Hearts

How to play Hearts

Four players each receive 13 cards from a standard 52-card deck. This is an individual game: the lowest score wins when any player reaches 100. If players tie for the lowest score, they share the win.

Pass three cards

The four-hand cycle is left, right, across, then hold. Select exactly three different cards in a passing hand and confirm. All passes arrive together only after everyone has chosen; no player sees anyone else’s hidden pass. On the hold hand, keep all your cards.

Follow suit, avoid points

The player holding the 2 of clubs leads it to the first trick. You must follow the led suit if you can. The highest card of the led suit takes the trick; there is no trump. Aces are high and the winner leads next.

Every heart is worth 1 penalty point and the Queen of spades is worth 13. On the first trick, a player who cannot follow clubs must play a non-point card if they have one. Only a hand containing no legal non-point alternative may discard a point card on that first trick.

Hearts cannot be led until someone has discarded a heart on another suit, unless the leader holds only hearts. Playing the Queen of spades does not break hearts.

Shooting the moon

Take all 13 hearts and the Queen of spades in one hand and you shoot the moon: you score zero and each other player adds 26 points. This table uses the add-26-to-others version, with no subtraction choice. Everyone sees the full tally before the next hand.

Elowen’s table tips

Keep a low card in a long suit as an escape. Be careful passing all your low spades while keeping the Queen. Watch whether one player is collecting every heart; taking a small penalty can stop a moon. High cards are useful only when you want to take the trick.

Solo or with friends

Solo progress is saved on this device. Private games start in a Ready lobby; the room creator presses Start, and computer players fill open seats. Everyone reviews each hand before continuing. Finished matches return to the same lobby. Emoji reactions keep the table friendly; there is no open chat.

Choose Relaxed, Normal or Fast in Settings, or tap the table to hurry an animation. Sound is off by default. Light/dark, reduced motion and flat mode are supported. No coins or wagering.