The cards are dealt as soon as the page opens: you play against three computer players, and nobody is timed. Pass three cards, follow suit, and avoid the hearts (1 point each) and the queen of spades (13). Take all of them and you shoot the moon. The game ends when someone reaches 100, and the lowest score wins.
How to play hearts
Four players each get 13 cards. Before each hand you pass three cards: to the left, then the right, then across, and on every fourth hand you keep them.
Whoever holds the two of clubs leads it. You must follow the suit that was led if you can; if you can’t, you may play anything. The highest card of the led suit wins the trick, and its winner leads the next one. There are no trumps.
Every heart you take costs you 1 point and the queen of spades costs 13, so each hand has 26 points in it. Hearts can’t be led until a heart has been played. Nobody may play points on the first trick unless they hold nothing else.
The complete rules cover every step, with a worked hand and the scoring. For a game at the kitchen table, print the rules sheet and a score sheet, or keep score on your phone with the score keeper. Playing with three, five or six? See the variations. To get better, read the strategy guide. Looking for somewhere else to play, or an app? See the best hearts games.
Shooting the moon
Take every heart and the queen of spades and you shoot the moon. You then choose: each other player takes 26, or your own score goes down by 26. It’s the riskiest play in hearts: miss one heart and you keep all the points you took. Shooting the moon explains the four ways tables score it, and when to try.
Winning
The game ends after the hand in which someone reaches 100 points. The lowest score wins. If two players are tied for the lowest, more hands are played until one of them is lowest alone.
House rules
Hearts is played many ways. Press ⚙ House rules above the table to choose how the moon is scored, whether the queen of spades breaks hearts, a game to 100, 75 or 50, and more. A friends link carries your rules. The house rules page explains each one and who plays it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this hearts game free?
Yes. It's free, it runs in your browser, and it needs no download, account or sign-up. There's no real-money play and nothing to buy.
Can I play hearts against the computer?
Yes. A game against three computer players starts as soon as the page opens, and the computer players wait for you: there's no turn timer when you're the only person at the table.
Can I play hearts with my friends?
Yes. Play with Friends opens a private table and gives you a link to send, which carries your table's house rules. Computer players fill any seats your friends don't take.
What happens when I shoot the moon?
If you take all 13 hearts and the queen of spades, you choose: add 26 points to each other player, or take 26 off your own score. House rules can make it always one or the other, or pick whichever is better for you.
Does the queen of spades break hearts?
Not here, by default: only a heart breaks hearts, so you can't lead a heart until one has been played (unless you hold only hearts). The house rules can switch that on.
Is this like the hearts game that came with Windows?
Yes, it's the same game: three cards passed with no pass every fourth hand, the two of clubs leads, no points on the first trick, and the game ends at 100. The one difference is the moon: the Windows game always gave the other players 26 points, while here the shooter chooses. To play the Windows way, set Shooting the moon to +26 to the others in the house rules.
Does it work on a phone or tablet?
Yes. The game runs in the browser on phones, tablets and computers. It can't be played offline, because the cards are dealt and the computer players run on the game server.