About · Est. at a family table

BUILT FOR THE TABLE.
BUILT FOR THE PEOPLE AROUND IT.

BooksMade Spades didn’t start in a boardroom. It started with a deck of cards, a family that couldn’t stop arguing about who really had the most wins, and one developer who decided to solve it.

01 / StoryHow it started

A PASSION PROJECT
THAT GOT SERIOUS.

BooksMade Spades started as a passion project — something I built for my family and closest friends. Spades has always been more than a card game to me. It brought us together in times of pain, brought joy when there was sorrow, and gave us a table to gather around when we needed each other most.

But every time we played, the same problems came up. Score sheets went missing. Arguments broke out over who had the most wins. Everyone’s team thought they were the best — and there was no way to prove it. I wanted a real leaderboard. A real record. A way to let the best players rise to the top and back up the trash talk with actual data.

So I built one. That’s how BooksMade Spades started — not with investors, but at a family table with a deck of cards and a problem worth solving.

02 / VisionWhere it's going

ONE HOME FOR
EVERY TABLE.

The goal from day one was simple: make it intuitive, easy, and fast to get into. No friction. No confusion. You download it, you log in, you’re in a game.

But beyond that, the real vision was always bigger. BooksMade should be the one-stop shop for everyone who loves this game — a place that bridges distance and removes barriers so wherever your people are, across the city, the country, or the world, you can always find a way to sit at the same table.

The app supports both JJ22 (Joker Joker Deuce Deuce, labeled JJDD in-app) and Traditional Ace High — because the community is split and both versions deserve a real home. Whether you grew up playing with Jokers or without them, BooksMade Spades was built for you.

If JJDD is what you know as Black Spades — learned at a kitchen table, not from a rulebook — you’re home. Read where it comes from →

03 / What we builtThe whole hub

NOT A FEATURE LIST. A HOME.

01Pillar

RANKED PLAY

Real competition against real players. Your rating grows over time — honest competition that rewards players who know the game.

02Pillar

LEAGUES

Run your own Spades crew with a private league. Track standings, match history, and stats across JJ22/JJDD and Ace High. Joining is free — creating a new league is a one-time $10 fee. Want events and tournaments? Boost to League Pro.

03Pillar

CREW LOBBIES

Private games with the people you choose. Custom house rules, no pressure, just Spades with your crew — wherever they are.

04Pillar

SOLOS

Practice with smart bots at your own pace. Learn the game, try new strategies, or just play when no one else is available.

05Pillar

SPADES SCOREKEEPER

No more scratch paper. Track in-person games digitally — enter bids, log books, and let the app handle the math.

06Pillar

HONEST PRICING

Free to play with no hidden coin systems and no pay-to-win. Premium Access removes ads while you play and unlocks premium emojis and expanded chat phrases.

04 / FounderWho's behind it
IKE

IKE

Founder · Solo Developer

I’m a solo developer. There’s no big budget behind this. No corporate machine. Just someone who loves Spades and wanted to build something worthy of the game and the culture around it.

Watching this app grow from an idea into something I’m genuinely proud of has been an incredible journey. I believe BooksMade Spades can serve the broader Spades community the same way it has served my family — as a place to compete, connect, and share something real with the people you love.

If you love what we’ve built, share it far and wide. Tell your friends. Tell your family. Tell the group chat. Help us grow this community into something special.

ALWAYS BID YOUR HAND.

— Ike

WANT TO SHARPEN YOUR GAME?

Our Spades Guide is the complete resource for JJ22 and Traditional Spades — 40+ articles covering rules, bidding strategy, and advanced gameplay. Free for every player.

Visit the Spades Guide →

Pull up a chair

SIT AT THE TABLE.

Free on iOS and Android. Bring your CREW, run a league, or climb the ranked ladder — the way Spades was meant to be played.

Download on the App StoreGet it on Google Play
Questions? Reach support →