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Hearts
Hearts is a four-player trick-taking game in the evasion family, meaning you try to take as few points as possible. It evolved from older games like Reversis in the 1800s. Each heart costs one point and the Queen of Spades costs thirteen, so the aim is to avoid winning tricks that contain them.
Hearts Rules
A standard 52-card deck is dealt evenly, thirteen cards to each of four players. Before play, you pass three cards to an opponent — left, right, across, then no pass — rotating the direction each hand.
The holder of the 2 of clubs leads it to start the first trick. Players must follow the led suit if able; otherwise they may discard anything, though hearts and the Queen of Spades cannot be led until hearts have been 'broken' by a prior discard. The highest card of the led suit wins the trick and leads next.
At hand's end, each heart taken scores 1 penalty point and the Queen of Spades scores 13. The game ends when someone reaches 100 points, and the player with the lowest total wins. Taking all 26 points 'shoots the moon,' giving every opponent 26 instead.
Hearts Strategy & Tips
Pass away your dangerous spades
If you hold the Queen, King, or Ace of spades without enough low spades to protect them, pass them off. Holding the Queen with little cover is a fast way to eat 13 points.
Void a suit to dump points
Passing all your cards in one suit lets you discard hearts or the Queen on that suit later. A void early in the hand is one of the strongest defensive tools.
Watch for the moon shot
If an opponent suddenly stops taking obvious points, they may be shooting. Take a single heart yourself to break their run before it costs everyone 26.
Keep low cards to lose tricks
Twos, threes, and fours let you safely follow suit without winning the trick. Bleading high in a long suit forces out opponents' danger cards while you stay clean.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the goal of Hearts?
To finish with the fewest penalty points. Each heart is worth 1 point and the Queen of Spades is worth 13, so you want to avoid taking tricks that contain them.
What does shooting the moon mean?
Taking all 26 penalty points in a single hand. Instead of scoring 26 against yourself, you score zero and add 26 to each opponent's total.
When can you lead hearts?
Only after hearts have been 'broken' — that is, after a heart has been played as a discard on an earlier trick. You also can't lead the Queen of Spades on the first trick.
Who leads the first trick in Hearts?
Whoever holds the 2 of clubs must lead it. Players then follow that suit, and on the first trick no one may play a heart or the Queen of Spades.