Hearts
The Classic "Avoid the Points" Card Game
What is Hearts?
Hearts is a trick-taking card game where the goal is to avoid taking points. Each heart card is worth 1 point, and the Queen of Spades (the "Black Maria") is worth a whopping 13 points. The player with the lowest score when someone reaches 100 points wins!
Unlike most card games, you're trying to LOSE tricks - at least the ones with hearts and the Queen of Spades in them.
A, K, Q, J, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2
There is no trump suit in Hearts!
Setup & Deal
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Gather 4 PlayersHearts is designed for exactly 4 players. Everyone plays for themselves - no teams!
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Determine First DealerCut the deck - lowest card deals first. The deal rotates clockwise each round.
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Deal All CardsDeal all 52 cards face-down, one at a time clockwise. Each player receives exactly 13 cards.
The Passing Phase
Before play begins, each player selects 3 cards to pass to another player. The direction changes each round:
- Round 1: Pass LEFT
- Round 2: Pass RIGHT
- Round 3: Pass ACROSS
- Round 4: NO PASSING (Hold)
- Round 5: Repeat from Left...
Pass high cards (especially A♠, K♠, Q♠) unless you're trying to shoot the moon. Pass cards in suits where you're short to create voids.
Playing Tricks
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First Lead - 2 of ClubsThe player with the 2♣ leads it to start the first trick.
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Follow SuitYou MUST play a card of the same suit that was led, if you have one.
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Can't Follow? Play AnythingIf you can't follow suit, you may play any card - this is how you dump hearts!
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Highest Card WinsThe highest card of the led suit wins the trick. Winner collects cards and leads next.
Important Restrictions
- No points on first trick: You cannot play hearts or Q♠ on the first trick (unless you have no choice)
- Hearts must be "broken": You cannot lead hearts until someone has played a heart (because they couldn't follow suit)
The Q♠ is the most dangerous card! At 13 points, catching her is devastating. The A♠ and K♠ are risky because they can "catch" the queen.
Example Trick
Point Values
All other cards (clubs, diamonds, non-queen spades) are worth ZERO points. You want to win tricks with these "safe" cards to control the game.
Shooting the Moon
If one player captures ALL 26 points (all 13 hearts AND the Queen of Spades), they've "Shot the Moon"!
OR (depending on house rules):
If you're attempting to shoot the moon and miss even ONE heart, you get stuck with massive points. Only try when you have a dominant hand!
End of Game
The game ends when any player reaches 100 points (or your chosen target). The player with the lowest score wins!
Round Example
Passing Strategy
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Get Rid of the Queen of SpadesIf you have Q♠ and can't protect her, pass her immediately. She's 13 points of danger!
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Pass High Spades (A♠, K♠)These cards "catch" the queen. Unless you have lots of low spades for protection, get rid of them.
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Create a VoidPass all cards in one suit to create a "void" - then you can dump hearts when that suit is led!
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Keep Low CardsLow cards let you follow suit without winning tricks. The 2♣ is great - you must play it first!
Playing Tips
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Play High, Then LowIn safe suits (clubs, diamonds), play high cards early to win safe tricks, then use low cards to duck later.
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Track the QueenWatch spades carefully. Once Q♠ is played, spades become much safer to play.
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Lead Through DangerIf you think someone has Q♠, lead low spades to force it out safely.
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Break Hearts StrategicallyWhen you can't follow suit, dump your highest hearts first. Save low hearts to duck with later.
When to Shoot the Moon
Consider shooting the moon when you have:
- Most or all high hearts (A♥, K♥, Q♥)
- The Queen of Spades with protection (A♠, K♠)
- A long suit you can run (5+ cards)
- Very few low cards that could lose tricks
If someone keeps winning hearts, they might be shooting! Lead your highest hearts to stop them - one heart they don't get ruins their attempt.
Common Mistakes
Don't hold A♠ or K♠ hoping to "control" spades. You'll likely catch the queen when someone dumps it!
Pay attention to which hearts have been played. If 10 hearts are gone, the remaining ones are easier to avoid.
If someone is taking every heart, don't just watch! Do everything to win one heart and stop them.
Common Variations
The J♦ is worth -10 points (you WANT to capture it).
- Adds strategic depth - diamonds become valuable
- Changes passing strategy significantly
- Makes shooting the moon harder (need J♦ too, or lose 10)
Every 4th round, no cards are passed.
- Play what you're dealt
- Can't get rid of dangerous cards!
- More luck-dependent rounds
Take ALL 13 tricks (not just all points).
- Much harder than regular moon
- Requires dominant hand in all suits
- Usually worth double moon points
- 50 points - Quick game
- 100 points - Standard
- 150 points - Extended game
- Some play that hitting exactly 100 resets to 50!
Remove the 2♦ and deal 17 cards each.
- Pass only 3 cards (left, right, hold)
- Player with 3♣ leads first trick
- Same scoring rules apply