How to Play Hearts

Hearts is a classic trick-taking card game for four players. Unlike most trick-taking games, the goal is to avoid taking certain cards. It has been one of the most popular card games since the 1880s and was included in Microsoft Windows, introducing millions of players to its strategic depth.

Objective

Avoid collecting hearts (1 point each) and the Queen of Spades (13 points). The player with the lowest score when someone reaches 100 points wins the game.

Setup

• 4 players, standard 52-card deck
• Deal all cards evenly — each player gets 13 cards
• No trump suit in Hearts

Passing Cards

Before play begins, each player selects 3 cards to pass to another player. The passing direction rotates each round:

• Round 1: Pass left
• Round 2: Pass right
• Round 3: Pass across
• Round 4: No pass (hold)

This cycle repeats throughout the game.

Gameplay

• The player holding the 2 of Clubs leads the first trick
• Play proceeds clockwise — each player plays one card
• You must follow suit if possible
• If you cannot follow suit, you may play any card (with restrictions on the first trick)
• The highest card of the led suit wins the trick
• The trick winner leads the next trick

Important Rules

• Hearts cannot be led until a heart has been played on a previous trick (hearts are "broken")
• First trick restrictions: No hearts or Queen of Spades may be played on the first trick (unless you have no other option)
• There is no trump suit — the highest card of the led suit always wins

Scoring

• Each heart card = 1 point
• Queen of Spades = 13 points
• All other cards = 0 points
• Maximum points in one round = 26

Shooting the Moon

If one player collects all 26 points (all 13 hearts + Queen of Spades), they "Shoot the Moon." Instead of receiving 26 points, every other player receives 26 points and the shooter gets 0. This high-risk strategy can dramatically change the game.

Winning

The game ends when any player reaches 100 points. The player with the lowest total score at that point wins.

Strategy Tips

• Pass high spades: Get rid of the Ace, King, or Queen of Spades early if you cannot protect them
• Void a suit: Try to eliminate all cards of one suit so you can dump hearts when that suit is led
• Watch the Queen: Track who might have the Queen of Spades and avoid winning tricks when it could be played
• Count points: Keep track of how many hearts have been played to know what is still out there
• Lead low: Leading low cards reduces your chance of winning unwanted tricks
• Moon defense: If you suspect someone is shooting the moon, take a single heart to break their attempt

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