Hearts

The classic trick-taking card game for four: duck every heart and the dreaded Queen of Spades — unless you dare to take them all.

How to play

Hearts is a four-player card game where the aim is to score as few points as possible. Each heart you capture is worth 1 point and the Queen of Spades is worth 13. The full 52-card deck is dealt, you pass three cards at the start of each hand, then play out thirteen tricks.

The 2♣ leads the first trick. You must follow the led suit if you can; if you can't, you may play anything. The highest card of the led suit wins the trick and leads the next. Hearts can't be led until a heart has been discarded ('broken'). The game ends when a player reaches the point limit, and the lowest total wins.

• Pass three cards each hand — left, right, across, then a hold round with no pass.
• Take all 26 points in a single hand to 'shoot the moon' — everyone else takes 26 instead of you.
• Lowest cumulative score wins when the game ends.

Controls

• Desktop: click three cards in your hand and confirm to pass, then click a highlighted legal card to play it.
• Phone & tablet: tap to select cards and tap to play — only legal cards are highlighted, so you can't make an illegal move. No keyboard needed.

Game modes

• Daily — one shared deal each day against three CPU opponents.
• New Game — a fresh randomly shuffled hand versus three CPUs.
• Online — host or join a code, or quick-match, for a live four-player table.

Tips & strategy

• Pass away high spades (and the Queen) and long-suit dangers unless you're set up to shoot the moon.
• Void yourself in a suit so you can dump the Queen of Spades or hearts on someone else's trick.
• Track which high cards are gone — leading low keeps you off the trick that drops the Queen on you.
• Only chase the moon when you hold the top cards in most suits; one missed trick ruins it.

About Hearts

Hearts is a traditional trick-avoidance card game from the wider Whist family, beloved for its blend of luck, card-counting and table psychology. This is an original, free browser version against three computer opponents or live players online, playable instantly with no download or sign-up.

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