Core trick-taking terms

TermMeaning
TrickOne card played by each active player; one card wins the group.
LeadThe first card played to a trick.
Led suitThe suit of the first card in the trick.
Follow suitPlay the led suit when your hand contains it.
VoidHold no cards in a particular suit.
RuffUse a trump card to win a trick led in another suit.
DuckDeliberately play below the current winner to avoid taking the trick.

Trump and card rank

TermMeaning
TrumpA suit that outranks every non-trump suit.
Break trumpPlay trump for the first time when rules restrict leading it earlier.
HonorA high-ranking card such as an ace, king, queen, or jack.
Right bowerThe jack of trump and highest card in Euchre.
Left bowerThe jack of the same color as trump; second-highest in Euchre.
Effective suitThe suit a card legally belongs to after special rules, such as the left bower becoming trump.

Bidding and contracts

TermMeaning
BidA prediction or commitment about how many tricks a player expects to take.
ContractThe combined number of tricks a Spades partnership promises.
NilA Spades bid promising to take zero tricks.
SetPrevent a bidder or partnership from making the contract.
OvertrickA trick taken beyond the contract.
BagThe common Spades name for an overtrick.
Sandbag penaltyThe 100-point penalty applied at 10 bags in Made Simple Games.

Euchre terms

TermMeaning
Order upChoose the turned suit as trump in the first bidding round.
Call trumpName a trump suit in the second bidding round.
MakerA player or team that chose trump.
EuchredThe makers take fewer than three tricks, giving defenders 2 points.
MarchThe makers take all five tricks.
Go aloneThe caller plays without a partner for a larger possible score.
Stick the dealerThe dealer must choose trump after everyone else passes round two.

Hearts terms

TermMeaning
Point cardA heart or the queen of spades.
Break heartsPlay the first heart off-suit, allowing hearts to be led later.
PassGive three cards to another player before most hands.
Hold handThe hand in the pass cycle when nobody passes.
Shoot the moonCapture all 26 point cards in one hand.