Jokers were added to decks for certain games and are often left unused.

The longer version

The extra card first appeared as a high trump in a nineteenth-century game related to euchre, and its name probably comes from an older word for a jester or trickster rather than from any punchline. It outranked every other card in that game, and a second card was added later. Most packs ship with two or three.

Where it is used, the card is usually wild and substitutes for any rank, which is exactly why games built on strict probabilities exclude it. Some games give it a penalty role instead, making it something to avoid rather than collect. Collectors value the printed variations, since makers long treated the design as a place for decoration.

Where this entry sits

Facts here look at the rules, equipment and odd histories behind familiar sports and games, from balls and rackets to cards, boards and playing fields. Expect small details about scoring quirks, stadium design and the long story of the Olympic Games. The full list sits on the Sports and Games page, where every entry is listed in order.