Hearts
The Avoidance Game · 3–6 players (best with 4) · Ages 8+ · 20–45 min
Hearts is an American trick-avoidance game, a descendant of the 18th-century game of Reversis. Unlike most trick-taking games where players accumulate points, in Hearts the goal is to avoid taking point cards. But there's a twist: if you're brave (or skilled) enough, you can try to take ALL the points—"shoot the moon"—and reverse the scoring entirely.
Equipment
- Standard 52-card deck
- Score pad
Setup and Deal
Four Players
Deal all 52 cards, 13 per player. No trump suit.
Three Players
Remove the 2♦. Each player receives 17 cards.
Five Players
Remove the 2♦ and 2♣. Each player receives 10 cards.
Six Players
Remove the 2♦, 3♦, 2♣, 3♣. Each player receives 8 cards.
The Pass
Before play begins, each player selects three cards from their hand to pass to another player. The pass direction rotates each hand:
| Hand | Direction |
|---|---|
| 1 | Pass to the left |
| 2 | Pass to the right |
| 3 | Pass across (to player opposite) |
| 4 | No pass (hold) |
| Repeat | Cycle again from Hand 1 |
In three-player or five-player games with no obvious "across" partner, passing rotates through left → right → no pass (or a similar variation agreed upon before play).
Passing strategy: Pass high cards in dangerous suits, or establish a void (no cards in one suit) to allow discarding or ruffing point cards from other suits.
The Play
The player holding the 2♣ leads it to the first trick (mandatory). Play proceeds clockwise.
Following suit: Each player must follow the suit led if possible. If unable to follow suit, the player may play any card, including a point card.
Hearts on first trick: Hearts may not be played on the first trick unless a player has only hearts. (Variant: some groups allow dumping the Queen of Spades on the first trick; most do not.)
Leading hearts: A player may not lead a heart until hearts have been "broken"—a heart has been played on a previous trick as a discard. Exception: if a player has only hearts, they may lead them at any time. Some house rules also allow leading hearts if the player has no other choice on the very first turn.
Winning tricks: The highest card of the led suit wins. There is no trump suit. The winner leads to the next trick.
Point Cards
Only two types of cards score points:
| Card | Points |
|---|---|
| Each Heart | 1 point each (13 total) |
| Queen of Spades (♛) | 13 points |
All other cards are worth zero points. Total points in the deck: 26.
Jack of Diamonds (House Rule): Some groups play that the Jack of Diamonds is worth −10 points (a bonus card). This variant is sometimes called "Omnibus Hearts."
Shooting the Moon
If one player takes all 13 hearts and the Queen of Spades in a single hand, that player has "shot the moon." Instead of receiving 26 points, either:
Option A (Standard): All OTHER players receive 26 points added to their score.
Option B (Variant): The shooter may choose to subtract 26 points from their own score instead of adding to opponents. This option is only available if their score is already 26 or higher (some groups always allow the choice).
Shooting the Sun: An additional variant where a player takes all 26 tricks (every card in the hand). Some groups award an extra penalty or special scoring for this rare event.
Recognizing Moon Attempts
When you notice an opponent is collecting all hearts and the Q♠, you must aggressively try to throw a heart or Q♠ to them on a trick they win, or alternatively win a trick yourself even if inconvenient, to stop the moon shot.
Scoring and Ending the Game
Points are bad. The game ends when any player reaches or exceeds 100 points. The player with the lowest score at that point wins.
If two or more players tie for the lowest score when someone reaches 100, play continues until there is a unique low scorer.
Running totals: Keep a running score through all hands. Write cumulative totals after each hand.
Strategy
Opening Hand Goals
- Dump high cards (A♠, K♠, Q♠) if you don't want the Queen of Spades risk.
- Or: if you have A♠ and K♠ plus several low spades, keep the Q♠ guarded.
- Pass hearts if you have many (dangerous to hold too many even if low, as opponents will dump on you).
The Queen of Spades
The Q♠ is the most dangerous card. Strategies:
- Dump it: Pass it or discard it at the first opportunity (play it on a spade trick when you're not winning, or discard on another suit lead).
- Hold it safely: If you hold A♠ and K♠ above the Q♠, you can "guard" it—opponents can't lead to your Q♠ without you winning with the Ace or King first. But if spades are led and you've run out of lower spades, you must play A, K, or Q and risk eating it.
- Void spades: If you pass away all your spades, you can dump the Q♠ whenever spades are led and you must follow, but you have nothing to follow with—instead discarding the Queen.
Establishing Voids
Passing three cards of one suit on the first hand can establish a void. A void in clubs, for example, means every time clubs are led and you have no clubs, you can dump the Q♠ or an unwanted heart.
Heart Management
Don't hoard all your high hearts. The 2♥ and 3♥ are safe to keep, but A♥, K♥, Q♥, J♥ attract other hearts in discard.
Spotting Moon Attempts
Watch for a player who: - Takes multiple tricks early and seems unconcerned - Holds the Q♠ and high hearts - Plays defensively when they should be avoiding points
Once you suspect a moon attempt, stop everything else and work to stop it.
When to Attempt the Moon
Moon shots require: - All four aces of hearts OR a strong run of high hearts - Control of spades so the Q♠ is safe - A hand structure that wins tricks reliably across suits - Being behind in score (the payoff is greater when you're catching up)
Variations
Omnibus Hearts (Black Lady): The most common variant. Adds the Jack of Diamonds as a bonus card worth −10 points. Players now want to win the J♦ while avoiding hearts and Q♠.
Shooting the Sun: Taking all 26 tricks scores a special bonus or double penalty.
Jokers: Adding one or two jokers to the deck as neutral cards (no points, can be played any time, win no tricks—or win every trick, depending on house rules).
No penalty for first heart: Hearts are never "broken"—any heart card can be led at any time (removes the broken-hearts rule entirely).
See also: Spades (partnership trump game), Cribbage (point-accumulation card game), Bridge (full bidding and play)