JOKER JOKER ACE.
Joker Joker Ace (JJA) is a Spades variant played with two Jokers added to the deck. The Big Joker and Little Joker are the two highest trumps, followed by the Ace of Spades, and the 2s have no special power. It sits between Traditional Ace-High and JJDD: you get the Jokers without the Power 2s. BooksMade Spades supports JJA online.
JJA trump order
Spades are always trump. In JJA the trump ladder, from highest to lowest, is:
- 01Big JokerHighest card in the deck
- 02Little JokerSecond-highest
- 03Ace of SpadesHighest natural spade, third-highest overall
- 04King of SpadesStandard spade order from here down
- 05Queen, Jack, 10 … 3 of SpadesContinues in normal rank order
- 062 of SpadesLowest trump; it has no JJDD-style power
The deck
JJA uses the same 52-card deal as JJDD: a standard deck plus the Big Joker and Little Joker, with the 2 of Hearts and 2 of Clubs removed so every player gets 13 cards.
The difference from JJDD is what happens to the 2 of Diamonds and 2 of Spades. In JJDD they are promoted above the Ace of Spades. In JJA they are not: the 2 of Diamonds is the lowest diamond and the 2 of Spades is the lowest spade.
How JJA compares to JJDD and Ace-High
Against Traditional Ace-High, JJA adds two cards (the Jokers) above the Ace of Spades, so the Ace is a strong card but not a guaranteed book.
Against JJDD, JJA has two fewer cards above the Ace of Spades (JJDD has four: Big Joker, Little Joker, 2 of Diamonds, 2 of Spades; JJA has two). That makes the Ace more reliable and the game a little less volatile.
Bidding and scoring
JJA keeps the JJDD game structure by default: the first hand bids itself and the team goal is "board" (4 books), then teams bid together. Hosts can adjust house rules for their CREW lobby or league.
Frequently asked questions
What does JJA stand for in Spades?+
JJA stands for Joker Joker Ace. The two Jokers and the Ace of Spades are the three highest trumps.
What is the difference between JJA and JJDD?+
In JJDD (Joker Joker Deuce Deuce) the 2 of Diamonds and 2 of Spades rank above the Ace of Spades. In JJA they do not; they are ordinary low cards, so only the two Jokers outrank the Ace of Spades.
How many cards are in a JJA deck?+
Fifty-two cards are dealt, 13 to each of four players: a standard deck plus two Jokers, minus the 2 of Hearts and 2 of Clubs.
Where can I play JJA Spades online?+
BooksMade Spades (free on iOS and Android) supports JJA in CREW lobbies, Leagues, Solo play against bots, and the in-person Scorekeeper. Ranked matchmaking uses JJDD and Ace-High.