Rules for There Hearts
Quick Tips
If you already know how to play Hearts, here's all you need to know to play There Hearts! Haven't played Hearts before? Check out the detailed rules below this section.

  • The table host is the first dealer, and clicks the Deal button to start the game.
  • After the deal, card passing starts with the dealer.
  • Each player selects 3 cards to be passed to the other players.
  • Passing occurs on 3 of every 4 deals. At first to the left, then to the right, and then across. No passing occurs on every fourth deal.
  • After passing, game play begins.
  • Play goes clockwise, starting with the player holding the 2 of clubs.
  • The orange arrow under a player's name indicates that it's his or her turn.
  • To play a card, either double-click it or click it once to select it and then click the Play button.
  • The Mood button lets you choose different animations for your avatar when playing a card. Check out your options!
  • If you win the trick, an orange outline will appear around your played card. Click the Take Trick button (it takes the place of the Play button) to clear the trick and begin the next one.
  • Your score is updated at the end of each deal, and can be seen underneath your name in the play area, as well as the number of tricks you've taken.
  • The Messages tab details the points scored by players and other game actions.
  • The Last Trick tab shows the last four cards played.
  • If a single player ends up with all the Hearts and the queen of Spades, they have Shot the Moon, and are given the option of deducting 26 points from their own score, or adding 26 points to everyone else's scores.
  • Game ends when someone reaches the maximum number of points set for the game, the player with the lowest number of points is the winner, if there is a tie, another deal starts again to break it.
  • The table host can start a new game at any time by clicking the New Game button.
Getting Started
Hearts is a four-player game in which players score points by "taking tricks." A trick is a set of four cards, one played by each player. The player playing the highest card of the led suit takes the trick.

Cards are ranked in the standard way as follows: Ace is highest, then King, Queen, Jack, and then the numbered cards, 10 down to 2.

Points are awarded after all tricks are taken. Each heart in the trick is worth 1 point and the Queen of spades is worth 13 points. There are special scoring rules if you get all 26 points (see scoring).

The player with the lowest number of points when the game ends is the winner.

The table host is the dealer, and starts the game by clicking Deal on the game display. All cards are dealt, giving each player 13 cards.
Passing
Passing begins after the deal starting with the dealer and progressing in a clockwise direction in turn. Select 3 cards you would like to pass by clicking on them. Selected cards will turn orange; clicking them again will deselect them.

After 3 cards are selected the pass button will become available for clicking. After pressing the pass button passing continues on to the next player and you must wait for the others players to complete their passes.

All cards are passed before you get the cards you are receiving. When all players have selected their cards to pass, you will receive the 3 new cards that have been passed to you.

The pass direction alternates every 4 deals; on the first deal you pass cards to the player on your left, then to your right, then across from you. No passing occurs on every fourth deal.

Playing the Game
After passing, the player with the 2 of clubs starts the play. The leader must begin the play with the 2 of clubs. This is called leading a suit and each player in turn, in clockwise order, plays a card. Each player must play a card of the lead suit if they are holding any ("follow suit"). If a player does not have a card in the led suit then they may play any card in their hand with exception. During the first trick a player cannot play a heart or the Queen of spades if they have other cards in their hand. The game display will indicate whose turn it is.

You cannot lead hearts until you have no other card to play, or until a heart has been played during a previous trick, which is called breaking hearts. If you are not holding any cards of the led suit, you can play a card of another suit. If you have a card of any suit other than hearts left, then you must play that card.

Once the fourth player has laid down a card, the trick is complete. The trick goes to the player that played the highest card of the led suit.

The person who took the last trick leads to the next trick, and play continues clockwise. The hand ends when all 13 tricks have been taken. The hand is scored and the player to the left of the dealer becomes the next dealer.

Note: There Hearts will prevent players (including the host!) from playing an illegal card, so you can concentrate on having fun with your friends.

Scoring
Scoring is handled automatically by There Hearts, but here's how it works:

After all tricks have been taken, points are awarded for the current deal. For every heart that you took you are awarded 1 point, for the Queen of Spades you are awarded 13 points. If you have collected all 13 hearts and the Queen of Spades then instead of getting 26 points you have won a special trick. This is called Shooting the Moon.

When Shooting the Moon you are rewarded with an option to either deduct 26 points from your own score or have 26 points added to all other players' scores. You will be presented with a system message asking if you would like to "Add" or "Deduct". After answering this, the scores will be updated to reflect your choice and you will lead the next deal.

After all tricks are taken and scoring is complete, if any player has reached the maximum score then the game ends.

The player with the lowest score becomes the winner. In cases of a tie game, another deal round will begin until a single winner emerges.

After a win, the table host becomes the dealer again and can start a new game.

Game Display
The name of the player who is leading the current trick will be italicized. This will help you identify which card was led.

Clicking on the game logo will display game information such as the game over points and game host in the message area.