Hearts Card Game Rules

How to Play Hearts Card Game

Hearts is a trick-taking card game played with a standard 52-card deck. Unlike many trick games, the objective is to score as few points as possible. Players take turns playing cards into tricks, and certain cards carry penalty points.

A full game of Hearts continues until one player reaches a predefined score limit, usually 100 points.
The player with the lowest score at that point wins.

Preparations

Before each round:

• Players sort their hands
• Prepare for the card-passing phase

Gameplay

This section explains how to play Hearts step by step, clearly and correctly.

1. Passing Cards

At the start of most rounds, each player passes three cards to another player.

This four-round cycle repeats throughout the game.

2. Starting the Round

• The player holding the 2 of Clubs starts the first trick
• They must play the 2 of Clubs
• Play continues clockwise

3. Playing Tricks

• Players must follow suit if possible
• If you cannot follow suit, you may play any card except:
  • Hearts
  • Queen of Spades
    (this restriction applies only on the first trick)
• The highest card of the suit led wins the trick
• The winner of the trick leads the next one

4. Breaking Hearts

• Hearts cannot be led until they are broken
• Hearts are broken when:
  • A player cannot follow suit and plays a heart
• Once broken:
  • Hearts may be led freely

5. Penalty Cards

Certain cards give penalty points when taken in tricks.

All penalty points go to the player who wins the trick containing them.

Here Is How You Win the Game

• At the end of each round, players add up their penalty points
• The game continues until one player reaches or exceeds the score limit
• The player with the lowest total score wins

Shooting the Moon

A high-risk, high-reward rule:

If a player takes all 13 hearts and the Queen of Spades in one round:

Shooting the Moon can completely change the outcome of the game.

Strategies and Tips

Winning Hearts requires planning, timing, and reading your opponents.

Core Strategy Tips

• Avoid taking early tricks unless necessary
• Track which suits have already been played
• Handle high spades carefully to avoid the Queen
• Create void suits to dump penalty cards
• Control when hearts are broken

Advanced Tactics

• Force opponents into taking the Queen of Spades
• Set up safe tricks late in the round
• Attempt Shooting the Moon only with a strong hand
• Watch card distribution closely

Alternative Versions of Hearts

Several variations of Hearts are commonly played.

Omnibus Hearts

• Jack of Diamonds subtracts 10 points
• Adds balance against the Queen of Spades

Black Lady (Classic Hearts)

• Standard rules as described above
• Most widely played version

Partnership Hearts

• Played in teams of two
• Scores are combined per team

Online Hearts

• Common on digital platforms
• Often includes timers and auto-scoring
• Usually follows standard Hearts rules

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