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News from DreamQuest Software
Best of 2006 Award-Winning Games For Your Mobile
100% Free Games Updated Release!    Contrary to popular belief, you can play the same DreamQuest games free! Experience the newly redesigned 100% Free Games from DreamQuest Software! 100% Free Games are a great introduction to all our great card and board games, but they do not contain all the features listed in the Championship Pro such as: 24 exciting new characters, DreamCoach, Game Variations and much more. When you upgrade to Pro, you'll have access to over 100 customization options, including game rules, card, deck, and table colors. Learn more about all the features you unlock in Championship Pro now! Download 100% Free Games at www.DQfree.com **Want to learn how to get your Championship Pro games FREE? Check out our exclusive offer from TrialPay to learn how to get Championship Pro FREE! Visit DQfree.com, choose the Championship Pro game you want, and get started!
While acting as the tournament director for several live tournaments nationwide, Joe Andrews has authored several books including, Win at Hearts available through Amazon.com. Also be sure to check out the latest Grand Prix Tournament he's hosting in Vegas this May! Spades important in Hearts? Yes! In the game of the Hearts, the Queen of Spades is the key card. Understanding the basics about the Spades suit can often make the difference between avoiding the Evil Lady and taking an unnecessary 13 points! Take a look at this layout of Spades after the pass to the left. (Assume that there is no possibility for a Moon, and the game is in its early stage.)
You have received the Ace and the Queen of Spades from East. At first glance, you appear to be in trouble. You have only three guards ("backers") for your Spade Queen, and anyone with four small Spades will be on your case. However, his Royal Majesty, the King of Spades, may be favorably located, and perhaps you will have a chance for salvation. West wins the Ace of Clubs on the first trick, and plays the Jack of Spades -- a card that is very pleasing to you. North must duck, unless he has good reason to believe that West is underleading the Queen -- a rather remote possibility. East plays low, and now, you must duck, too. Taking the Ace would make no sense here. Let the hand play on! West continues with the tenspot, and two more low Spades appear, as you drop your 8. The 9 (a card that warms your Heart) initiates the third round of Spades, and now North is squirming. His last low Spade appears, and East drops a middle Heart. NOW, you win the Ace. Many lazy players would shift to another suit. Perhaps North might discard that "hot" Spade King on a Club or Diamond lead. You are not lazy. You can count to 13, and you know that the King is still out. After all, three rounds of Spades have been played, and the count is 11. Your Queen is the 12th Spade, and his Nibs is #13! Thus, you make the bold play of the Queen of Spades, and sure enough, she catches the King, and the opponents are impressed. (Well, maybe they aren't; it all depends on who is sitting at the table.) In any case, you have avoided 13 points. In the early days of the New England Hearts Players' Association, this maneuver was called "The Spear Play." In summary, when you hold the Spade Queen and a short suit as in the example above, be on the lookout for the favorable lead, and watch the cards that appear, and count those Spades! |
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Spades Trivia Wow! Last month we received an overwhelming trivia response! Because it was so popular, we're giving you another chance to win a signed copy of JohnGalt Strichman's book, How Not to Lose at Spades!
Question: Which variation forces one partner from each team to bid nil everytime?
3 correct entries chosen at random. Submit entries to by February 28. Last Month's Contest - Spades Trivia Question: If you and your partner bid 6 tricks and your opponents bid 5 tricks, there are two tricks left unaccounted for. What are these tricks called in the most commonly played variation of Spades?
Contest Winners:
Congratulations! Thanks for playing. Grand Prix Vegas Open 
Meet Joe Andrews, author of several titles including Win at Spades in Las Vegas for a weekend of card playing and tournament this coming May 5-6! Set in the luxurious Palace Station Hotel, join enthusiastic card players for exciting games of Pinocle, Spades or Euchre. Compete in one of the smaller tournaments, or play in the Main Event for the big win! Find out more details, including registration information, at gpvegas.com. Remember, what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, including card playing! Meet a Featured DQ Allstar
This month we want to feature one of our DreamQuest Guides, Gold. As a Guide and Tournament Director for the DQzone.com, Gold's involvement in the DreamQuest community has been pivotal to the enhancement of the Championship games. We value his communication concerning AI issues, bug reporting, and suggestions. |
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Special Offers! Game Tips! Contests and more! 
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