Hearts
About Hearts
Hearts is a classic trick-taking card game for four players, played here against computer opponents. Your goal is simple: avoid taking hearts and the Queen of Spades, since those cards add points against you. Pass cards each round, follow suit when you can, and steer clear of costly tricks. The player with the lowest score when the game ends wins.
How to play Hearts
Each hand, choose three cards to pass (left, right, across, or none, in rotation). Whoever holds the 2 of clubs leads it to start play. Follow suit if you can; if not, play any card, though you can't lead hearts until they're broken. The highest card of the suit led takes the trick, and that player leads next. Hearts count one point each, the Queen of Spades counts thirteen. Play continues until someone reaches 100 points.
Tips for playing Hearts
- Try to pass off your high spades, especially the Queen, before your opponents can trap you with them.
- Keep a low card in each suit if possible, so you always have a safe way to follow suit late in the hand.
- Watch when hearts get broken; leading a heart too early can hand opponents an easy point.
Hearts screenshots
Frequently asked questions
How do you win at Hearts?
You win by ending the game with the lowest total score. Points come from taking hearts (1 point each) and the Queen of Spades (13 points), so the goal is to avoid taking those cards whenever you can.
What happens if I take all the hearts and the Queen of Spades?
That's called shooting the moon. If you take all 13 hearts and the Queen of Spades in one hand, you can choose to subtract 26 points from your own score instead, or add 26 points to every other player's score.
What are the passing rules in Hearts?
Each hand, you pass three cards before looking at what you receive. The direction rotates: left, then right, then across, then no passing at all, and this cycle repeats for the rest of the game.
