Card Game 101 #5: Hearts

Hearts is a fun, trick-taking card game for four players. Avoid taking penalty cards and getting points for them to win! Read on to learn the basics of the card game Hearts.

✔ A standard 52-card deck

✔ 4 players

First of all, choose the dealer. The dealer can be selected by the players themselves, or using the following method:

- Each player draws one card from the deck. The player who draws the highest number gets to deal (for this purpose, count aces as 1, jacks as 11, queens as 12, and kings as 13). If two or more players tie for the highest number drawn, have the tying players re-draw from the deck.

Next, the entire deck is dealt, with each player getting 13 cards from the dealer. The cards are dealt clockwise and starting with the player to the dealer's left. The dealer position moves clockwise to the left after each hand.

Then, depending on the hand number, each player may need to pass three cards to another player:

✔ Hand 1: Pass left

✔ Hand 2: Pass right

✔ Hand 3: Pass across

✔ Hand 4: No pass

Note that this card passing scheme cycles throughout the game: in hand 5 players will pass left again, in hand 6 players will pass right again, and so on.

The objective of Hearts is to be the player with the lowest score when another player reaches 100 points or more. Points are given if you take a trick containing penalty cards. There are 14 penalty cards in the game: the entire suit of hearts and the queen of spades.

In Hearts, cards are played in "tricks". A trick is created by each player playing one card into the middle. In this game aces are high, that is, the cards are ranked A>K>Q>J>10>9>8>7>6>5>4>3>2.

The player holding the 2 of clubs starts play by leading it to the first trick. In each trick, all players must follow the lead suit whenever possible. If a player does not have a card in the lead suit, that player can play any card. The player who played the highest ranking card in the lead suit takes the trick. That player then leads the next trick with any card in hand. Play continues this way until all cards have been played.

At the end of a hand, each player scores points based on the penalty cards taken:

✔ For each heart: score 1 point

✔ For the queen of spades: score 13 points

(All other cards are worth nil)

If no one has reached 100 points after the current hand, begin a new hand.

Once a player reaches or exceeds 100 points, the player with the lowest score is the winner.

✔ The 2 of clubs must be led to the first trick by the player holding it.

✔ Players cannot lead a heart to a trick until hearts have been broken. Hearts are broken when a player cannot follow suit and plays a heart into the middle.

✔ Players cannot play a penalty card to the first trick, unless they have no other options (i.e. their hand contains nothing but penalty cards).

✔ If a player takes all the penalty cards in a hand (all hearts and the queen of spades), that player scores nothing and each opponent scores 26 points. This is known as "shooting the moon".

✔ When passing cards to another player, consider choosing high-ranking cards in your hand to pass, such as aces or face cards.

✔ Also, if you are dealt the 2 of clubs, it's recommended that you pass it to another player. This will allow you to get rid of a high card in the first trick.

✔ You have the best odds of shooting the moon if you have a lot of high-ranking hearts and spades in your hand.

✔ If you have to take a trick, use the highest ranking playable card to do so. Then, lead a low card to the next trick if possible.

Thanks for reading!