Hearts is a classic trick-taking card game that originated in the United States. It is usually played by four players. The objective of the game is to avoid certain cards that carry penalty points, primarily heart cards and the Queen of Spades. Hearts is known for its mix of strategy, luck, and psychological elements, making it a favorite among card players worldwide. The game is played with a standard 52-card deck. Here are the key rules to keep in mind:
Players are dealt 13 cards each at the beginning of the game.
The player with the 2 of Clubs leads the first trick. Players must follow suit if they have a card of the same suit.
Hearts cards and the Queen of Spades cannot be played in the first trick.
Players try to avoid taking tricks that contain heart cards and the Queen of Spades, as these cards carry penalty points.
Each heart card taken in tricks is worth 1 penalty point, and the Queen of Spades is worth 13 penalty points.
Shooting the moon: If a player manages to take all the heart cards and the Queen of Spades in one round, they score 0 points, while all other players score 26 points each.
The game continues until one of the players reaches 100 points.
The player with the lowest score at the end of the game wins.
