Hearts · Rules guide
Hearts rules: how to play
Every heart costs a point and the queen of spades costs thirteen. The passing cycle, the first-trick restriction, when hearts are broken, and what happens when somebody shoots the moon.
The short answer
- Each heart is worth 1 point and the queen of spades 13 — 26 points per hand, and the lowest score wins.
- Pass three cards left, right, across, then hold, repeating in that cycle.
- The 2♣ always leads the first trick, and no penalty cards may be played on it.
- Hearts cannot be led until a heart has been discarded on another suit.
- Taking all 26 points shoots the moon: you score zero and everyone else scores 26.
The object: win as few points as possible
Hearts inverts the usual idea of a trick-taking game. You are not trying to win tricks — you are trying to avoid the penalty cards inside them. Every heart costs 1 point and the queen of spades costs 13, so each hand puts exactly 26 points on the table. Lowest score at the end wins.
- Players: four, each for themselves. No partnerships.
- Cards: a full 52-card pack, thirteen each. Aces are high and there are no trumps.
- Game ends when someone reaches 100 points. The player with the lowest score wins.
The pass
Before each hand is played, every player chooses three cards to pass, and receives three from another player. The direction rotates:
- Hand 1 — pass left.
- Hand 2 — pass right.
- Hand 3 — pass across.
- Hand 4 — no pass ("hold hand"), then the cycle repeats.
You choose your pass before seeing what you receive, which is what makes it a genuine decision: the cards you dump are also cards you are handing to a specific opponent.
Playing the hand
- The player holding the 2♣ leads it. That is always the first card of the hand.
- Everyone must follow suit if they can. If you cannot, you may play anything — including a heart or the queen of spades.
- The highest card of the led suit wins the trick, along with any penalty cards in it.
- The winner leads the next trick.
The two restrictions
- No points on the first trick. You may not play a heart or the queen of spades on trick one unless your hand contains nothing else.
- Hearts must be broken. You may not lead a heart until a heart has been discarded on another suit (or, in some house rules, until the queen has been played). You may always play hearts when you cannot follow suit.
Shooting the moon
If one player takes all thirteen hearts and the queen of spades, the scoring flips: that player scores 0 and everyone else scores 26. Some play the alternative where the shooter may instead subtract 26 from their own score; agree before you start.
Scoring, variants and three-player Hearts
Add up each player's penalty cards after every hand. Play continues until someone reaches 100, and the lowest total wins.
| Variant | What changes |
|---|---|
| Jack of diamonds | The J♦ is worth −10, giving a reason to win a trick. |
| Black Maria (British) | Three players, 17 cards each, the 2♣ removed; no passing in some versions. |
| Omnibus Hearts | Combines the J♦ bonus with standard scoring. |
| No Tricks / Perfect 100 | A player who lands exactly on 100 has their score reset to 50. |
| Cancellation | Six to ten players with two packs. |
Three or five players
For three, remove the 2♦ and deal seventeen each. For five, remove the 2♦ and 2♣ and deal ten each. The rest of the rules are unchanged, although shooting the moon becomes easier with fewer opponents holding stoppers.
Common questions
How many points is the queen of spades worth?
Thirteen — exactly as much as all thirteen hearts put together. Avoiding it is half of Hearts strategy.
When can you lead hearts?
Once hearts are "broken" — that is, once a heart has been discarded by someone unable to follow suit. You may always play a heart when you cannot follow, just not lead one before that.
What is shooting the moon?
Taking all thirteen hearts and the queen of spades in a single hand. Instead of 26 points you score zero and every other player scores 26.
Can you play the queen of spades on the first trick?
No. No penalty card may be played on the first trick unless your hand consists of nothing else.
How does Hearts end?
When any player reaches 100 points. Since points are penalties, the player with the lowest total wins.
Can you play Hearts with three players?
Yes. Remove the 2♦ and deal seventeen cards each. For five players remove the 2♦ and 2♣ and deal ten each.
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