Spades Variant

Joker-Joker-Ace (JJA) Spades

Two Jokers sit above the Ace of Spades in the trump order. Here is the exact deck, the full trump ladder, and how play changes.

The short answer

JJA adds a Big Joker and Little Joker above the Ace of Spades. The 2♥ and 2♣ are removed to keep the deck at 52. The trump ladder is: Big Joker → Little Joker → A♠ down to 2♠. Bidding, bags, Nil, and scoring are unchanged from Classic.

The deck

Start from a standard 52-card deck. Add the Big Joker and Little Joker. Remove the 2 of hearts and 2 of clubs. The deck stays at 52 cards, dealt 13 to each of four players.

  • Add: Big Joker, Little Joker
  • Remove: 2♥, 2♣

Trump ladder

The trump order, highest to lowest: Big Joker → Little Joker → A♠ → K♠ → Q♠ → J♠ → 10♠ → 9♠ → 8♠ → 7♠ → 6♠ → 5♠ → 4♠ → 3♠ → 2♠.

Trump ladder (highest → lowest)
  1. 1Big Joker
  2. 2Little Joker
  3. 3A♠
  4. 4K♠
  5. 5Q♠
  6. 6J♠
  7. 710♠
  8. 89♠
  9. 98♠
  10. 107♠
  11. 116♠
  12. 125♠
  13. 134♠
  14. 143♠
  15. 152♠

What changes in play

  • Both Jokers are trump and beat every Spade, including the A♠.
  • Big Joker beats Little Joker; Little Joker beats the A♠.
  • Jokers cannot be led until trump is broken — unless you hold only trump.
  • Bidding, following suit, bags, Nil, and scoring are unchanged from Classic.

Example trick

Hearts are led with the K♥. You are void in hearts and play the Little Joker to trump. The next player plays the A♠ — also trump, but the Little Joker outranks the A♠. A fourth player plays the Big Joker, which outranks them all. The Big Joker wins the trick. This is why holding both Jokers is powerful: they are the two unbeatable trump.

Ready to try it for real?

Frequently asked questions

What is Joker-Joker-Ace Spades?

A Spades variant that adds a Big Joker and a Little Joker as the two highest trump, above the Ace of Spades, and removes the 2 of hearts and 2 of clubs to keep the deck at 52.

Does the Joker count as a Spade?

For trump order, yes — both Jokers are trump and rank above every Spade. For following suit, a Joker is trump, not a Spade: you follow a Spade lead with your Spades, and a Joker only when trump is led or you are void.

Can I lead a Joker before trump is broken?

No. Jokers are trump, so they cannot be led until trump is broken — unless you hold only trump.

Related variants

Internet Spades — rules team
Last updated: 2026-09-06