What Is the Purpose of Joker Cards?

Jokers can serve multiple purposes. The cards can be used to replace missing ones or as 'indifferent cards' for fair plays. Jokers are also required in some games, such as Canasta or versions of poker (wild poker).

Spades can also be played with Jokers. In this form of the game, the two Jokers are added to the deck and become part of the Spades suit, taking the highest rank. Spades with Jokers is a fun alternative to the regular game. But of course, it helps to know how to play Spades with four players before you get into this variation.

The Purpose of Joker Cards

Joker cards aren’t just extra pieces on a deck. They can be quite useful–here’s a look at some of the purposes of Jokers:

Replace Missing Cards

Say that a random five of Clubs goes missing in your deck. What will you do? Instead of using a makeshift card from a piece of thick paper or cardboard, you can simply use the Joker as a replacement card.

Prevent Unfair Plays

Some serious card players use Jokers as indifferent cards that they place on the bottom of the deck while dealing a pack to prevent unfair plays brought about by seeing the bottom card of the deck.

Game Use

Jokers are sometimes required in some card games. Examples include Canasta, Gin Rummy, and Crazy Eights. Some versions of poker also use the Joker; Spades also has a variation that uses Jokers.

Playing Spades with Jokers

Playing Spades with Jokers isn’t much different from a regular game of Spades. The objective and the gameplay are the same–players win by accumulating points by making a contract or playing the number of tricks they bid (or slightly more, called ‘overtricks’ or ‘bags’) before the turn.

Ten points are given per trick, with an additional point for each trick won beyond the bid (up to a certain number). For example, if a player bids five tricks and wins five tricks during the round, they earn fifty points. If they bid five tricks and win eight tricks, then they win fifty-three points.

In some games, too many overtricks or bags are penalized. For instance, if a player accumulates ten bags in a game, they could receive one hundred penalty points (minus one hundred from their score).

The difference between a regular game of Spades and a game of Spades with Jokers is that the latter includes the two Joker cards in a deck at play. These Jokers become part of the Spades suit and hold the highest ranks.

But which Joker is higher in Spades? The Big Joker (Full-Color Joker) outranks the Little Joker (One-Color Joker), which then outranks the Ace of Spades. When playing Spades with Jokers, players need to remember that there are now fifteen cards under the trump suit.

Another difference between a regular Spades game and Spades with Jokers is how cards are dealt. In two- and four-player Spades with Jokers games, the two of Clubs and two of Diamonds are removed from the deck and players are dealt thirteen cards each. In three-player games, no cards are removed, and each player is given eighteen cards. In five-player games, all four deuces are taken out from the deck and everyone is dealt thirteen cards.

Learn More About Spades on Spades.co

Before you dive into the different variations of Spades, it’s best to have a solid foundation of the game’s basics. Spades.co’s ultimate guide to Spades tells you all you need to know about the game. You can also try your hand at a round on our website to truly learn Spades and hone your skills!