How to Set Up a Spades Deck for JJDD
The Math Behind the Setup
A standard playing card deck has 52 cards. Add two Jokers and you have 54. Since JJDD Spades is a four-player game where each player gets exactly 13 cards, you need a 52-card deck — which means two cards have to come out.
In standard JJDD, the two cards you remove are the 2 of Hearts and the 2 of Clubs. Pull those out, set them aside, and what you're left with is a deck built specifically for JJDD play — the Big Joker, Little Joker, 2♦, and 2♠ promoted to the top, and 48 standard cards filling out the rest.
How to Actually Set Up at the Table
Setting up a JJDD deck is quick, but there are steps you don't want to skip — especially in a serious game.
- Start with a fresh deck if you have one. More on why below.
- Verify all the cards are there. Count through and confirm you have a complete deck before removing anything.
- Pull the 2♥ and 2♣ and set them aside. These cards don't belong in a JJDD game.
- Shuffle thoroughly. No quick cuts — actually shuffle.
- Spread the cards face-down and draw for the dealer. This is where house rules kick in:
- Some tables say the player who draws the highest card deals first.
- Some tables say the player who draws the first diamond deals first.
Deck Integrity: What Serious Players Check
Serious Spades players take deck setup seriously — and for good reason. With a used deck, you're looking for marked cards, bent corners, or anything that could tip off a player about what's in someone else's hand. Let's be honest: a lot of people will use whatever edge they can get. If you're sitting down with people you don't know well, be as careful as you need to be.
Veteran players often won't start a serious game without opening a fresh deck. Here's a quick pre-game checklist for anyone who plays at that level:
- Fresh deck when possible
- All cards verified present
- No marked, bent, or damaged cards
- 2♥ and 2♣ removed
- Jokers clearly distinguishable — agree on Big vs. Little before play starts
- House rules confirmed before the first card is dealt
The more you play — especially across different crews and settings — the more you'll notice what you don't like or don't trust. Over time you develop your own habits to protect the integrity of the game. These things become second nature.
When the Deck Is Worn or Questionable
Not every game comes with a fresh deck. Cookouts, road trips, someone's kitchen table after a hundred games — sometimes you're working with what's available. For some players, a questionable deck is a dealbreaker. They simply won't sit down.
But for the players who truly love this game? They come prepared. Plenty of serious Spades players don't go anywhere without their own deck. If the house cards are beat up, marked, or just not trustworthy, they're ready — they pull out a fresh deck, set it on the table, and say "let's play for real."
It sounds like a small thing, but it says a lot about how seriously someone takes their game. If you're at the point where you're carrying your own deck — especially one built specifically for JJDD play like the decks from The Game of Spades — you've crossed over into serious territory.