The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 9 letter word JOKESTERS
J
O
K
E
S
T
E
R
S
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "cards" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case cards = jokesters.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does JOKESTERS mean?
JOKESTERS noun- A person who tells jokes; a joker.
- A person who plays practical jokes.
- Jester, court jester.