Hearts

Hearts is a classic four-player trick-taking card game where the goal is surprisingly the opposite of most games: you’re trying to score as few points as possible. Every Heart card you collect gives you 1 penalty point, and the dreaded Queen of Spades hits you with a massive 13-point penalty. Once someone reaches 100 points, the game ends and whoever has the lowest score wins. Simple idea, lots of strategy, and just the right amount of chaos.

Hearts looks straightforward on the surface, but once you start playing, you quickly realize how much the game hinges on timing, reading your opponents, and managing your hand carefully. One wrong move can hand you a trick full of penalty cards. One bold move can turn the whole round around. And every hand feels different thanks to card passing, leading rules, and shifting dynamics between players. This online Hearts version captures all that charm with a clean interface and smooth gameplay perfect for both newcomers and longtime fans.

How to Play Hearts

1. The Passing Phase: Before the first trick begins, everyone chooses three cards to pass away:
   • Game 1 → pass left
   • Game 2 → pass right
   • Game 3 → pass across
   • Game 4 → no passing
   • Players usually dump high cards or risky spades to avoid trouble later.
2. The First Trick: The player holding the 2 must lead the very first card of the game. In this opening round, players are not allowed to play:
   • Any Hearts
   • The Queen of Spades
   • No matter what your hand looks like, those cards stay put for now.
3. Following Suit: When a suit is led, everyone must play a card of the same suit if they have one. If not, you can discard another suit (with a few restrictions early on).
4. Hearts Can’t Lead Until They’re “Broken”: You cannot start a trick with a Heart until someone has played a Heart while unable to follow suit. This moment is called breaking hearts. The Queen of Spades works differently; she can be played anytime you can’t follow the lead suit.
5. Winning the Trick: Once all four players have placed a card:
   • The highest card of the led suit wins the trick
   • That player collects any penalty cards inside it
   • They start the next trick
   • This continues until all cards are played.

Control: Use Left Mouse Button to select a card and play it. Nothing complicated, just point, click, and strategize.

Scoring & Winning the Game

After the last trick:

• Each heart = 1 point
• Queen of Spades = 13 points

When a player hits 100 or more, the game ends. The lowest scorer wins overall. If there’s a tie for lowest, you keep playing until only one person remains on top.

Shooting the Moon

Here’s the famous twist: If a player manages to take every penalty card (all 13 Hearts + the Queen of Spades), they don’t get punished they get rewarded. They score 0 points. Everyone else gets 26 points. It’s bold, risky, and one of the most iconic strategies in Hearts

Why This Online Version Is Great

This online Hearts game is clean, fast, and easy to jump into. You play against three computer opponents, and if you’re new, there’s a handy rule explanation to help you understand what to avoid, when to hold back, and when to attack. It stays true to the classic gameplay seen on early Windows versions but feels much smoother and more modern.

Hearts is the perfect blend of luck, strategy, and surprise. Some rounds feel calm and calculated; others explode with twists (especially if someone tries to Shoot the Moon). It’s easy to learn, fun to master, and endlessly replayable. If you’re in the mood for a classic card game that rewards smart thinking and clever timing, Hearts is a fantastic choice.