Card games
Joker Spades
Big Joker and Little Joker are the top trumps
Joker Spades is the American partnership game with two jokers in the deck: the Big Joker beats the Little Joker, which beats the two of diamonds and the two of spades, and only then comes the ace of spades. The two of clubs and the two of hearts leave the deck, so everyone still gets 13 cards. Bid with your partner, make your contract and race to 500.
- Players
- 4 players
- Length
- 15–30 min per game
- Type
- Card games
Play Joker Spades online with friends
At Masa, Joker Spades is a game of its own right next to Spades: pick it in the games list, open a table and share its code or link with your friends, or sit at a house table. Bots fill the empty chairs, and voice chat keeps the table talking.
How to play
- 1
4 players in 2 teams: partners sit across from each other. The first team to 500 points wins. The winning partners share the pot (minus the 5% table fee).
- 2
Everyone gets 13 cards. Spades are always trump.
- 3
Big Joker, Little Joker, 2♦, 2♠, then A♠ — the 2♦ is a spade
- 4
Follow the suit that was led if you can. If you can't, play any card — a spade beats every other suit. The highest spade wins the trick, otherwise the highest card of the suit led.
- 5
You can't lead spades until a spade has been played (spades are broken), unless you have nothing but spades.
House rules
Pick any of these when you create a table; a table that changes none plays the rules above.
- Jokers — JJDD · JJA · JJD
- Blind Nil — 100 behind · Never · Any time · 200 behind · 250 behind
- Nil worth — 100 · 50
- Failed Nil — Bags · Helps partner · No bags
- Nil pass — Off · 1 · 2 · 3 · 4
- Blind Nil pass — Off · 1 · 2 · 3 · 4
- Minimum bid — None · 2 · 3 · 4 · 5
- Blind 6 / 7 — 100 behind? Bid 6 or 7 before looking — it counts double
- 10 for 200 — A team bid of 10 or more scores double
- All 13 tricks — Normal · Wins · 200 · 500
- Bags — 10 = −100 · 5 = −50 · −10 each · No penalty
- Mercy rule — −200 · −500 · None
- Sets in a row — Off · 2 lose · 3 lose
- Leading spades — Once broken · Any time · After trick 1
Frequently asked questions
Is Joker Spades the same game as Spades?
No. Joker Spades is played at the same kind of table as Spades, but with rules of its own — see “How to play” above. At Masa it is a game of its own, with its own tables, stats and achievements.
Can I play Joker Spades online with friends?
Yes. Open a Joker Spades table and share its code or link. Empty seats fill with other players or bots, so a game always starts.
Is Joker Spades free to play?
Yes. You play with Chips, which have no cash value: nothing can be won or cashed out.
