How to play Hearts
Here’s how to play Hearts, the classic trick-taking card game. Four players each get 13 cards, and the aim is to finish with the fewest points: every heart you take costs 1 point and the Queen of Spades costs 13. You can play free online against three computer players.
Pass three cards, follow suit, and dodge the tricks that hold hearts. Or take every point and shoot the moon, so that everyone else gets 26.
The basics
Finish with the fewest points. Every heart you take is 1 point and the Queen of Spades is 13 — so the aim is to avoid winning tricks that contain them. The match ends when someone reaches the target score (50 or 100) and the lowest score wins.
The deal and the pass
- Four players, 13 cards each: you and three computer players.
- Before each hand, choose 3 cards to pass: to the left on the first hand, the right on the second, across on the third, then no pass — and round again.
- Good cards to pass: the Q♠, the A♠ and K♠ (they’re dangerous while the Queen’s about), high hearts, or a whole short suit so you can dump on it later.
Playing a trick
- Whoever holds the 2♣ leads it to the first trick.
- Play in turn, clockwise. You must follow suit if you can. If you can’t, play any card.
- The highest card of the suit led takes the trick and leads the next one. Other suits never win a trick.
- No points on the first trick: you can’t play a heart or the Q♠ then, unless you have nothing else.
- Hearts can’t be led until a heart has been played (“hearts are broken”) — unless a heart is all you hold.
Scoring
- ♥each heart in the tricks you take is 1 point.
- Q♠the Queen of Spades is 13 points.
- 26a hand has 26 points in total. If one player takes all of them they shoot the moon: they score 0 and everyone else gets 26.
The match
- Choose who sits at your table from the ten characters (Trevor up to Pete), or let the game pick them at random.
- Play to 50 (a short game) or 100. If two players tie for the lowest score when someone passes the target, play goes on.
- Your win counts on the Hearts leaderboard; beating tougher opponents and winning by a bigger margin scores more.
Controls
- Tap a card to select it, then tap it again (or press Play) to play it. Greyed-out cards can’t be played right now.
- When passing, tap three cards, then Pass.
- Keyboard: Tab to a card, Enter selects, P plays.
- Settings () has sounds, vibration, larger cards and four-colour suits.
Beginner tips
- Pass your danger cards. The Queen of Spades, the Ace and King of spades and your highest hearts are the cards most likely to cost you, so send them on your way before the hand starts.
- Empty a short suit. If you have only one or two cards in a suit, pass them, so that you can drop the Queen or a heart on someone else’s trick when that suit is led.
- Duck early, take late. Play the highest card that still loses the trick, and try to be last to play when a trick has no points in it.
- Watch for the moon. If one player has taken every point so far and it is late in the hand, taking a heart yourself can save you 26 points.
Frequently asked questions
How do you win at Hearts?
Have the lowest score when the match ends. The match ends when any player reaches the target, usually 100 points. Every heart is 1 point and the Queen of Spades is 13.
What does shooting the moon mean in Hearts?
Taking all 26 points in one hand: every heart and the Queen of Spades. You score 0 for the hand and each of the other players gets 26.
Who leads first in Hearts?
The player holding the 2 of clubs leads it to the first trick. You can’t play a heart or the Queen of Spades on that first trick unless you have nothing else.
What does it mean when hearts are broken?
Hearts can’t be led until a heart has been played on an earlier trick, unless the player has only hearts in their hand. Once a heart has been played, hearts are broken.
Why do you pass cards in Hearts?
Passing three cards before each hand lets you get rid of dangerous cards such as the Queen of Spades or high hearts. You pass left, then right, then across, then keep your hand, and the cycle repeats.
Ready to play Hearts?
It’s free and works in your browser — no download. Start against Trevor, the friendliest opponent, and sign up free to climb the ladder of ten computer players all the way to Pete.
Play Hearts now