Rules and Objectives of Hearts Free Card Game

The game of Hearts is a classic trick-taking card game that has been enjoyed by players around the world for many years. It is typically played with four players and the objective is to have the lowest score at the end of the game. In this article, we will explore the rules and objectives of the Hearts card game.

Objective of the Game

The objective of Hearts is to have the lowest score at the end of the game. Each heart card and the Queen of Spades carry penalty points. The player with the lowest score at the end of the game is declared the winner.

The Deck

Hearts is played with a standard deck of 52 cards. The ranking of the cards from highest to lowest is Ace, King, Queen, Jack, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, and 2.

Dealing

To determine the dealer, a random player is chosen for the first game. After each round, the player to the left of the current dealer becomes the new dealer. The dealer then shuffles the cards and deals them clockwise, one card at a time, until each player has 13 cards.

Gameplay

The game begins with the player holding the 2 of Clubs leading the first trick. Each player must follow suit if possible; otherwise, they can play any card from their hand. The trick is won by the player who played the highest-ranking card of the leading suit, unless a heart or the Queen of Spades is played. The player who wins a trick leads the next one.

There is one important exception to the rule of following suit. On the first trick of each round, the player who holds the 2 of Clubs must lead with it.

Scoring occurs at the end of each round. Players count the number of hearts and the Queen of Spades they have taken in tricks and receive penalty points accordingly. Hearts count as one point each, and the Queen of Spades carries 13 penalty points. However, if a player manages to take all 13 hearts and the Queen of Spades, they receive no penalty points and all other players receive 26 points each.

End of the Game

The game continues for several rounds until one or more players reach or exceed the agreed-upon score limit. The player with the lowest score at the end of the game is declared the winner.

It's worth mentioning that certain variations of the Hearts card game may have additional rules, such as shooting the moon. Shooting the moon means taking all the hearts and the Queen of Spades in a single round, resulting in a score of zero for the player who achieved it and 26 points for every other player.

Hearts is a game that requires strategy, careful planning, and a bit of luck. Now that you understand the rules and objectives of the game, gather some friends and enjoy the timeless fun of Hearts!

AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE:

Some links on this page may be affiliate links in which I may receive a commission for.
There is absolutely no additional charge to you.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.