Card games that use Jokers — which games include them, what they do, and why most games leave them out.

Those two extra cards in every deck — most people throw them away. But several popular games require them. Here’s every major card game that uses Jokers, and exactly what they do.

Games That Use Jokers

Game How Jokers Are Used Number of Jokers
Canasta Wild card (50 points each) 4 (2 per deck, using 2 decks)
Hand and Foot Wild card (50 points each) 4-6
Rummy (some variants) Wild card — substitute for any card in melds 1-2
Gin Rummy (optional variant) Wild card in casual play only 1
Euchre (some variants) Highest trump card (“Best Bower”) 1
Go Fish (some variants) Extra card for odd-number play balancing 1-2
War (some variants) Beats all cards 1-2
Tonk (some variants) Wild card in casual play 1-2

How Jokers Work in Canasta

Canasta is the game where Jokers matter most. Here’s exactly how:

  • Each Joker is worth 50 points (the highest-value card)
  • Jokers are wild cards — they substitute for any rank in a meld
  • Limit: A meld can contain at most 3 wild cards (Jokers or 2s)
  • You need at least 2 natural (non-wild) cards in every meld
  • A canasta made with wild cards is called a mixed canasta (300 points vs. 500 for natural)

Example: You have three 7s and a Joker → valid meld of four 7s.

Play at Canasta →.

How Jokers Work in Hand and Foot

Hand and Foot extends Canasta’s rules:

  • Jokers are wild (50 points each)
  • You need Jokers to complete melds faster
  • “Wild card canastas” (7 wild cards) are possible and worth big points
  • More Jokers in play (multiple decks) = more strategic options

Play at Hand and Foot →.

How Jokers Work in Euchre (Variant)

In some Euchre variants:

  • The Joker becomes the “Best Bower” — the highest trump card
  • Rank order becomes: Joker → Jack of trump → Jack of same-color suit → A-K-Q-10-9 of trump
  • Only ONE Joker is used

Play at Euchre →.

Games That Do NOT Use Jokers

Game Jokers Used?
Poker ❌ No (standard rules)
Bridge ❌ No
Hearts ❌ No
Spades ❌ No
Cribbage ❌ No
Pinochle ❌ No (uses 48-card deck)
Blackjack ❌ No
Gin Rummy ❌ No (standard rules)
Chess N/A (not a card game)

Most trick-taking games and betting games don’t use Jokers. They work best with exact card counts (52 cards divided evenly among players).

The Joker’s Role in Card Games

Role Games
Wild card (substitute for any card) Canasta, Hand and Foot, Rummy variants
Highest trump Euchre (variant)
Highest card War (variant)
Bonus card Some Rummy variants (extra meld value)

Why Do Most Games Skip Jokers?

  1. Uneven distribution: 54 cards don’t divide evenly among 2, 3, or 4 players
  2. Wild cards add randomness: Most competitive games prefer pure strategy
  3. Tradition: Classic games were designed for 52-card decks
  4. Balance: Wild cards can be overpowered in trick-taking games

Fun Facts About Jokers

  • Jokers were added to American decks around 1860, originally for the game of Euchre
  • The word “Joker” likely comes from “Jucker,” the German word for Euchre
  • Many deck manufacturers include two different Jokers — one colored, one black — for games that need to rank them
  • In professional card rooms, Jokers are always removed before shuffling

Browse all games at Rare Pike →.