The player immediately to the dealer's left is the first player to act in standard four-player Spades. That player:
- Bids first.
- Leads the first trick.
The opening lead can usually be any suit except spades. Spades can be led after they have been broken, or when the player has no cards from another suit.
After the first trick, the player who wins it leads the next trick. The deal typically moves clockwise after each hand, so the first player changes from round to round.