OBJECTIVE
Hearts is about avoiding points. Every heart card is worth 1 point and the Queen of Spades is worth 13. When any player reaches 100 the game ends, and the LOWEST score wins.
HOW TO PLAY
- At the start of each hand, pick 3 cards to pass to an opponent. The direction rotates every hand: left, right, across, then a hand with no pass.
- A trick is one card played by each of the four players. Whoever holds the 2 of clubs leads the first trick.
- You must follow the suit that was led if you hold it. If you cannot, you may play any card, points included.
- The highest card of the led suit wins the trick, collects any points in it, and leads the next.
- Hearts cannot be led until one has been played on an earlier trick (this is "breaking" hearts). No points may be played on the very first trick.
SHOOT THE MOON
Take every heart and the Queen of Spades in one hand and you score 0 while everyone else takes 26. Risky, but it flips the game.