Hearts

Hearts is a classic trick-taking card game played by four participants. Utilizing a standard 52-card deck, players attempt to avoid tricks containing penalty cards. Using click-to-play controls, the ultimate objective is to minimize your score by avoiding Hearts and the Queen of Spades.

Setup

• Players: 4 players (you against 3 AI opponents).
• Cards: All 52 cards are dealt, giving 13 cards to each player.
• Pass phase: Before the hand begins, choose 3 cards to pass to an opponent (rotates: Left, Right, Across, None).

Controls

• Play card: Click or tap any valid card in your hand to play it into the trick.
• Mobile: Tap cards directly using touchscreen controls.

Rules

1. The player holding the 2 of Clubs plays first to start the first trick.
2. You must follow the suit led if possible. If you cannot follow suit, you may play any card.
3. The highest-ranking card of the suit led wins the trick and leads the next one (Ace is highest).
4. Each Heart card wins 1 penalty point; the Queen of Spades wins 13 penalty points.
5. Hearts cannot be led until they have been broken (played on a previous non-Heart lead trick).
6. Shooting the Moon: If a player collects all 13 Hearts and the Queen of Spades, they receive 0 points, and all other players receive 26 points.
7. The game ends when any player reaches 100 points; the player with the lowest score wins.

Tips

• Pass high-ranking Spades (Ace, King, Queen) to avoid winning the trick containing the Queen of Spades.
• Keep track of which cards have been played, especially high Spades and the Queen of Spades.
• If you hold a high-value hand, try to "Shoot the Moon" by winning all penalty cards.