How to play Hearts

Hearts is a trick-taking card game for four players in which you try to take as few hearts as you can and avoid the queen of spades.

Hearts against three computer players, played to 100 points.

About Hearts

The classic game ends after the hand in which a player reaches 100 points, with the passing cycle repeating every four hands until then.

Nobody can take more than 26 points in a hand, so no one reaches 100 in fewer than four hands, and every classic game plays the full cycle of passing left, right, across and holding at least once. One queen of spades costs 13 points, about an eighth of the target, which leaves room to recover from a bad hand.

With that room, a strong hand of high hearts and spades is worth a try at taking all 26, since a failed attempt can still be made up later. Near the end, the scores decide your aim: if yours is the lowest total, points that push another player to 100 end the game in your favour; if not, drop points on whoever is lowest to close the gap.

The goal of Hearts

Hearts is a trick-taking game for four players with no partners, played against three computer players. Hearts and the queen of spades cost points, so the aim is to finish with the lowest total.

How to set up Hearts

Each player is dealt 13 cards from a 52-card deck. Aces are high and there are no trumps. Before each hand you choose three cards to pass: to the left in the first hand, then to the right, then across, and in the fourth hand nobody passes.

Hearts rules

Whoever holds the two of clubs leads it to the first trick. You must follow the suit that was led if you can; if you cannot, you may play any card. The highest card of the led suit wins the trick, and the winner leads the next one.

No heart and not the queen of spades may be played to the first trick, unless your hand holds nothing else. Hearts may not be led until a heart has been played to an earlier trick, unless your hand is all hearts. The queen of spades does not break hearts and may be led at any time.

Hearts scoring

At the end of each hand, every heart you took counts 1 point and the queen of spades counts 13. If one player takes all 26 points, they have shot the moon: they score 0 and each of the other three players scores 26.

How to win at Hearts

The game ends after the hand in which a player reaches the target score, and the lowest total wins. If the lowest total is shared, more hands are played until one player is lowest alone.

Hearts strategy tips

If you hold the ace or king of spades with few other spades, consider passing them: they can be forced to win the trick the queen of spades falls on.

Try to run out of a suit early. Once you cannot follow suit, you can drop the queen of spades or high hearts on tricks that other players win.

Keep a few low hearts for late in the hand. When hearts are led, a low one lets you stay under the winning card instead of taking the trick.

Watch who is collecting points. If one player has taken every heart so far, win a trick with a heart in it yourself: stopping them costs you a point or two, while letting them take all 26 costs you 26.

Hearts questions and answers

Can you play Hearts online with friends?

Yes. Sign in, follow the Multiplayer link, open a table and send your friends its code. You can list the table in the lobby or keep it to people with the code, and play to 100 or to 50 points. If you tick Fill empty seats with bots, you can start as soon as a second person sits down, and bots take the other seats.

What happens when you shoot the moon in Hearts?

You score 0 for the hand and each of the other three players scores 26. Shooting the moon means taking all 26 points in one hand: all 13 hearts and the queen of spades. There is no option to take 26 off your own total instead; the other players always receive the points.

When can you lead a heart in Hearts?

You can lead a heart once a heart has been played to an earlier trick, or when your hand holds nothing but hearts. Hearts are usually broken by a player who cannot follow suit and discards one. Playing the queen of spades does not break hearts, and the queen itself may be led at any time.

Can you play points on the first trick in Hearts?

No, not while you have any other choice. The first trick is led with the two of clubs, and no heart or queen of spades may be played to it while your hand holds another card. Only a hand made up entirely of hearts and the queen of spades may play one of them there.

Is Hearts played to 100 or 50 points?

Both are offered here: the classic game ends after the hand in which someone reaches 100 points, and Hearts: Short ends at 50. Each has its own page and can be chosen when you open an online table. In both, the lowest total wins, and a tie for lowest plays more hands until one player is lowest alone.

Can you play Hearts against the computer?

Yes, the Hearts page is you against three computer players, and you do not need to sign in. They sit to your left, across and to your right, and decide only from their own cards and the cards they have seen. A setting makes them play at normal or fast speed. There is no undo, since taking a card back after seeing their answers would reveal hidden cards.