How to play Hearts

Rules and controls

1. 1. Pass three cards

   Before each hand, three cards go to another player. The direction rotates: left, right, across, then no pass at all.

2. 2. The two of clubs opens

   Whoever holds it leads it, and no heart or the queen of spades may be played by anybody on that first trick.

3. 3. Follow suit

   The highest card of the suit led takes the trick, and the winner leads the next one. There is no trump: a spade does not beat a club.

4. 4. Breaking hearts

   Nobody may lead a heart until a heart or the queen of spades has been played on an earlier trick, unless hearts are all they hold.

5. 5. Count the damage

   Every heart in a trick you take is one point, the queen of spades is thirteen.

6. 6. Shoot the moon

   Take all thirteen hearts and the queen and you score nothing while everyone else takes 26.

7. 7. The game ends at 100

   When anyone passes 100 points the game stops, and the lowest score wins.