Game guide · JIEHUIDB
Hearts: from controls to your first round
Finish with the lowest penalty total by avoiding hearts and the queen of spades. Start a new round when you are ready to try again. Four players each receive thirteen cards. Pass three cards left, right, across, then hold on successive hands. Try the rule on the board, then read the next instruction.
Four-player free Hearts against three local computers, to 100 points. This table breaks hearts only with a heart, not with Q♠. No cash play or internet matchmaking.
Try a more deliberate round
Take a moment to check the current turn. On the first trick, do not discard a heart or Q♠ unless no non-penalty card is available. Keep the goal in mind before your next move.
The challenge in front of you
Use the controls beside the game rather than guessing the rules. Finish with the lowest penalty total by avoiding hearts and the queen of spades.
Follow these playing steps
- Four players each receive thirteen cards. Pass three cards left, right, across, then hold on successive hands.
- The player holding 2♣ leads the first trick. Follow suit whenever possible.
- On the first trick, do not discard a heart or Q♠ unless no non-penalty card is available.
- Hearts may lead only after a heart has been played, unless your whole hand consists of hearts.
- The highest card of the led suit wins the trick. Each heart adds one penalty point and Q♠ adds thirteen.
- Taking all 26 penalty points in one hand shoots the moon: your score gains zero and each opponent gains 26.
- After all thirteen tricks, choose Next hand. The match ends once anyone reaches 100; the lowest total wins.
The controls to know
Read the position before choosing your next action. Select three cards and press Pass selected cards during passing. During play, tap a legal card. Next hand continues the match; New match resets totals.
Learn from a sample situation
A careful first move helps you understand the round. A trick containing 2♥, 8♥, Q♠ and 5♣ carries fifteen penalty points: two hearts plus the queen of spades.
One detail worth checking
Having a high card in another suit does not win a trick. Only the highest rank in the suit that was led can win it.
A few questions answered
During a round, what is the aim of Hearts?
Finish with the lowest penalty total by avoiding hearts and the queen of spades. A new round resets the current game.
How do the controls work?
Select three cards and press Pass selected cards during passing. During play, tap a legal card. Next hand continues the match; New match resets totals. The game is played locally in your browser.
On this page, can you show an example?
A trick containing 2♥, 8♥, Q♠ and 5♣ carries fifteen penalty points: two hearts plus the queen of spades. The instructions above use these same rules.
During a round, which mistake should I avoid?
Having a high card in another suit does not win a trick. Only the highest rank in the suit that was led can win it. Scores here do not represent cash or prizes.
During a round, what rules and limits are used here?
Four-player free Hearts against three local computers, to 100 points. This table breaks hearts only with a heart, not with Q♠. No cash play or internet matchmaking. Scores here do not represent cash or prizes.
On this page, how many people can play here?
You vs 3 computers. This is local browser play, not internet matchmaking. The instructions above use these same rules.
During a round, how does passing work?
Select three cards. The direction cycles left, right, across and no pass, repeating each four hands. Keep the current game state in view while applying this rule.
When I start, does Q♠ break hearts?
Not at this table. A heart must have been played before hearts can lead, unless the leader holds only hearts. Keep the current game state in view while applying this rule.
On this page, what is shooting the moon?
Collect all thirteen hearts and Q♠ in the same hand; each opponent receives 26 points while you receive zero. The worked example offers another way to follow the rule.
On this page, how does the match end?
After a completed hand takes anyone to at least 100 total points. The lowest score wins; equal lowest scores share the result. The instructions above use these same rules.