How to play Hearts

The goal

Take as few points as possible. Each heart is worth 1 point and the Q♠ is worth 13. The game ends when someone reaches 100; the lowest score wins.

Setting up

• Deal all 52 cards: 13 each.
• Before each hand, pass 3 cards: to the left, then to the right, then across, then no pass, and repeat.

A turn, step by step

1. 1

   2♣ starts. Whoever holds the 2♣ leads it to the first trick.

2. 2

   Follow suit. Everyone must play a card of the suit that was led, if they can.

3. 3

   Can't follow? Discard. With no card of that suit, play anything: often a heart or the Q♠ (most rules forbid points on the first trick).

4. 4

   Highest card wins. The highest card of the suit led wins the trick, takes its points and leads next.

5. 5

   Breaking hearts. You can't lead hearts until a heart has been discarded, unless you have nothing else.

6. 6

   Shoot the moon. Take all 13 hearts and the Q♠, and you score 0 while everyone else takes 26.

Beginner mistakes

✗ Holding high spades with few low ones

A♠ or K♠ with little cover often swallows the Q♠. Pass them.

✗ Wasting low cards early

Low cards let you duck later. Get rid of your high cards while tricks are still clean.

✗ Ignoring the moon

If one player is taking every heart, keep one heart to stop them.

✗ Feeding the wrong player

Give points to the player who is winning, not the one about to lose.

Three real situations. Pick a move, then read why it works.

Frequently asked questions