Hearts Rules: Complete Guide

What Is Hearts?

Hearts is a classic trick-taking card game for four players. Unlike most card games, the objective is to avoid taking certain cards — specifically, all thirteen Hearts (1 point each) and the Queen of Spades (13 points). The player with the lowest score at the end of the game wins.

Hearts has been a staple of card game culture for over a century and gained widespread popularity through its inclusion in early computer operating systems.

Setup

Players and Deck

• Players: 4 (no partnerships)
• Deck: Standard 52 cards, no jokers
• Deal: 13 cards to each player

The Pass

Before play begins, players select three cards to pass to another player:

1. First hand: Pass to the player on your left
2. Second hand: Pass to the player on your right
3. Third hand: Pass to the player across from you
4. Fourth hand: No pass (hold your hand)

This cycle repeats throughout the game. The pass is a crucial strategic element — it lets you get rid of dangerous cards while potentially setting up your opponents.

How to Play

Leading and Following Suit

The player holding the 2 of Clubs leads the first trick. Each player, going clockwise, must play a card of the same suit if possible. If you do not have any cards of the led suit, you may play any card — this is called sloughing or discarding.

Winning Tricks

The highest card of the led suit wins the trick. There is no trump suit in Hearts. The winner of each trick leads the next one.

Restrictions

• No points on the first trick — You cannot play Hearts or the Queen of Spades on the first trick.
• Hearts not broken — You cannot lead with a Heart until a Heart has been played (discarded) on a previous trick. Once a Heart has been played, Hearts are said to be "broken."
• 2 of Clubs leads — The first trick always starts with the 2 of Clubs.

Scoring

At the end of each hand (when all 13 tricks have been played), count the penalty cards you have taken:

• Each Heart: 1 point
• Queen of Spades: 13 points
• All other cards: 0 points

The maximum penalty per hand is 26 points (all 13 Hearts plus the Queen of Spades).

Shooting the Moon

If one player takes all 26 penalty points in a single hand (all Hearts and the Queen of Spades), they have "shot the moon." Instead of receiving 26 points, one of two things happens:

• Every other player receives 26 points, OR
• The shooter subtracts 26 points from their own score

This is a high-risk, high-reward strategy that can completely change the game.

Game End

The game ends when any player reaches 100 points (or another agreed-upon threshold). The player with the lowest score wins.

Card Rankings

Cards rank from highest to lowest: A, K, Q, J, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2. There is no trump suit — only the led suit matters for determining the trick winner.

Quick Reference

• Players: 4
• Cards: 52 (13 per player)
• Objective: Avoid Hearts (1 pt each) and Queen of Spades (13 pts)
• First lead: 2 of Clubs
• Must follow suit: Yes (discard anything if void)
• Hearts broken: Must wait until a Heart is discarded
• Shooting the moon: Take all 26 penalty points to penalize opponents instead
• Game ends: When any player reaches 100 points
• Winner: Lowest score

Further Reading

• How to Play Hearts — a beginner-friendly step-by-step guide with strategy tips
• Hearts Strategy & Tips — proven tactics to lower your score and win more games

Play Hearts Online

Ready to put these rules to the test? Play Hearts against computer opponents right in your browser — free, with no download needed.