Quick Reference
How to Play Hearts — Rules & Cheat Sheet
Hearts is a trick-avoidance card game for 4 players using a standard 52-card deck. The goal is to end the game with the fewest points by avoiding hearts and the dreaded Queen of Spades — or by going for broke and shooting the moon.
The Basics
The Deck
Full 52-card deck — all ranks, all suits.
All cards from 2 through Ace are used in all four suits. No cards are removed.
Players
- • Everyone plays for themselves
- • Each player gets 13 cards
- • No partnerships
Objective
- • Avoid collecting hearts & Q♠
- • Game ends when someone hits 100
- • Player with fewest points wins
Point Cards
| Card | Points | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Each ♥ (2–A) | +1 each | 13 hearts × 1 pt = 13 pts max |
| Q♠ (Queen of Spades) | +13 | Worth half the round's total! |
| All other cards | 0 | Safe to take |
Total points available each round: 26 (13 hearts + 13 for Q♠).
Danger cards to avoid:
High spades (A♠, K♠) can force you to win Q♠ — handle with care.
The Passing Phase
How Passing Works
- • Before play, each player chooses 3 cards to pass
- • All players pass simultaneously
- • You may not look at cards you receive until you've chosen your pass
- • On the 4th round: no pass (keep your full hand)
Passing Directions
Cycle repeats every 4 rounds.
What to Pass
- • High spades (A♠, K♠, Q♠) unless you have low spades to protect
- • Short-suit high cards to create voids — you can dump points when void
- • High hearts (A♥, K♥, Q♥) reduce your point exposure
What to Keep
- • Low cards in every suit — for safe following
- • Low spades to duck under the Queen
- • Long suits give you control of when to lead them
Playing Tricks
The Opening Lead
The player holding the 2♣ leads it to start the very first trick. Hearts and Q♠ may not be led until hearts have been broken.
Following Suit
- • You must follow suit if you can
- • If void in led suit, play any card
- • Dump hearts or Q♠ when void — this "breaks hearts"
- • On trick 1: you may not play Q♠ or a heart (unless only hearts remain)
Winning a Trick
- • Highest card of the led suit wins
- • No trump suit in Hearts
- • Winner leads the next trick
- • Winning a trick with points = bad!
Breaking Hearts
Hearts start "locked" — no one may lead a heart until a heart (or Q♠) has been discarded on a trick. Once hearts are broken, anyone may lead hearts on their turn.
Shooting the Moon
Shoot the moon by collecting all 13 hearts AND the Q♠ in one round (all 26 points).
If you succeed
You score 0 points. Every other player gets +26 points.
If you fail
You take whatever points you collected — potentially a lot.
- • You need all 13 hearts plus the Q♠
- • Best attempted when you hold long high hearts and the Q♠
- • Other players can stop you by keeping even one heart or Q♠
26
pts needed to shoot
= 13 hearts + Q♠
Scoring
End of Each Round
- • Count hearts taken: 1 pt each
- • Add 13 pts if you took Q♠
- • Add to running cumulative totals
- • 0 points is a perfect round
Ending the Game
- • Game ends when any player reaches 100 points
- • Finish the current round so all players score equally
- • Player with the lowest total wins
- • Ties: players with equal low scores share the win
Strategy Tips
Create Voids
Pass cards to empty yourself of a suit. When you're void, you can dump hearts or Q♠ any time that suit is led — even on trick 1 (just not a heart or Q♠ lead on trick 1).
Manage Your Spades
High spades without low backups are dangerous — you'll be forced to win tricks, possibly capturing Q♠. Pass A♠ or K♠ if you have fewer than 3 spades below them.
Count the Queen
Always track whether Q♠ has been played. Once it's gone, spades are safe. Remember who has the most hearts still out.
Stopping a Moon Attempt
If you suspect someone is shooting the moon, take a point card deliberately. One heart taken prevents the moonshot and saves everyone else 26 points.
Key Terms
- Black Lady / Black Maria
- The Queen of Spades — worth 13 points.
- Breaking Hearts
- The first time a heart or Q♠ is discarded; hearts may now be led.
- Shooting the Moon
- Capturing all 26 points in one round for a 0 / +26 reversal.
- Void
- Having no cards in a particular suit so you can discard freely.
- Trick
- Each player plays one card; highest card of the led suit wins.
- Lead
- The first card played to start a trick; the led suit must be followed.
- Duck
- Play a low card to intentionally lose a trick and avoid points.
- Slough / Pitch
- Discard a point card on a trick you're void in.
Continue Learning
Frequently Asked Questions
How many cards does each player get in Hearts?
Each player receives 13 cards — the entire 52-card deck is dealt evenly among four players.
How do you win at Hearts?
The player with the LOWEST score when someone reaches 100 points wins. It's like golf — you want fewer points, not more!
What cards are worth points in Hearts?
Each heart (2♥ through A♥) is worth 1 point, and the Queen of Spades is worth 13 points. All other cards are worth 0 points.
What is 'shooting the moon' in Hearts?
Shooting the moon is when one player captures ALL 26 points (all 13 hearts plus the Queen of Spades) in a single round. Instead of getting 26 points, that player gets 0 and every other player receives 26 points!
Do you pass cards every round in Hearts?
Almost! The passing direction rotates: left → right → across → no pass. On 'no pass' rounds everyone keeps their original hand.
What are the best cards to pass in Hearts?
Generally pass high cards in short suits to create voids, and dangerous cards like the Queen of Spades or high spades. Keep low cards for safe following.
Can you lead hearts on the first trick?
No. Hearts are 'locked' until a player breaks hearts by discarding a heart (or the Queen of Spades) on a trick they couldn't follow suit. After hearts are broken, hearts may be led freely.