Hearts Passing — Left, Right, Across & No Pass
Before most hands in Hearts you pass three cards to another player. The direction rotates every hand. Passing is how you dump danger cards and shape your hand before the first trick.
The four-hand passing cycle
Classic Deck Games uses the standard cycle. After hand 4 it repeats from pass left:
- Hand 1: Pass left — Choose 3 cards and give them to the player on your left.
- Hand 2: Pass right — Choose 3 cards and give them to the player on your right.
- Hand 3: Pass across — Choose 3 cards and give them to the player opposite you.
- Hand 4: No pass — Keep all 13 cards — there is no passing on the fourth hand.
What to pass
- High hearts (especially A♥, K♥) — you do not want to win these early.
- The queen of spades (Q♠) — 13 penalty points if it lands on you.
- Long strong suits in side suits you want to shorten.
- Low cards in suits where you hold length — partner may need them less than you need to void.
What to keep
- Low clubs and diamonds for safe leads after the 2♣ trick.
- Short suits you hope to void — so you can slough hearts later.
- The 2♣ when you have it (you must lead it on trick one).
No-pass hands
On hand 4 of each cycle you keep all 13 cards. Plan around the cards you hold — there is no chance to dump Q♠ or high hearts before play starts.
Passing online
Select exactly three cards in your hand, then tap Pass. Bots pass on their turns automatically. When everyone has passed, play begins with the 2♣ lead.