About Hearts
Hearts is the classic card game of avoiding trouble. Four players each get thirteen cards and play tricks, but here winning tricks is bad news: every heart you take costs a point and the queen of spades costs thirteen. Before each hand you pass three cards to another player, which is your chance to get rid of danger. And if you are brave enough to take every heart and the queen, you shoot the moon and everyone else gets the points instead.
How to play Hearts
- Before each hand pass three cards: left, then right, then across; every fourth hand nobody passes.
- The two of clubs leads the first trick. Follow suit if you can; otherwise play any card (no points on the first trick).
- Each heart you win costs 1 point and the queen of spades 13. Hearts can be led once a heart has been played. Take all of them to shoot the moon: everyone else scores 26.
- When someone reaches 100 points the lowest score wins. Scores are saved on this device.
Tips & strategy
- Pass the queen of spades unless you hold several low spades to protect it, and pass the ace and king of spades if you do not hold the queen.
- Getting rid of a whole suit early lets you throw away hearts and the queen when that suit is led.
- Lead low spades to force the queen out when you hold neither the ace nor the king.
- Watch the points: if one player has taken every heart so far, take one yourself to stop the moon.
Hearts: questions and answers
What does shooting the moon mean?
Taking all thirteen hearts and the queen of spades in one hand. Instead of 26 points for you, every other player scores 26.
When can hearts be led?
Once a heart has been played on an earlier trick, or when you hold nothing but hearts. The queen of spades can be led at any time.
Who leads the first trick?
The player holding the two of clubs. Nobody may play a heart or the queen of spades on that first trick unless they have nothing else.
How does a game of Hearts end?
When someone reaches 100 points (or 50 in the settings) at the end of a hand. The player with the lowest score wins.