Hearts – Rules

Play Hearts against the computer

1. Overview

What is it about? In Hearts you don't want to win tricks containing penalty cards. Each heart costs one point, the queen of spades as many as 13. Before each hand you pass three unwanted cards to another player. But whoever takes all penalty cards at once “shoots the moon” – then everyone else gets the points.

2. Cards and material

• Pack: 52 French cards without jokers.
• Ranking (high → low): A, K, Q, J, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2.
• No trumps: The highest card of the suit led always wins.
• Penalty cards:

• Total: 26 penalty points per hand.
• Face up and face down: Hand cards concealed, tricks face down in front of the winner.

3. Preparation and start

1. Shuffle and deal: Everyone gets 13 cards.
2. Passing: Everyone chooses 3 cards and passes them face down – in hand 1 to the left, in hand 2 to the right, in hand 3 across, in hand 4 not at all; then start again.
3. Picking up: Only pick up the cards you receive after passing your own.
4. Start: Whoever holds the 2 of clubs leads it to the first trick.

Start example: Player 1 passes the queen of spades, ace of spades and king of hearts to Player 2 (to his left) and receives three cards from Player 4. Player 3 holds the 2 of clubs and leads.

4. Goal and winning

• Hand: Penalty points in your own tricks count.
• Game: As soon as someone reaches 100 points, the game ends. Whoever has the fewest points wins.
• Tie: Players with equally few points share the win (or play another hand).

5. Play in detail

A trick.

1. The leader plays a card.
2. The others must follow suit if they can.
3. A player who can't follow may discard any card – preferably hearts or the queen of spades.
4. The highest card of the suit led wins. The winner takes all four cards (with any penalty cards) and leads next.

Further rules.

• First trick: No hearts and not the queen of spades may be discarded in the first trick (unless you have nothing else).
• Leading hearts: Hearts may only be led once hearts are “broken” – that is, once a heart has been discarded – or if you hold only hearts.

Example with Players 1 to 4. Order: Player 3, 4, 1, 2.

1. Player 3 leads the 2 of clubs. Player 4 plays the 9 of clubs, Player 1 the king of clubs, Player 2 the 5 of clubs. Trick to Player 1 – no penalty points.
2. Player 1 leads the 3 of diamonds. Player 2 plays the 10 of diamonds, Player 3 the jack of diamonds. Player 4 has no diamonds and discards the queen of spades.
3. The highest diamond is the jack: trick to Player 3, 13 penalty points.
4. Player 3 leads the 4 of spades. Player 4 plays the 7 of spades, Player 1 the 2 of spades. Player 2 has no spades and discards the ace of hearts. Trick to Player 4, 1 point. Now hearts are broken.

6. Scoring

• Recording: One column per player, running total.
• End: As soon as someone reaches 100; fewest points win.

7. Special rules and situations

• Shooting the moon: Whoever takes all 26 penalty points scores 0; everyone else gets 26. Variant: the shooter may instead subtract 26 from their own score.
• Only hearts in hand: Then you may lead a heart even if hearts aren't broken.
• First trick without clubs: A player without clubs may not discard a penalty card in the first trick if they have any other card.
• Leading the queen of spades: The queen of spades may be led at any time (spades are never locked).
• Revoke: A player who fails to follow suit when they could gets 26 points for the hand.
• Common mistakes: keeping high spades (ace, king) while the queen is still out; noticing too late that someone is shooting the moon.

8. Variants

Standard in this description: 4 players, passing left-right-across-none, game ends at 100 points.

When playing against the computer on cardgames.zone you play with three or four players (with three, without the 2 of diamonds); Omnibus, the moon scoring and the end at 50 or 100 points can be chosen.

9. Tips for beginners

1. Passing: Pass dangerous cards – ace, king and queen of spades and high hearts.
2. Void a suit: Once you have no cards of a suit, you can discard penalty cards there.
3. High cards early: Play high cards while no penalty cards are around yet.
4. Watch spades: Where's the queen? Lead low spades to flush her out.
5. Stop the moon: If someone is taking all the hearts, take a heart trick on purpose.
6. Save low cards: A 2 or 3 is the best protection against winning tricks.
7. Count: Remember how many hearts have been played.

10. Summary in 10 steps

1. 52 cards, 13 to each player.
2. Pass 3 cards (left, right, across, none).
3. The 2 of clubs opens the first trick.
4. Follow suit, otherwise discard anything.
5. The highest card of the suit wins the trick.
6. No penalty cards in the first trick.
7. Lead hearts only once they're broken.
8. Each heart 1, queen of spades 13 penalty points.
9. All 26 taken: moon shot, others +26.
10. At 100 points the game ends; fewest points win.

11. Frequently asked questions

Must I follow suit?

Yes. Only when you don't have the suit may you discard something else.

When may I lead hearts?

Once a heart has been discarded (“hearts are broken”) or when you hold only hearts.

What does “shooting the moon” mean?

You take all the hearts and the queen of spades. Then you score 0 and everyone else 26.

Why should I pass the ace of spades?

With the ace of spades you easily win a trick into which someone throws the queen of spades.

Who wins?

Whoever has the fewest points at the end.

How long does a game take?

To 100 points about 30 to 60 minutes.

Origin & history

Goes back to the trick-avoidance game Reversis (Spain/France, 18th century). Described in the USA around 1880 as Hearts; the Queen of Spades penalty was added with 'Black Lady'. Known worldwide thanks to its inclusion in Windows (from 1992).