When you open a new deck of playing cards, you see 52 cards - that’s what everyone learns in school. But then you notice two extra cards with wild designs, grinning faces, and no suits. Those are the jokers. And right away, you wonder: do jokers count in the 52 cards? The answer isn’t as simple as yes or no - it depends on what you’re using the deck for.
What’s Actually in a Standard Deck?
A standard deck has exactly 52 cards. That’s four suits: hearts, diamonds, clubs, and spades. Each suit has 13 cards: Ace through 10, plus Jack, Queen, and King. That’s 4 suits × 13 cards = 52. No more, no less. This setup is the same whether you’re playing poker, blackjack, or bridge. It’s been this way since the 1500s in Europe, and it’s still the global standard today.
Now, the jokers? They’re extra. They don’t belong to any suit. They don’t have a rank like 7 or King. They’re not part of the 52. Most decks include two jokers - one often colored red, the other black - but they’re optional add-ons. Think of them like bonus items in a toy box. The box says it holds 10 toys, but there’s a free sticker inside. The sticker isn’t one of the 10.
Why Do Jokers Exist If They’re Not Part of the 52?
Jokers were added in the 1860s in the United States for a card game called Euchre. Players needed a special trump card - the highest trump - and the joker was invented to fill that role. It worked so well that manufacturers started putting them in every deck. Soon, people began using them in other games too.
Today, jokers serve two main purposes:
- As wild cards - in games like Canasta, Pai Gow, or some home poker variants, jokers can stand in for any card you need. That’s why magicians love them: they’re unpredictable.
- As replacements - if you lose a card from your deck, the joker can be a placeholder. You might write "5 of Hearts" on it and keep playing.
But here’s the thing: if you’re playing a game that strictly uses the 52-card deck - like Texas Hold’em or Solitaire - you remove the jokers before you start. Most rulebooks say so outright. The jokers are distractions in those games. They break the math.
Why Magicians Use Jokers - And Why You Should Too
Magicians don’t just use jokers because they look cool. They use them because they’re perfect for misdirection. A joker has no fixed value, so it can be anything you need it to be. In a trick where you force a card on someone, the joker might be the "key" card - the one that seems random but is actually controlled. In other tricks, the joker is the "wild card" that changes the outcome at the last second.
Many magic trick kits include jokers for a reason: they’re tools. A joker can be used to mark a deck, hide a card, or even signal a secret move to an assistant. In cardistry, jokers are often used for flashy fans and spreads because their bold designs stand out. You won’t see a joker in a professional poker tournament - but you’ll see one in 9 out of 10 magic performances.
So if you’re buying a magic trick kit, don’t ignore the jokers. They’re not mistakes. They’re features. Some kits even come with custom-designed jokers that have hidden symbols or subtle markings only the magician knows about.
What Happens If You Leave the Jokers In?
If you play a game like Poker or Rummy with jokers still in the deck, you’re changing the game entirely. The odds shift. The number of possible hands increases. In Texas Hold’em, adding a joker gives you 54 cards - meaning there are now 2,869,685 possible five-card hands instead of 2,598,960. That’s a 10% increase in combinations. Most players won’t realize it, but the game becomes less fair.
That’s why casinos and tournaments always remove jokers. The rules are strict: 52 cards only. No exceptions. It’s not about tradition - it’s about consistency. Every player needs to know exactly what they’re working with.
But if you’re playing at home with friends? Go ahead. Add the jokers. Make them wild. Turn them into bonus points. That’s where magic and fun meet. Just know you’re playing a different game now - one that’s not bound by standard rules.
How to Tell If Your Deck Is "Complete"
Here’s a quick way to check if your deck is properly assembled:
- Shuffle the deck face down.
- Flip through all cards one by one.
- Count the suits: 13 hearts, 13 diamonds, 13 clubs, 13 spades.
- Look for two jokers - they’ll stand out with color or design.
- Total: 52 cards + 2 jokers = 54 cards total.
If you only have 52 cards? You’re missing the jokers. If you have 53? One joker is lost. If you have 55? Someone added a spare card - maybe a promo card or a damaged one.
Most quality decks, like Bicycle or Bee, print the total count right on the box: "52 Playing Cards + 2 Jokers". That’s your official guide.
Common Myths About Jokers
There are a lot of myths floating around:
- Myth: "Jokers are part of the 52 because they’re in the box."
Truth: The box holds extras. The 52 are the playing cards. The jokers are accessories. - Myth: "The joker represents the 53rd card in the deck."
Truth: No. The 52-card deck is a fixed system. Jokers are external additions. - Myth: "Some games use jokers as the highest card."
Truth: Only in house rules. In official rules, jokers aren’t ranked - they’re wild.
Don’t let myths confuse you. Stick to the facts: 52 cards = standard deck. Jokers = optional tools.
Final Answer: Do Jokers Count in the 52 Cards?
No, jokers do not count in the 52 cards. They’re separate. They’re extras. They’re not part of the standard structure. But they’re not useless - far from it.
In magic, jokers are powerful. They’re silent partners in illusions. They’re the wild card that makes the trick feel impossible. If you’re using a magic trick kit, treat the jokers like secret weapons. Learn how to use them. Practice with them. They’re not mistakes - they’re part of the craft.
For games like poker, bridge, or solitaire - remove them. For magic, tricks, or family game nights - keep them close. The 52-card deck is a system. The jokers are your freedom within it.
Are jokers included in the 52 cards of a standard deck?
No, jokers are not included in the 52 cards. A standard deck consists of exactly 52 cards: four suits (hearts, diamonds, clubs, spades), each with 13 ranks (Ace through King). Jokers are extra cards added by manufacturers, usually two per deck, and are not part of the official 52-card structure.
Why do magic trick kits include jokers if they’re not part of the 52?
Magic trick kits include jokers because they’re versatile tools for misdirection and sleight-of-hand. Jokers have no fixed rank or suit, making them perfect for wild card effects, secret markings, or as visual distractions. Many tricks rely on the joker’s unpredictability to create illusions that wouldn’t work with a regular card.
Can you play poker with jokers in the deck?
You can play poker with jokers, but it’s not standard. In official poker games like Texas Hold’em or Omaha, jokers are always removed. Adding them changes the odds and hand rankings. Some home games use jokers as wild cards, but this turns it into a different variant - not traditional poker.
How many jokers are in a typical deck of cards?
Most standard decks include two jokers - one red and one black. Some specialty decks, like those designed for magic, may include one joker, or even custom-designed ones with hidden symbols. But two is the norm for retail decks sold in stores.
Do casinos use jokers in their card games?
No, casinos never use jokers in their games. All casino card games - blackjack, poker, baccarat - use exactly 52 cards. Jokers are removed before play begins to ensure fairness, consistency, and adherence to strict mathematical odds. Any deck with jokers would be considered tampered or non-standard.
Aimee Quenneville
November 10, 2025 AT 16:10So… jokers are like the weird cousin who shows up to Thanksgiving with a pet ferret and no one knows what to do with them? Cool. I keep mine in the box. They’re not hurting anyone.
Cynthia Lamont
November 12, 2025 AT 02:45NO. THEY. DO. NOT. COUNT. IN. THE. 52. I. DON’T. CARE. WHAT. YOUR. GRANDMA. SAID. THE. DECK. IS. 52. CARDS. PERIOD. IF. YOU. ADD. A. JOKER. YOU’RE. PLAYING. A. DIFFERENT. GAME. AND. YOU. SHOULD. BE. ASHAMED.
Kirk Doherty
November 12, 2025 AT 14:44Been playing poker for 20 years. Never used a joker. Never needed one. The 52 works fine.
Dmitriy Fedoseff
November 14, 2025 AT 06:54It’s fascinating how we assign meaning to objects based on context. The joker isn’t a card in the 52 - but it’s a symbol of chaos in a system designed for order. In magic, it becomes transcendence. In poker, it’s a flaw. In childhood games, it’s a joke. The same piece of cardboard holds different philosophies. That’s the beauty of human play.
Meghan O'Connor
November 15, 2025 AT 02:01Ugh. This post is so basic. Everyone knows jokers aren’t part of the 52. Why is this even a thing? And why does it have so many headings? Someone’s trying too hard to sound smart.
Morgan ODonnell
November 16, 2025 AT 13:58I like how the post explains it without being preachy. I use jokers for solitaire sometimes - makes it more fun. No rules for fun, right?
Liam Hesmondhalgh
November 18, 2025 AT 05:12Why are you even talking about this? In Ireland we don’t even use jokers. We just play with the 52 and call it a day. This American overcomplication is ridiculous.
Patrick Tiernan
November 18, 2025 AT 08:22Look I don’t care about your 52 cards I just want to know if I can use the joker to cheat at poker and if my friends will notice I put a tiny dot on the back
Patrick Bass
November 18, 2025 AT 15:21Minor typo in the post: 'jokers are your freedom within it' - should be 'within it.' Just saying. Otherwise, solid breakdown.
Tyler Springall
November 19, 2025 AT 23:29You people are missing the point entirely. The joker isn’t a card. It’s a metaphor for the collapse of structure. The 52 represents societal order. The joker? The entropy. The magic trick? The illusion of control. You’re all just arguing about paper while the world burns.
Colby Havard
November 21, 2025 AT 04:57It is imperative to clarify, with the utmost precision, that the inclusion of jokers in a standard deck constitutes a manufacturer's deviation from the canonical 52-card paradigm. Any deviation from this standard undermines the mathematical integrity of probability-based games and constitutes a form of epistemic corruption.
Amy P
November 21, 2025 AT 19:04Wait so if I’m doing a magic trick and I use a joker to fake a card switch… does that mean the joker is actually acting as a 53rd card in that moment? Like… is it temporarily part of the 52? Or is it just cheating with style??
Ashley Kuehnel
November 21, 2025 AT 22:37Also, if you lose a card and use a joker as a replacement, you’re basically making your own custom deck - which is totally fine! My cousin does this all the time and writes the card names on the joker with a sharpie. She calls them her ‘ghost cards.’ Kinda cute, honestly.