Hearts Card Game Rules

Hearts Card Game Rules

Game Overview

Hearts is a classic trick-taking card game that originated at the end of the 19th century and has gained popularity in many countries. It is traditionally played by 4 players, although variations exist for more or fewer players. The game requires a standard 52-card deck, with cards in each suit ranking from Ace (high) to Two (low), and there is no trump suit.

Objective

The objective of Hearts is to avoid scoring points. The game ends when someone reaches or exceeds 100 points, and the winner is the player with the lowest score at that point.

Setup

Players deal and pass cards clockwise. Initially, all the cards are dealt out one at a time so that everyone has 13 cards. On the first hand, after the deal, each player passes any three cards face-down to the player to their left. On the second hand, each player passes three cards to the player to their right, and on the third hand, each player passes three cards to the player sitting opposite. On the fourth hand, no cards are passed at all. This cycle continues until the end of the game.

How to Play

The person holding the 2 of clubs must lead it to the first trick. Other players, in clockwise order, must play a card of the suit which was led if possible. If they do not have a card of that suit, they may play any card. The player who played the highest card of the suit led wins the trick and leads to the next trick.

It is illegal to lead a heart until after a heart has been played to a previous trick, unless your hand contains nothing but hearts. Discarding a heart, thus allowing hearts to be led in future, is called breaking hearts. A player whose hand consists entirely of hearts may lead any heart, thereby breaking hearts, even if hearts have not previously been broken. Players are permitted to lead spades to any trick after the first, in an attempt to drive out the queen.

Scoring and End of Game

Normally, each player scores penalty points for cards in the tricks which they won. Each heart scores one point, and the queen of spades scores 13 points. However, if you manage to win all the scoring cards (which is known as a slam or shooting the moon), your score is reduced by 26 points, or you may choose instead to have all other players' scores increased by 26 points.

The game continues until one player has reached or exceeded 100 points at the conclusion of a hand. The person with the lowest score is then the winner.

Common Variants

There are several variations of Hearts, including:

• Kitty: Only 12 cards are dealt to each player during the deal, with four cards dealt to a face-down kitty. The kitty is added to the tricks of the first player who takes a penalty card.
• Passing: Different passing cycles may be used, such as passing left, passing right, passing across, and scattering (players pass one card to every other player).
• Play of the Hand: Some players allow hearts to be led at any time, while others only permit heart leads after hearts have been broken.

Why This Game Is So Popular

Hearts is an addictive game due to its simplicity, yet depth in strategy. The tension of avoiding hearts and the queen of spades, combined with the excitement of attempting a slam, makes for memorable moments during play. For instance, a successful slam can turn the tide of the game, while a misplayed hand can lead to an unexpectedly high score.

Where to Get the Game

Start your Hearts journey by grabbing a 52-card deck on Amazon.

Beginner Mistakes to Avoid

• Overemphasizing spades: While it's tempting to focus on smoking out the queen of spades, remember that the objective is to avoid scoring points, not just the queen of spades.
• Hoarding hearts: Holding onto hearts increases the risk of taking a penalty, so it's important to play them when necessary.
• Ignoring the pass: Pay close attention to the passing phase, as it can provide valuable information about your opponents' hands.

FAQ

• Can I play Hearts with more or fewer than 4 players? Yes, Hearts can be adapted for 3 or 5 players, but the gameplay and scoring may change.
• What happens if there's a tie at the end of the game? If there's a tie, additional hands may be played until there's a clear winner.
• Is it possible to win with a high score? Yes, in partnership Hearts, the game ends when an individual reaches 100 or more, then each partnership's scores are totalled — so your team can still win even if you are the player who went over 100.
• What is the Jack of Diamonds bonus in Omnibus Hearts? In Omnibus Hearts, the Jack of Diamonds counts as -10 points for the person taking it, in addition to the usual scoring for hearts and the queen of spades.

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