Hearts

Quick Rules

Hearts is a four-player card game where you try to avoid points. You play against three computer players: West, North and East. Each of you gets 13 cards.

  • Pass three cards. Before each hand you pass three cards: to the left, then to the right, then across, then no passing, and around again.
  • The 2 of clubs starts. Whoever holds the 2♣ leads it to the first trick.
  • Follow suit. Play a card of the suit that was led if you can. If you can't, play anything, which is your chance to get rid of a dangerous card.
  • Highest card wins the trick. The highest card of the suit led takes all four cards, and the winner leads next. Aces are high.
  • Points. Each heart you take is 1 point. The queen of spades is 13 points.
  • Breaking hearts. You can't lead a heart until someone has played one on an earlier trick.
  • Shoot the moon. Take all 13 hearts and the queen of spades, and everyone else gets 26 points instead of you.
  • Winning. When someone reaches 100 points, the player with the lowest score wins.

Learned it a little differently? Open Settings to play to 50, allow points on the first trick, let hearts be led any time, change how shooting the moon scores, or count the jack of diamonds as −10. See Hearts rule variations for what each one changes.

Read the full Hearts rules with examples

Tips for Winning at Hearts

  • Pass the danger. The queen, king and ace of spades and high hearts are the classic cards to pass, unless you hold plenty of low spades to protect them.
  • Empty a short suit. Passing all your diamonds or clubs lets you throw away bad cards when that suit is led.
  • Play under the winning card. When you follow suit, the best card is often your highest card that is still lower than the card winning the trick.
  • Count the spades. Until the queen of spades shows up, be careful about playing the ace or king of spades.
  • Watch for a moon shot. If one player has taken every point so far, take a heart yourself to stop them.

Read our Hearts strategy guide

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this Hearts game free?

Yes. You can play as many games of Hearts as you like for free, with no account, no email and no download.

Does the computer cheat?

No. The computer players can't see your cards or each other's cards. They only know what anyone at a real table would know: their own cards, the cards passed to them, and every card played so far. You can check this yourself. At the end of every hand, tap Show All Hands to see the cards everyone was dealt and what they passed. Every game also has a deal number, shown above the table. Tap Replay This Deal, or type the number in Settings, to play the exact same cards again.

How do the Easy, Normal and Hard levels work?

Easy computers mostly play any card they are allowed to, so they are relaxed opponents while you learn. Normal computers play sensibly: they duck under winning cards, pass and dump the queen of spades, and get rid of high hearts. Hard computers also remember every card played and notice when a player runs out of a suit, and they will try to stop you from shooting the moon. Change the level in Settings; it starts with your next game.

Why can't I lead a heart?

Hearts can't be led until hearts are broken, which means someone has played a heart on an earlier trick because they were out of the suit led. If you hold nothing but hearts, you may lead one anyway. Some families don't use this rule; you can turn it off in Settings.

How do I shoot the moon?

Take all 13 hearts and the queen of spades in one hand. Instead of getting 26 points, you get none and every other player gets 26. You need a strong hand with high hearts and some high cards in other suits, and you have to take every single heart, so watch out for anyone throwing one away on a trick you don't win.

What is the deal number?

Every game gets a number, like Deal #48213, shown above the table. The same number always deals the same cards for every hand of the game. Type it into Settings to play that deal again, or share it with a friend so you can both play the same cards and compare scores.

Does the game save my progress?

Yes. Your game is saved in your browser after every card. Close the page and come back later, and you can pick up where you left off on the same device.

Like trick-taking games? Try Spades, where you team up with a partner and bid how many tricks you will take.

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