Hearts Rules
Hearts is one of the most beloved trick-taking card games, where the goal is to avoid collecting penalty cards. Learn the official rules from [Pagat](https://www.pagat.com/reverse/hearts.html) and [Bicycle Cards](https://bicyclecards.com/how-to-play/hearts/), master the art of passing cards, and discover when to attempt the daring "Shooting the Moon" strategy.
- Category: American Classics
- Players: 3, 4, 5, 6
- Player notes: Best with 4 players, no partnerships
Objective
Try to steer clear of tricks that contain Hearts or the Queen of Spades. Every Heart you pick up adds 1 point to your score, and the Queen of Spades slaps you with 13 points. Just like in a long chess match, the winner is simply the one with the lowest total when the game finally wraps up.
Shooting the Moon
Sometimes you may feel brave enough to go for the full sweep. If a player manages to grab all 13 Hearts and the Queen of Spades in a single hand, they don’t gain a single point. Instead, everyone else gets 26. This bold move is called “Shooting the Moon,” and when it works, it turns the entire table upside down.
Material
- One standard 52-card deck
2♠ 3♠ 4♠ 5♠ 6♠ 7♠ 8♠ 9♠ 10♠ J♠ Q♠ K♠ A♠
- Ranks follow the classic order: A (high), K, Q, J, 10 down to 2 (low)
- Paper and pencil to keep score the old-fashioned way
Card Ranking
A♥ K♥ Q♥ J♥ 10♥ 9♥ 8♥ 7♥
Setup
- Shuffle the full deck and deal all 52 cards one at a time clockwise. Everyone starts with 13 cards.
- Take a moment to sort your hand by suit; it makes planning much easier.
- Before the first trick, players pick 3 cards and pass them according to the rotation:
| Hand | Direction | Description | |------|-----------|-------------| | 1st hand | Pass left | Send 3 cards to your left neighbor | | 2nd hand | Pass right | Send 3 cards to the player on your right | | 3rd hand | Pass across | Send 3 cards to the player opposite you | | 4th hand | No pass | Everyone keeps their own cards |
This four-hand cycle repeats for the entire game.
How to Play
Starting the Game
The player holding the 2 of Clubs must lead the very first trick. There’s no choice in the matter; the 2♣ always opens the round.
2♣
Following Suit
Whenever possible, you must follow the same suit that was led. If you can’t, then you’re free to toss anything you like onto the table.
Trick Example
2♣ 5♣ K♣ 8♣
Result: Player 3 wins this one with the King of Clubs.
Special Rules
Hearts Cannot Be Led until they’ve been broken by someone discarding a Heart earlier. No Points on First Trick which means you can’t throw the Queen of Spades or any Heart in the opening trick. Breaking Hearts happens when a player can’t follow suit and decides to shed a Heart. From then on, Hearts may be led normally.
Example: Breaking Hearts
A♠ 4♠ 2♥ 8♠
Here, Player 3 couldn’t follow with a Spade and dropped the 2♥. Hearts are now officially “broken.”
The Danger Cards
Q♠ A♥ K♥ Q♥ J♥ 10♥
These are the cards you’ll want to avoid collecting. They look harmless in your hand but dreadful in your pile at scoring time.
Scoring
After all 13 tricks finish, count your penalties:
| Card | Points | Example | |------|--------|---------| | Each Heart (♥) | 1 point | 2♥ = 1 pt | | Queen of Spades | 13 points | Q♠ = 13 pts | | Total Possible | 26 points | All Hearts + Q♠ |
Shooting the Moon Scoring
If someone manages the full sweep:
- Option 1: They score 0 while everyone else adds 26
- Option 2: They score –26 if the table is playing with negative totals allowed
Scores accumulate across all hands.
Scoring Example
After one hand:
Player 1: 3♥ 5♥ 8♥ → 3 points Player 2: Q♠ 2♥ 4♥ → 15 points Player 3: A♥ K♥ Q♥ J♥ 10♥ 9♥ 7♥ 6♥ → 8 points Player 4: No Hearts, no Queen → 0 points
Ending the Game
Once any player reaches 100 points (or 50 for a quicker session), the game ends. Whoever has the lowest score overall wins. Simple, clean, and ruthless.
Strategy Tips
Passing Strategy
Pass high cards like Aces, Kings, and Queens to reduce the chance they force you into a trick. Void a suit early by passing all cards from one suit (anything except Clubs), giving you freedom to offload dangerous cards later. Middle cards often stay safe, so holding onto 7s, 8s, and 9s can keep you out of trouble.
Example: Good Cards to Pass
A♠ K♥ Q♥
They look impressive, but they’re magnets for unwanted tricks.
Playing Strategy
- Low cards help you duck tricks. Keep them.
- Lead Spades early if you want to flush out the Queen safely.
- Watch out for anyone who seems to be collecting Hearts; they might be trying to Shoot the Moon.
- Keep mental count of Hearts played so you know what danger still lurks.
Safe Cards to Play
2♠ 3♦ 4♣ 5♠
Low, gentle, and usually ignored.
Variants
Black Lady (Standard American Hearts)
This is the version most players know, using the Queen of Spades as the big 13-point penalty card.
Omnibus Hearts
Adds the 10 of Diamonds as a bonus worth –10 points. To Shoot the Moon here, you must take every Heart and the Queen of Spades while carefully avoiding the 10♦.
10♦
Spot Hearts
Here, Hearts take their actual pip value:
| Card | Point Value | Symbol | |------|-------------|--------| | Ace of Hearts | 14 points | A♥ | | King of Hearts | 13 points | K♥ | | Queen of Hearts | 12 points | Q♥ | | Jack of Hearts | 11 points | J♥ | | Ten of Hearts | 10 points | 10♥ |
Cancellation Hearts
Perfect for groups of 5–10. You’ll play with two full decks, and whenever the same card appears twice in a trick, those two copies cancel out. It adds chaos, but the fun kind.
Frequently asked questions
Can I lead with hearts on the first trick?
No, not right away. Hearts stay off-limits until someone is forced to throw one because they couldn’t follow suit. That single moment “breaks” hearts, and only then can you lead them. It adds a nice bit of tension at the start, because everyone tries to avoid being the unlucky player who cracks them open.
Can I play the Queen of Spades on the first trick?
No, the Queen of Spades sits out the first trick completely. Even if you’re holding nothing but panic and high cards, you still can’t toss her in. You must wait until another trick to unleash her. This rule protects the opening round from turning into instant chaos.
What happens if someone shoots the moon?
If a player manages to scoop up every heart plus the Queen of Spades, they’ve “shot the moon,” one of the boldest moves in the game. They can either drop 26 points from their own score or add 26 to every opponent. Choosing the right option often shifts the entire table’s momentum.
Do I have to follow suit?
Yes, absolutely. If the trick starts with clubs and you have a club hiding in your hand, you must play it. Only when you’re truly out of that suit can you branch out and toss something else. This rule keeps each round honest and makes good hand-reading essential.
Can hearts be broken on the first hand?
Hearts can be broken early, but only if someone genuinely can’t follow suit and chooses to discard a heart. Once that happens, hearts are fair game for future leads. It doesn’t matter if it’s the first hand or the fifth; the moment a heart hits the table, the floodgates open.
How many points is the Queen of Spades worth?
The Queen of Spades packs a punch at 13 points. She’s the single most dangerous card in the deck. When you combine her with the 13 hearts worth one point each, you get the full 26 penalty points that define every hand. Avoiding her becomes a small game all by itself.
What score ends the game?
Most Hearts games wrap up when a player reaches 100 points. Once someone crosses that line, the round stops immediately and whoever has the lowest score wins. It creates a tense race at the finish, especially when players hover just below the limit and try to dodge last-minute points.
Can I lead with the Queen of Spades?
Yes, you may lead with the Queen of Spades, but only after hearts have officially been broken. Once that happens, she behaves like a heart for leading purposes. It’s a dramatic move when you’re trying to ambush someone, but timing it well matters more than anything else.
What if I have only hearts in my hand?
If your entire hand is nothing but hearts, you’re free to lead with one even if hearts haven’t been broken yet. It’s the only exception to the rule and a rare moment where you simply have no choice. Most players dread this situation, but sometimes you just play what you’re dealt.
Is there a difference between 3-player and 4-player Hearts?
Yes. In a 3-player game, the 2 of Diamonds is removed so the cards divide evenly, giving each player 17 cards. The rhythm feels a bit faster because fewer cards circulate each trick, but the scoring and core mechanics stay exactly the same. It’s a tighter, more tactical experience.