Play Hearts for free
Hearts is a classic trick-taking card game for four players where the aim is to score as few points as possible. Here on Kitchen Table Cards you can play it free in your browser against three computer players, with big cards, a Hint button and no time pressure. There is nothing to download and you do not need an account.
How to play · Scoring · Passing cards · Tips · Questions
How to play Hearts
Hearts is played with a standard 52-card deck. Each player is dealt 13 cards. Aces are high, and there is no trump suit. The game is played in hands, and each hand has 13 tricks.
- Starting: the player with the Two of Clubs leads it to start the first trick.
- Following suit: each player in turn plays one card. You must play a card of the same suit as the first card of the trick if you have one.
- If you can't follow suit: you can play any card, and this is your chance to get rid of Hearts or the Queen of Spades.
- Winning a trick: the highest card of the suit that was led wins the trick, and that player leads the next one.
- Hearts must be broken: you can't lead a Heart until a Heart has been played on an earlier trick (unless you only have Hearts left).
- First trick: no points can be played on the very first trick, so no Hearts and no Queen of Spades.
Scoring in Hearts
| Card | Points |
|---|---|
| Each Heart | 1 point |
| Queen of Spades | 13 points |
| All other cards | 0 points |
At the end of each hand, everyone adds up the points in the tricks they won. The game ends when someone reaches 100 points, and the player with the lowest score wins.
Shooting the moon: if you manage to take all 13 Hearts and the Queen of Spades in one hand, you score nothing and every other player gets 26 points instead. It's risky, but very satisfying!
Passing cards
Before each hand, every player chooses three cards to pass to another player. The direction changes every hand: to the left, then to the right, then across the table, and on the fourth hand there is no passing. Then the pattern starts again.
How to play on this site
| Play a card | Click or tap it when it's your turn, or drag it up onto the table. Cards you can't play are shown darker. |
|---|---|
| Pass cards | Click three cards so they are raised and outlined, then press "Pass cards". |
| Hint | Suggests a good card to play, or good cards to pass. |
| Pause | Stops the other players until you are ready to carry on. |
| Scores | Shows the score for every hand so far. |
| Settings | Choose a shorter game, how fast the other players play, and the table colour. |
Tips for winning at Hearts
- Pass dangerous cards. The Queen, King and Ace of Spades and high Hearts are the riskiest cards to keep.
- Empty a short suit. If you get rid of all your Diamonds or Clubs early, you can throw away Hearts and the Queen of Spades when that suit is led.
- Play your high cards early. On the first tricks nobody has points to give away yet, so it is safe to win them.
- Watch the Queen of Spades. If you don't have it, leading low Spades can force it out of another player's hand.
- Keep an eye on the scores. If one player is taking every point, take a Heart yourself to stop them shooting the moon.
Hearts questions and answers
Is this Hearts game free?
Yes. Hearts on Kitchen Table Cards is completely free to play in your browser. There is no download, no sign-up and nothing to buy.
Who am I playing against?
You play against three friendly computer players, Rosa, Walter and June. You do not need to find other people or wait for anyone to join.
How many points is the Queen of Spades worth in Hearts?
The Queen of Spades is worth 13 points. Each Heart is worth 1 point, so there are 26 points in every hand.
What does "shooting the moon" mean in Hearts?
If one player takes all 13 Hearts and the Queen of Spades in a single hand, they "shoot the moon". Instead of getting 26 points themselves, every other player gets 26 points.
When does a game of Hearts end?
The game ends when any player reaches 100 points (or 50 points if you choose a shorter game in Settings). The player with the lowest score wins.
What does "hearts are broken" mean?
You are not allowed to lead a Heart until a Heart has been played on an earlier trick, usually by a player who had no cards of the suit that was led. Once that happens, Hearts are "broken" and can be led.
Can I play Hearts on a tablet or phone?
Yes. Tap a card to play it, or drag it up onto the table with your finger. Cards you are not allowed to play are shown darker, and the game tells you why if you tap one.
Does the game save my progress?
Yes. The game is saved on your device after every card, so you can close the page and carry on later.
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