I first learned to play the card game Hearts while living in New Mexico. My ex-girlfriend introduced me to it, and I quickly became hooked. Not long after, I taught it to my friends, and it soon became a weekend ritual. We’d gather around a table, sometimes playing into the early hours, fully immersed in the game’s intricate strategies and thrilling moments like “breaking hearts” or “shooting the moon.”
Hearts is a game for 3 to 7 players, though it’s best enjoyed with 4 people. It’s a trick-taking game, meaning players take turns throwing down cards, with the highest card winning the trick. The rules governing the tricks are simple yet provide plenty of room for strategic play. If you’re curious about the mechanics of trick-taking games, Wikipedia offers a great explanation of trick-taking games.
All you need to play Hearts is a standard deck of cards (affiliate link). After removing the Jokers, you shuffle and deal the cards evenly to each player. The game starts with the player who holds the 2 of Clubs, setting the stage for the first trick.
The Basics of Hearts
In each round, players must follow suit by playing a card of the same suit as the one led. The player who plays the highest card of the suit wins the trick and collects the cards. The real twist comes with the Hearts and the Queen of Spades—cards you desperately want to avoid winning.
Special Cards and Scoring
Hearts are worth 1 point each, and the dreaded Queen of Spades carries a hefty 13 points. The objective is to accumulate as few points as possible because, in Hearts, the lowest score wins. However, there’s an exhilarating twist—if you manage to collect all the Hearts and the Queen of Spades in a single round, you “shoot the moon,” and instead of adding 26 points to your score, you add them to everyone else’s. It’s a risky strategy but incredibly satisfying when it works. At the end of each hand, players tally their points, and play continues until someone reaches an agreed-upon limit, like 50 or 100 points. The winner is the player with the fewest points at the end of the game.
How to Play Hearts
The game begins with the player holding the 2 of Clubs (2C). After the cards are shuffled and dealt, this player lays the 2C in the center of the table. The person to their left must then follow with a Club. The highest Club wins the trick, and the winner gathers the cards into their discard pile.
Hearts, first trick
The winner of each trick leads the next round by playing any card from their hand. For instance, if they lead with the 5 of Diamonds (5D), the player to their left must play a Diamond if they have one. This continues until someone can’t follow suit, at which point they can play any card—this is where things get interesting.
Let’s say the trick has a 5D, 4D, and 10D, and you don’t have any Diamonds left. You decide to throw in a 6 of Hearts (6H). The player with the highest Diamond wins the trick, but now they’ve also collected that 6H, adding a point to their score.
When the first Heart is played, it’s known as “breaking hearts.” This unlocks the ability for everyone to start playing Hearts, which ramps up the game’s intensity.
Hearts, example play
One of the most nerve-wracking moments in Hearts is when someone plays a King or Ace of Spades, forcing the player with the Queen of Spades (QS) to play it. The unlucky winner of that trick will have 13 points added to their score—a significant setback.
Hearts, example play
The Thrill of Shooting the Moon
“Shooting the Moon” is the ultimate Hearts gambit. To do this, you must win all the Heart cards and the Queen of Spades in a single hand. If successful, instead of gaining 26 points, you hand those points over to your opponents while you remain at zero. It’s a risky move, but when executed perfectly, it can flip the entire game in your favor.
Achieving this feat requires keen strategy and a deep understanding of your opponents’ play styles. It’s not just about playing your cards well; it’s about reading the room, anticipating moves, and sometimes, bluffing your way to victory.
Seasoned players often employ strategies to prevent others from shooting the moon. One common tactic is spreading Hearts among other players early in the game, making it nearly impossible for anyone to collect all the necessary cards. Another strategy involves holding onto high Spades to avoid triggering the Queen of Spades too early, protecting yourself from a sudden point surge.
The Endgame: Why Hearts Is the Best
Hearts is more than just a card game; it’s a battle of wits, a test of patience, and a lesson in strategic thinking. It’s perfect for family game nights, gatherings with friends, or any time you want to engage in some light-hearted competition. And all it costs is a deck of cards, a pencil, and a piece of paper.
In a world filled with complex video games and high-tech entertainment, there’s something profoundly satisfying about the simplicity of Hearts. It’s a reminder that the best games don’t need fancy equipment or intricate rules—they just need people who love to play. So next time you’re looking for a game that’s easy to learn, endlessly engaging, and perfect for all ages, give Hearts a try. You might just find yourself, like me, staying up until the wee hours, playing “just one more round.”
Here’s another great write-up on how to play Hearts too, and here’s me talking about Hearts on Instagram
Note: the official rules call for passing 3 cards in round 1, my write-up is a variation from the official rules because it’s easier for newer players.