Hearts Rules
Classic four-player Hearts (sometimes called Black Lady or Black Maria in older books). These rules follow the common modern American version described on Wikipedia. On Classic Deck Games you play against three computer opponents. No login or download — deal, pass, and play in your browser on mobile or desktop.
Overview
Trick-taking game for four players. Avoid capturing hearts (1 point each) and the queen of spades (13 points). The match ends when someone reaches 100 total points; the lowest score wins.
Players and deck
- One standard 52-card deck (no jokers)
- 4 players — online you play against three computer opponents
- 13 cards dealt to each player every hand
- 3 cards passed before most hands (see passing cycle below)
Card values (penalty points)
| Card | Points |
|---|---|
| Each heart (♥) | 1 |
| Queen of spades (Q♠) | 13 |
| All other cards | 0 |
There is no trump suit. The highest card of the suit that was led wins the trick.
Passing cycle
Before each hand is played (except every fourth hand), each player chooses 3 cards and passes them to another player. The direction rotates:
| Hand | Pass | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pass left | Choose 3 cards and give them to the player on your left. |
| 2 | Pass right | Choose 3 cards and give them to the player on your right. |
| 3 | Pass across | Choose 3 cards and give them to the player opposite you. |
| 4 | No pass | Keep all 13 cards — there is no passing on the fourth hand. |
After hand 4 the cycle starts again with pass left. On a no-pass hand you keep all 13 cards you were dealt.
How a hand is played
- Pass 3 cards if the current hand requires it.
- First trick: The player who holds the 2♣ must lead it on the very first trick of the hand.
- Each trick: players play one card clockwise. You must follow the led suit if you can. If you cannot, you may play any card (including a heart or the queen of spades, subject to the first-trick rule).
- The winner of the trick leads the next trick.
- After all 13 tricks, score the hand and add to totals.
The first trick
On the first trick only, you may not play a heart or the queen of spades unless you have no legal alternative. The 2♣ must be led to open the hand.
Breaking hearts
Hearts cannot be led until hearts are broken — meaning someone played a heart on a trick that was led in another suit. If your hand contains only hearts and/or the queen of spades, you may lead hearts (or the queen) even before they are broken.
Scoring a hand
Count the penalty cards in the tricks you won: 1 point per heart plus 13 for the queen of spades if you took it. Add that number to your running total. Lower is better.
After each hand, penalty points are added to running totals. When any player reaches 100 points or more, the player with the lowest total score wins the match.
Shooting the moon
If one player captures all 13 hearts and the queen of spades in a single hand, that player scores 0 for the hand and each opponent scores 26. This is called shooting the moon (or “running the cards”).
Shooting the moon is rare but can swing a match. Some groups play variants (for example, subtracting 26 from the shooter instead); this site uses the standard 0 / 26 split above.
Playing online here
- Free in the browser — no login or download
- You vs three computer opponents
- Passing: select 3 cards, then tap Pass selected cards
- Play: tap a legal card on your turn; illegal cards are dimmed
- Match play to 100 points with scoreboard on screen
Examples
Who wins a trick?
North leads 5♣. East plays 9♣, South plays 2♣, West plays K♣. West wins — the king is highest in the led suit (clubs). West leads the next trick.
Breaking hearts
Spades are led. You cannot follow spades and play 4♥. Hearts are now broken — someone may lead a heart on a later trick (unless the only legal lead is still restricted).
Scoring a hand (simple)
You took 3 hearts (3 points) and the queen of spades (13 points) = 16 points for the hand. These 16 points are added to your match total. Other players add only what they captured.
Shooting the moon
One player captures every heart and the Q♠. That player scores 0 for the hand; each of the other three players scores 26 instead of their usual trick points.
Frequently asked questions
- How do you win at Hearts?
- Avoid penalty points. When any player reaches 100 total points, the player with the lowest score wins the match.
- How many cards does each player get?
- Each of the four players receives 13 cards. Our online game follows the standard deal.
- How many points is each heart worth?
- Each heart captured in a trick is worth 1 penalty point (13 hearts in the deck = up to 13 points from hearts alone).
- How many points is the queen of spades worth?
- The queen of spades is worth 13 penalty points — as much as all hearts combined.
- Which way do you pass cards?
- The passing direction rotates every hand: left on hand 1, right on hand 2, across on hand 3, no pass on hand 4, then the cycle repeats.
- Who leads the first trick?
- The player holding the 2 of clubs must lead it on the first trick of each hand.
- Can you play hearts on the first trick?
- Only if you have no other legal play. Normally you cannot play hearts or the queen of spades on the first trick.
- When can hearts be led?
- Hearts cannot be led until hearts have been broken (a heart was played on a trick led in another suit). If your hand contains only hearts and/or the queen of spades, you may lead those cards even before hearts are broken.
- What if I cannot follow suit?
- You may play any card, including a heart or the queen of spades (except on the first trick, when those cards are restricted unless you have no choice).
- What is shooting the moon?
- If one player captures all 13 hearts and the queen of spades in a single hand, that player scores 0 for the hand and each opponent scores 26. This is called shooting the moon (or “running the cards”).
- What happens when someone shoots the moon?
- The shooter scores 0 for that hand. Each of the other three players scores 26 for the hand instead of their usual trick totals.
- Is there a trump suit in Hearts?
- No. The highest card of the suit that was led wins the trick — there is no permanent trump.
- How does passing work online?
- Select exactly 3 cards in your hand and tap Pass. The game passes them automatically in the correct direction for the current hand.
- Can I play Hearts for free online?
- Yes. Classic Deck Games offers free Hearts in the browser against computer opponents — no account or app install required.