Objective

The main goal in Hearts is to avoid accumulating points. The game is played until one player reaches 100 points. The player with the lowest score wins.

Setup

  1. Players: Hearts is played with four players.
  2. Deck: Use a standard 52-card deck, excluding Jokers.
  3. Dealing: Each player receives 13 cards dealt one at a time.

Gameplay

  1. Passing Cards: Before the first trick, players pass three cards. The direction changes each round: left, right, across, and no passing on the fourth round.
  2. Leading: The player with the 2 of Clubs starts the first trick. Players must follow suit if possible; if not, they can play any card.
  3. Winning Tricks: The highest card of the leading suit wins the trick. Hearts cannot be led until they are “broken” (a heart or the Queen of Spades is played in a previous trick).

Scoring

  • Hearts: Each heart card is worth 1 point.
  • Queen of Spades: Worth 13 points.
  • Shooting the Moon: If a player wins all the hearts and the Queen of Spades in one round, they score 0 points, and all other players receive 26 points.

Special Rules and Variations

  • No hearts or the Queen of Spades can be played on the first trick.
  • Players can only lead with hearts once they are broken.
  • Some variations include different passing rules or handling leftover cards (kitty) in three-player games.

Strategy Tips

  • Avoid Points: Try to avoid taking tricks that contain hearts or the Queen of Spades.
  • Card Tracking: Keep track of which cards have been played to better predict opponents’ hands.
  • Shooting the Moon: Attempt this high-risk strategy only if you believe you can win all the hearts and the Queen of Spades.

For more detailed rules and strategies, visit How to Play Hearts and Family Education’s Hearts Guide.