New to the card game and wondering how to play Hearts? The goal is simple: take as few points as you can. Four players get 13 cards each, pass three cards, follow suit, and try to avoid every heart and the Queen of Spades. Or you can risk it all and shoot the moon. Below are the full Hearts rules, scoring and tips, and the game itself is right on this page. Play free online with friends by room code, and the computer takes any seat a person does not. There is nothing to download and no account to create.
How to Play Hearts Step by Step
Hearts is played by exactly four seats, with 13 cards each. Every hand has three stages: pass, play the tricks, then score.
- Pass three cards. The direction rotates each hand: left, right, across, then no pass, and then the cycle repeats.
- The 2♣ leads. Whoever holds the two of clubs leads the first trick.
- Follow suit. If you have a card in the suit that was led, you must play it. The highest card of that suit wins the trick, and the winner leads next.
- If you cannot follow suit, you may play any card. That is your chance to dump hearts or the Queen of Spades on someone else.
Hearts Rules and Scoring
- First trick: nobody may play a heart or the Q♠ on the first trick unless they have nothing else.
- Breaking hearts: hearts cannot be led until a heart has been played on an earlier trick, unless your hand contains only hearts.
- Points: each heart you take is worth 1 point, and the Queen of Spades is worth 13. That makes 26 points in every hand.
- Shooting the moon: if one player takes all 26 points, they score 0 and every other player gets 26.
- End of game: when anyone reaches 100 points at the end of a hand, the player with the lowest score wins.
- There are no trumps in Hearts.
Controls
Hearts is played by mouse or touch, with no keyboard shortcuts.
- Passing: tap or click three cards, then press Pass.
- Playing: on your turn, the cards you are allowed to play are highlighted. Tap one to play it.
- Turn timer: if your time runs out, the computer plays a sensible card for you, so the table keeps moving.
How to Play Hearts Online: Game Modes
- Online with friends: create a room and share the code. Two, three or four people can sit down, and computer players fill the rest.
- Challenge online players: find someone free in the arena and send an invite.
- Local vs: share one device and take turns.
- vs Computer: play a full four-handed game on your own against three computer opponents.
Hearts is one of 50+ free games on My MP Games, and it sits alongside Rummy, Rang and Crazy Eights in the card games section.
Hearts Strategy: Tips to Win
- Pass high spades if you are short in spades. The A♠ and K♠ are dangerous because they can be forced to win the trick the Queen falls on.
- Void a suit early. If you run out of a suit, you can discard hearts and the Q♠ whenever that suit is led.
- Keep low cards for later. A hand full of twos and threes lets you duck tricks when points are on the table.
- Stop a moon shot. If one player is collecting every heart, take a single heart yourself. One point is a small price for spoiling a 26-point swing.
- Count the spades. Once the Queen has fallen, high spades become safe again.
A Sample Hand of Hearts
Say you hold the A♠, K♠ and only two other spades. Pass the A♠ and K♠ so you cannot be forced to win the trick the Queen falls on. The player with the 2♣ leads; you follow with your highest club because nobody may throw points on the first trick. Later you run out of diamonds, so when diamonds are led you discard a heart on someone else. At the end of the hand you have taken two hearts for 2 points, while the player who took the Q♠ scores 13. Lowest total when someone reaches 100 wins.
History of Hearts
Hearts developed from older Spanish and French trick-avoidance games such as Reversis, which dates back to at least the 1700s. The Queen of Spades penalty came later, in a version sometimes called Black Lady, and that became the standard game. Hearts reached millions of new players in the early 1990s when it shipped with Microsoft Windows. Today it is still one of the best-known card games for four. This version follows the standard modern rules described above: a three-card pass, 26 points per hand and a game to 100.
How to Play Hearts FAQ
How do you play Hearts?
Each of four players gets 13 cards. Pass three cards, then play 13 tricks: follow suit if you can, and the highest card of the led suit wins the trick. Each heart you take is 1 point and the Queen of Spades is 13. When someone reaches 100, the lowest score wins.
How do you play Hearts online with friends?
Create a room and share the code or invite link. Up to four people can join, and the computer fills any empty seat.
Can you play Hearts with 2 or 3 people?
Hearts always uses four seats here. With two or three people, computer players take the remaining seats automatically.
Who starts in the Hearts card game?
The player holding the two of clubs leads the first trick.
When can hearts be led?
Only after a heart has been played on an earlier trick, unless your hand contains nothing but hearts.
What is shooting the moon in Hearts?
Shooting the moon means taking all thirteen hearts and the Queen of Spades in one hand. You score 0 and every opponent scores 26.
Which way do you pass in Hearts?
Left on the first hand, right on the second, across on the third, and no pass on the fourth. Then the cycle repeats.
How does the Hearts card game end?
The game ends when any player reaches 100 points at the end of a hand. The player with the lowest score wins.
Is Hearts free to play online?
Yes. It runs in your browser for free, with no download, no account and no paywall.
