The short answer
The full JJDD trump ladder
From highest to lowest, the trump order is: Big Joker → Little Joker → 2♦ → 2♠ → A♠ → K♠ → Q♠ → J♠ → 10♠ → 9♠ → 8♠ → 7♠ → 6♠ → 5♠ → 4♠ → 3♠. Everything below the A♠ behaves like normal Spades — only the top four cards are promoted.
- 1Big Joker
- 2Little Joker
- 32♦
- 42♠
- 5A♠
- 6K♠
- 7Q♠
- 8J♠
- 910♠
- 109♠
- 118♠
- 127♠
- 136♠
- 145♠
- 154♠
- 163♠
The top six, explained
- 1. Big Joker — the highest trump; unbeatable
- 2. Little Joker — beats everything except the Big Joker
- 3. 2♦ — trump only; ranks above the 2♠ but is not a diamond for following suit
- 4. 2♠ — a Spade and trump; outranks the A♠
- 5. A♠ — the highest "normal" Spade
- 6. K♠ downward — standard Spade ranking from here
Why the 2♦ beats the 2♠
This is the defining rule of JJDD. Both deuces are promoted above the Ace, but the 2♦ is placed above the 2♠ in the trump ladder. The 2♦ is also treated as pure trump — it has no suit for following purposes — while the 2♠ remains a Spade. So the 2♦ is both higher and more restricted in when you can play it. See the dedicated 2♦ explainer.
Test the ranking
Try it: which card wins?
Trump is led with the A♠. You hold the 2♠ and the 2♦. Which one wins if you play the 2♦ and another player plays the 2♠?
How this compares to other variants
In JJD, only the 2♠ is promoted (above the A♠); the 2♦ is an ordinary diamond. In JJA, no deuce is promoted — the Jokers simply top the A♠. Compare all four on the variants atlas or the JJDD vs JJD breakdown.
Common ranking mistakes
- Assuming the A♠ is the highest trump — in JJDD four cards beat it
- Trying to follow a diamond lead with the 2♦ — it is trump only
- Forgetting the 2♠ beats the A♠ and over-trumping yourself
Ready to try it for real?
Frequently asked questions
What is the highest card in JJDD Spades?
The Big Joker. It is followed by the Little Joker, then the 2♦, then the 2♠, then the A♠.
Does the 2♦ beat the 2♠ in JJDD?
Yes. The 2♦ ranks immediately above the 2♠ in the trump ladder. Both outrank the Ace of Spades.
Is the 2♦ a diamond in JJDD?
No. The 2♦ is pure trump — it does not count as a diamond for following suit. You cannot play it to follow a diamond lead; you can only play it when trump is led or you are void of the led suit.
What beats the A♠ in JJDD?
The Big Joker, Little Joker, 2♦, and 2♠ all outrank the Ace of Spades. The A♠ is only the fifth-highest trump.