Objective
Hearts is a trick-taking card game where the lowest score wins. Try to avoid penalty cards: every heart is worth 1 point, and the queen of spades is worth 13.
How to Play
- Four players get 13 cards. Most hands begin by passing three cards left, right, or across; every fourth hand has no pass.
- The player with the 2 of clubs leads first. Everyone must follow that suit if they can.
- The highest card in the suit that was led wins the trick and leads next.
- You cannot lead hearts until hearts have been broken, and no hearts or queen of spades may be played on the first trick unless you have no safe choice.
How to Win
At the end of each hand, penalty points are added. If one player takes every heart and the queen of spades, they shoot the moon: they score 0 and everyone else gets 26. When someone reaches 100, the lowest score wins.
Tips
- Pass high spades carefully so you do not get trapped with the queen.
- Save low cards to duck dangerous tricks.
- Watch for a player collecting all penalties and stop a moon shot early.