How to play Hearts

Hearts is a trick-taking game for four players. You want the fewest points, not the most.

• All 52 cards are dealt, thirteen to each player.
• Each hand starts by passing three cards — left, then right, then across, then a hand where you keep them.
• The player holding the two of clubs leads it to open the hand.
• Follow the suit that was led if you can. Otherwise play anything, subject to the rules below.
• Hearts cannot be led until a heart has been played on an earlier trick.
• No hearts and no queen of spades on the very first trick.
• Each heart is one point and the queen of spades is thirteen — 26 points per hand.
• Take all 26 and you shoot the moon: every other player takes 26 instead.
• The game ends when someone reaches 100 points. The lowest score wins.