Game guide · ZHJW-TNY
The essentials of playing Hearts
Keep the goal in view while choosing a move. Finish with the lowest penalty total by avoiding hearts and the queen of spades. Keep the goal in mind before your next move. Four players each receive thirteen cards. Pass three cards left, right, across, then hold on successive hands. Keep the goal in mind before your next move.
Four-player free Hearts against three local computers, to 100 points. This table breaks hearts only with a heart, not with Q♠. No cash play or internet matchmaking.
Build familiarity through play
Keep the goal in view while choosing a move. On the first trick, do not discard a heart or Q♠ unless no non-penalty card is available. The game area remains available above the explanation.
Understand the aim
Keep the goal in view while choosing a move. Finish with the lowest penalty total by avoiding hearts and the queen of spades. Keep the goal in mind before your next move.
Work through the instructions
- Four players each receive thirteen cards. Pass three cards left, right, across, then hold on successive hands.
- The player holding 2♣ leads the first trick. Follow suit whenever possible.
- On the first trick, do not discard a heart or Q♠ unless no non-penalty card is available.
- Hearts may lead only after a heart has been played, unless your whole hand consists of hearts.
- The highest card of the led suit wins the trick. Each heart adds one penalty point and Q♠ adds thirteen.
- Taking all 26 penalty points in one hand shoots the moon: your score gains zero and each opponent gains 26.
- After all thirteen tricks, choose Next hand. The match ends once anyone reaches 100; the lowest total wins.
How to use the controls
Take a moment to check the current turn. Select three cards and press Pass selected cards during passing. During play, tap a legal card. Next hand continues the match; New match resets totals. Start a new round when you are ready to try again.
A closer look at one example
Begin with the basic rule, then follow the result of your action. A trick containing 2♥, 8♥, Q♠ and 5♣ carries fifteen penalty points: two hearts plus the queen of spades. Start a new round when you are ready to try again.
Watch out for this
Check the rule below as you play. Having a high card in another suit does not win a trick. Only the highest rank in the suit that was led can win it.
Read these answers for extra help
For this game, what is the aim of Hearts?
Finish with the lowest penalty total by avoiding hearts and the queen of spades. The worked example offers another way to follow the rule.
For this game, how do the controls work?
Select three cards and press Pass selected cards during passing. During play, tap a legal card. Next hand continues the match; New match resets totals. The instructions above use these same rules.
When I start, can you show an example?
A trick containing 2♥, 8♥, Q♠ and 5♣ carries fifteen penalty points: two hearts plus the queen of spades. A new round resets the current game.
On this page, which mistake should I avoid?
Having a high card in another suit does not win a trick. Only the highest rank in the suit that was led can win it. The instructions above use these same rules.
When I start, what rules and limits are used here?
Four-player free Hearts against three local computers, to 100 points. This table breaks hearts only with a heart, not with Q♠. No cash play or internet matchmaking. The instructions above use these same rules.
During a round, how many people can play here?
You vs 3 computers. This is local browser play, not internet matchmaking. The controls work with mouse or touch.
How does passing work?
Select three cards. The direction cycles left, right, across and no pass, repeating each four hands. Use the labelled controls for your next action.
For this game, does Q♠ break hearts?
Not at this table. A heart must have been played before hearts can lead, unless the leader holds only hearts. The instructions above use these same rules.
When I start, what is shooting the moon?
Collect all thirteen hearts and Q♠ in the same hand; each opponent receives 26 points while you receive zero. The instructions above use these same rules.
For this game, how does the match end?
After a completed hand takes anyone to at least 100 total points. The lowest score wins; equal lowest scores share the result. Use the labelled controls for your next action.