Hearts

Other games

The story behind the game

The card game Hearts is popular due to its relative simplicity. Winning does not depend on luck but on the ability to assess the situation and develop a strategy. The trick-taking game is played with a deck of 52 cards. Four players try to score as few points as possible, with the number of points depending on the presence of Hearts cards in their tricks.

History of the game

Hearts was known long before computers were invented, and it was introduced to Windows in 1992. Through this game, Microsoft demonstrated the ability for multiple players to participate in a networked game simultaneously. The application was called The Microsoft Hearts Network. Later, the game was included in almost all versions of the Windows operating system.

Starting with Vista, the name was changed, and the network play function was removed in Windows XP. Before Vista, the three opponents were named Polina, Michelle, and Ben. These names belonged to the wife of a senior Microsoft employee, another company worker, and the son of a third Microsoft staff member. Later, the names were replaced with cardinal directions, and the requirement to enter a user name was removed.

Interesting facts

Hearts is mentioned in Stephen King's book Hearts in Atlantis. The protagonist of the second story and his classmates are passionate about this game. One of the characters calls whist "bridge for fools" and Hearts "bridge for complete fools."
A three-player version of Hearts is possible. In this case, the two of diamonds is removed from the deck. For a two-player game, a 36-card deck is used.

Hearts is not one of the most complex card games, but it is also not simple enough to allow distractions during a round. It is a great way to relax, have fun, and test your luck. Let’s play!

How to play, rules and tips

Hearts is a card game for four players, with three virtual opponents in the computer version. The goal of the game is to score as few points as possible.

Game rules

A deck of 52 cards is evenly distributed, with each player receiving 13 cards. The card values increase from two to ace. At the beginning of the game, each player must pass three cards to another player of their choice. The passing follows a pattern where cards are sent to the left, right, or across. In some rounds, no passing occurs. In the computer version, the passing happens automatically, but you still choose which cards to give away.

The game always begins with the two of clubs. Players play in a clockwise direction, following the suit of the first card played if possible. If a player does not have a matching suit, they may play any other card. In the first round, no hearts or the queen of spades may be played. The first card played is the leading card, and the trick is won by the player with the highest card of the same suit. That player then leads the next trick. This continues for 13 tricks.

When scoring, each heart card is worth one point, while the queen of spades is worth 13 points. If a player collects all the hearts and the queen of spades, they receive zero points, while the other three players each add 26 points to their total. The player who reaches 100 points first loses the game. The winner is the player with the fewest points.

Game tips

When passing three cards at the start, discard high-value cards like aces and kings.
If you have the queen of spades, it’s better to get rid of it during the game rather than passing it. This is especially important if you also hold the ace or king of spades.
High-value cards should be played early in the game while other players still have cards in that suit. Later on, the risk of collecting hearts increases.
If a trick contains no hearts or the queen of spades, no points are awarded. Try to remember which cards have been played and whether the queen of spades or any remaining hearts are still in play.
If you are not aiming to take all the tricks or want to prevent another player from doing so, avoid taking tricks that contain hearts or the dreaded queen of spades.

Hearts is an engaging game, and when playing against virtual opponents, there is no risk of losing money. A few rounds will entertain you, give you energy, and lift your spirits!