It can be advantageous to pass on as many hearts as possible. This is because the higher value of the card, the more likely it is you’re going to win the given ‘trick’ at any time – this increases your chance of winning heart cards in the later rounds. In the game of Hearts, any aces and picture cards should be passed first. Generally, you should pass over the highest cards of any suits. What cards should you pass over in Hearts? Choosing the best card in your hand at the right time will make all the difference to your score. This is because, at the end of the game, each player’s score is totalled based on which cards they’re left with (see 'how do you keep score in Hearts?’).ĭespite being a game partly defined by luck, it is ultimately down to the player’s skill and strategy that makes the difference between losing and coming out victorious. The objective of Hearts is to end the game with the fewest points possible by picking and choosing when’s best to win ‘tricks’, while making sure you steer clear of as many hearts as possible. It recently took off in popularity when Windows 3 included Hearts in their operating system in 1992, and later various internet sites like Solitaired developed the game for online use. However, it is derived from a European game called Reversi which was popular in the 17th and 18th centuries. Hearts was introduced in the United States in the 1880s. The overall game is won once a player scores 100 points across rounds. Thus, the player who shot the moon wins the round. If a player has all the hearts and the Queen of Spades, they are said to 'shoot the moon' - in this case, that player gets zero points and other players get 26 points added to their total. The winner is the person who has the least number of points. Once all the cards are played, the winner is announced. Tricks that have the Queen of Spades contribute 13 points to the player's score. Tricks that have hearts contribute 1 point to the player's score.

In the second round, players pass to the person across in the third round, to their right.

In the first round, players pass to the person on their left.

Players can choose 3 cards to pass to their counterpart.

Deck is shuffled and dealt to all players.

The player with the highest rank of the starting suit wins the trick. Hearts can only be played as a starting card after they have been 'broken,' meaning after someone already played a Heart because they did not have the right suit. If they cannot, they can play another suit. When trick is being played, players should match the suit of the first card played. The player with the 2 of Clubs must start and play that card. The queen does not have to be discarded at the first opportunity.Frequently Asked Questions How do you play Hearts? Hearts may not be led until a heart or the queen of spades has been discarded. The winner of the trick collects it and places it face down. The highest card of the suit led wins a trick and the winner of that trick leads next.

However, if a player has no clubs when the first trick is led, a heart or the queen of spades cannot be discarded. If a player is void of the suit led, a card of any other suit may be discarded. If the 2 has been removed for the three handed game, then the 3 of clubs is led.Įach player must follow suit if possible. The player holding the 2 of clubs after the pass makes the opening lead. In a four-player game, each is dealt 13 cards in a three-player game, the 2 of diamonds should be removed, and each player gets 17 cards in a five-player game, the 2 of clubs should be removed so that each player will get 10 cards.

The Dealĭeal the cards one at a time, face down, clockwise. When a player takes all 13 hearts and the queen of spades in one hand, instead of losing 26 points, that player scores zero and each of his opponents score an additional 26 points. The game is usually played to 100 points (some play to 50). The aggregate total of all scores for each hand must be a multiple of 26. Hearts count as one point each and the queen counts 13 points. Card Values/scoringĪt the end of each hand, players count the number of hearts they have taken as well as the queen of spades, if applicable. When one player hits the agreed-upon score or higher, the game ends and the player with the lowest score wins. To be the player with the lowest score at the end of the game. Perhaps the foremost one is Hearts, which is truly one of the greatest card games ever devised for four players, each playing individually. Many trick-taking games are not directly related to Bridge or Whist.

Game of hearts classic