trick-taking · USA / Worldwide
Hearts
Also known as Black Lady · Black Maria · Chase the Lady
Hearts is the classic four-player trick-taking game where the goal is the opposite of most card games: you want the LOWEST score. Every heart costs you a point and the Queen of Spades costs a brutal 13 — unless you’re bold enough to take them all and 'shoot the moon'. Play free in your browser against smart bots or invite friends, no download or signup.
4–4 players · free · no download · no signup
How to play Hearts
- Pass 3 cards in the current direction (left/right/across, or hold).
- The 2♣ leads the first trick — follow suit if you can.
- Avoid winning tricks that contain hearts or the Q♠.
- Lead hearts only once they’re broken.
- Either keep your score tiny, or take everything to shoot the moon. Lowest score at the end wins.
Hearts rules
Goal
Avoid taking tricks that contain hearts or the Queen of Spades. Each heart is 1 penalty point and the Q♠ is 13. The game ends when a player reaches 100 points, and the player with the LOWEST score wins.
The deal & passing
All 52 cards are dealt, 13 to each of the four players. Before each hand you pass 3 cards to an opponent — left, then right, then across, then a 'hold' hand with no passing — the direction rotates every deal.
Playing
Whoever holds the 2 of Clubs leads it to start. You must follow the led suit if you can; if not, you may play any card. The highest card of the led suit wins the trick (there is no trump). You may not lead a heart until hearts are 'broken' (first discarded), and no hearts or the Q♠ may be played on the very first trick.
Shooting the moon
If you manage to take ALL the point cards in a hand (all 13 hearts plus the Queen of Spades, worth 26), you 'shoot the moon': you score 0 and every other player is hit with 26 points instead.
Strategy tips
- Pass your high spades (A, K, Q♠) and dangerous high hearts early.
- Try to 'void' a suit so you can dump the Queen of Spades on someone.
- Keep low cards in each suit to duck under tricks safely.
- Watch for an opponent who might be shooting the moon — take a point to stop them.
- Hold the 2♣ knowledge: count who’s out of which suit.
Variants
Black Lady (with the Q♠) · Omnibus Hearts (10♦ bonus) · Cancellation Hearts (6+ players) · No-pass Hearts
Hearts — frequently asked questions
How do you win at Hearts?
By having the LOWEST score when someone reaches 100 points. You want to avoid taking hearts (1 point each) and the Queen of Spades (13 points).
What is shooting the moon?
Taking every point card in a single hand — all 13 hearts and the Q♠ (26 points). Instead of scoring 26, you score 0 and all other players get 26.
Can I play Hearts free online?
Yes — Hearts is free to play in your browser at Love Card Games, against smart bots or friends, with no download or signup.
What is the 'breaking hearts' rule?
You can’t lead a heart until a heart has been played (discarded on another suit) earlier in the hand. This is called breaking hearts.