The Joker’s use is greatly varied. Many card games omit the card from use entirely; due to this fact, Jokers are often simply used informally as replacements for lost cards in a deck by writing the lost card’s value on the joker. Other games, such as a 25-card variant of Euchre, make it one of the most important in the game. Often, the joker is a wildcard, and thereby allowed to represent other existing cards. The term “Joker’s Wild” originates from this practice, as does the game show of the same name.
The Joker can be an extremely beneficial, or an extremely harmful, card. In Euchre it is often used to represent Benny, the highest trump. In poker, it is wild. However, in the children’s game named Old Maid, a solitary joker represents the Maid, a card that is to be avoided.
