Lavelle Miller’s Spades club creates a welcoming space for fun, community (and yes, a bit of competition) at Bordeaux Branch Library.

If you have “Spades trauma,” Library Associate Lavelle Miller has the cure.

“Spades is a strategic game, and it can get very competitive,” Lavelle said. “Some people have actual trauma from the ire they received from playing a card out of order. 'Reneging’ is not something you want to get caught doing.”

Fear not: Lavelle has the remedy for any emotional baggage you may carry from a long-ago Spades game that got heated.

He runs the “Let’s Play Spades!” program at Bordeaux Branch Library for people of all ages and experience levels to enjoy the game in a low-pressure environment. Lavelle is a benevolent force, serving as mentor, moderator, and guide, ensuring everyone has fun.

“I set the ground rules from the start, and let people know, we are not playing for money here, and this is a place to learn without fear,” he said.

A level playing field

Spades is a game of teams of four (sometimes three), so the way the room is set up depends on who shows up.

“If there are experienced players I’ll put them together, and then I’ll set up a separate game for those who are still learning or need a refresher,” he said. “But if it’s just a few of us experienced players that show up, all that goes out the window and we get pretty competitive.”

An early introduction

Lavelle first discovered Spades at the age of 8 or 9 while watching family members play. The native Nashvillian later picked it up in high school, playing with teachers and classmates.

The card game came back into his life after enlisting in the military. He and his fellow recruits often passed the time playing Spades during basic training. “We couldn’t have phones or anything like that, but somebody always had a deck of cards,” he said.

He observed that Spades seemed to bridge the divide between age, culture, race and geography, with service members from the deep South all the way to the Northeast and West Coast claiming a tradition of playing Spades (albeit with their own unique rules tossed in).

“Spades gained popularity with U.S. troops during WWII because it was easy to learn, yet challenging,” Lavelle said. “There are a few different origin stories out there, but no matter where it comes from, so many people have a strong connection to the game.”

A familiar pastime

When an injury sidelined him from his military career, Lavelle returned to his hometown. He was hired as a security guard at the Main Library, where he worked for several years. Behind the scenes he continued his education — first earning an associate’s, then a bachelor’s and finally a master’s degree, all while working full time and supporting his family.

When he joined the adult services team at the Main Library, he launched his “Let’s Play Spades!” program to great success, with downtown workers and library staff taking their lunch breaks to indulge in a friendly game.

“One time we had a man bring in his 5-year-old son because he wanted him to watch and learn,” Lavelle said. “We also had a lady in her 90s who lived in one of the high rises downtown and came in on the bus. She didn’t want to play – she remembered playing Spades with her friends and just wanted to be around the environment and watch the game.”

And, when Lavelle is in charge of the card tables, everyone is welcome.

“It really is for anyone. I am a big advocate of inviting in teens who may be on their way out of another program,” he said. “They say, ‘We can do this, too?’ We just invite them to the table. There is a place for everyone.”

A welcoming space

Lavelle currently divides his time between the Madison and Bordeaux branches and hosts “Let’s Play Spades!” at Bordeaux. The next meet-up is Wednesday, Aug. 27, 12:30–2 p.m. There are also Spades meet-ups at Madison and Donelson branches, and a classic card games group at Green Hills.

Lavelle Miller is an award-winning author and blogger who also hosts Flowing Thoughts, a creative writing support group at Bordeaux.

You can visit Lavelle on the NPL blog.

Check out more game events on the Library Events Calendar.