its events.
Blind Nil Example
You declare blind nil before seeing your cards. After the deal, you receive dangerous cards such as high aces and kings. During the hand, you try to avoid taking any tricks.
If you win zero tricks, your team usually scores +200 points. If you win one or more tricks, the bid usually fails and your team loses 200 points.
Blind nil is a bet that you can take zero tricks without seeing your cards first. Check your table's house rules before bidding because the scoring and restrictions vary.