Hearts at a glance
Every trick in Hearts is a decision about risk. Hearts and the queen of spades add penalty points to your score. Four players compete individually, watching both their own hand and the player with the lowest total.
- Players
- 4 · Individual
- Deck
- 52 cards
- Card order
- Ace high · 2 low
- Goal
- Lowest score
How to play Hearts online
Play free in your browser, with no download or account required. Choose the kind of table you want to join.
Practice with computers
Choose Play with computers and a pace: Relaxed, Friendly, or Quick. Use Hint when you need help finding a move.
Invite your friends
Choose Invite friends and share Copy invite or the room code. Friends join through Have an invite? The host can fill empty seats with computers.
Find an online opponent
Choose Find online players to look for other people. If no matching players are available, you can practice with computers instead.
Computer games also need an internet connection. The table handles dealing, legal moves, and scoring. These rules describe the version played here; other tables may use different house rules.
Rules of Hearts
Deal, pass, and opening lead
Four players receive thirteen cards each. Pass three cards left, right, across, then keep your hand; this cycle repeats. The two of clubs starts the first trick.
Following suit and breaking hearts
Follow suit whenever possible. No point cards on the first trick unless nothing else can be played. Hearts cannot lead until a heart or the queen of spades has been played, unless your hand is all hearts.
Scoring and winning
Penalty points and special hands
Each heart costs one point; the queen of spades costs thirteen. Taking all twenty-six points gives the others twenty-six instead. Taking all thirteen tricks gives them thirty-nine.
Ending the game
When someone reaches one hundred, the unique lowest score wins; tied leaders play another hand.
How to get better at Hearts
Pass with a plan
Shortening one suit can give you a chance to discard a dangerous card when that suit is led. Check the protection you keep around the queen of spades before passing.
Track dangerous spades
Remember when the ace, king, and queen of spades appear. A high spade is much less comfortable while the queen is still in another hand.
Watch for a sweep
If one player is taking every penalty card, look for a chance to capture a heart yourself. A small penalty can prevent a much larger moon penalty.
Play the scoreboard
Check who is leading before deciding where to send points. A move that feels safe for this hand may help the current leader win the match.
Frequently asked questions
When are hearts broken?
On this table, playing either a heart or the queen of spades breaks hearts. Before that, you can lead hearts only if your entire remaining hand is hearts.
What happens when I shoot the moon?
Take all 13 hearts and the queen of spades, and each opponent receives 26 points while you receive none. Taking all 13 tricks gives each opponent 39. This table does not switch to subtracting points from your own score.
Can I discard points on the first trick?
Follow clubs if you can. Otherwise, play a card without penalty points whenever possible. A point card is allowed only when nothing else can be played.
Can two friends play together?
Yes. Hearts needs four seats, but two friends can join a private table and fill the remaining seats with computers.
Can I play Hearts against computers?
Yes. Choose Play with computers at the table and select a computer pace. Private tables can also mix friends with computers. An internet connection is required.
How do I invite friends to Hearts?
Choose Invite friends, then use Copy invite in the waiting room. Friends can open that link or enter the room code in Have an invite? The host can fill empty seats with computers.
Spades
Euchre
Sergeant Major