How many players can play Hearts?

Hearts works for 3 to 6 players but is best with exactly 4 , because the full 52-card deck divides evenly into 13 cards each with no leftovers. With 3 players remove the 2♦ (17 cards each); with 5 players remove the 2♣ and 2♦ (10 each); with 6 players remove the 2♣, 3♣, 2♦, and 2♠ (8 each).

Why is the Queen of Spades worth 13 points?

The Queen of Spades — nicknamed the 'Black Lady' — is worth 13 penalty points , the same as all 13 hearts combined. This makes her the single most dangerous card in the deck. You cannot play her on the first trick, but she can be played as a discard on any non-spade trick afterward, making her a powerful weapon to dump on an opponent. She may also be led at any time and does NOT need to wait for hearts to be broken.

What does 'shoot the moon' mean in Hearts?

If a single player captures ALL 13 hearts AND the Queen of Spades in one hand (the full 26 penalty points), they have 'shot the moon.' Instead of taking 26 points, they choose one of two rewards: subtract 26 from their own score , OR add 26 to every other player's score . It is a bold, high-risk play because if even one penalty card slips to another player, the shooter takes the full count themselves.

When are hearts 'broken' in Hearts?

Hearts are 'broken' the first time a heart is played as a discard on an earlier trick — meaning someone could not follow the led suit and threw a heart instead. (Some house rules also count the Q♠ being played as breaking hearts.) Until then, you may not lead a heart to a new trick. The only exception is when a player has nothing but hearts left in hand — they may lead a heart even if hearts are not yet broken.

Who wins Hearts and at what score does the game end?

Hearts is an evasion game: you want the LOWEST score. Play hand after hand until at least one player reaches or passes the agreed target score — 100 points is the standard . At that moment the game ends and whichever player has the lowest total wins. Many groups also play to 50 or 500 depending on how long they want the game to last.

Free Printable Hearts Rules — How to Play

About Free Printable Hearts Rules

Only after hearts have been broken, meaning someone has discarded a heart on an earlier trick. The exception is when hearts are the only cards left in your hand.

By the ToolFluency team · Updated October 2026

Hearts is a trick-taking card game for 3 to 6 players, best with 4, played with one standard 52-card deck. Every heart is worth 1 penalty point and the Queen of Spades is worth 13, so you try to avoid taking them, and when someone reaches 100 points the player with the lowest score wins. A game takes about 30 to 60 minutes. The full printable rules sheet, with the penalty cards, passing rotation, a sample trick and a shoot-the-moon scoreboard, is on this page.

How to play Hearts

Deal the whole deck one card at a time, clockwise. With 4 players everyone gets 13. For 3 players remove the 2 of diamonds, for 5 remove the 2 of clubs and 2 of diamonds, and for 6 remove the 2 and 3 of clubs, 2 of diamonds and 2 of spades.
Pass 3 cards face down before each hand, choosing them before you look at the cards passed to you. The direction rotates: left, right, across, then a hold hand with no pass. With 3 or 5 players the across pass is skipped.
The player holding the 2 of clubs leads it to the first trick (the 3 of clubs with 5 players, the 4 of clubs with 6). On the first trick nobody may play a heart or the Queen of Spades.
Players must follow suit if they can. If you cannot, you may discard any card. There is no trump, so the highest card of the suit led wins the trick, and the winner leads next.
You may not lead a heart until hearts are broken, meaning a heart has been discarded on an earlier trick, unless you hold only hearts. The Queen of Spades can be led at any time.
After all tricks, score 1 point for each heart you took and 13 for the Queen of Spades, 26 points in all.
If one player takes all 13 hearts and the Queen of Spades, they shoot the moon and choose either to subtract 26 from their own score or to add 26 to every opponent's score.
Keep dealing hands until someone reaches 100 points. The game ends then, and the player with the lowest total wins.

Hearts scoring

Card or event	Points
Each heart (2 through Ace)	1 penalty point
Queen of Spades	13 penalty points
All other cards	0
Total per hand	26
Shooting the moon	-26 to self or +26 to each opponent
Game ends	When any player reaches 100

Examples

Strategy tips

Pass high spades (Ace, King or Queen) if you hold few other spades. They are the cards most likely to catch the Queen of Spades.
Try to void a suit with your pass. Running out of clubs or diamonds early lets you discard hearts and the Queen on other players' tricks.
Keep a few low cards in each suit so you can duck under tricks late in the hand.
If you hold the Queen of Spades with plenty of low spades, keep her. Lead low spades to force out the Ace and King first.
Watch for a player taking every heart. Taking just one heart yourself is enough to stop a moon shot.
Only try to shoot the moon with long, strong suits and high hearts. Falling one card short leaves you with most of the 26 points.

Example: shooting the moon

Scores before the hand are 62, 40, 55 and 48. The first player captures all 13 hearts and the Queen of Spades. They can subtract 26 from their own score (62 down to 36), or add 26 to everyone else (40, 55 and 48 become 66, 81 and 74). Here subtracting puts them in the lead, while adding pushes the others toward 100.

Frequently asked questions

When can you lead a heart in Hearts?

Only after hearts have been broken, meaning someone has discarded a heart on an earlier trick. The exception is when hearts are the only cards left in your hand.

Does the Queen of Spades break hearts?

Not under the standard rules on this sheet, where only a heart breaks hearts. Some house rules also count the Queen of Spades, so agree before you play. The Queen herself can be led at any time.

Can you play a heart on the first trick?

No. On the first trick nobody may play a heart or the Queen of Spades, even as a discard. The only exception is a hand made up entirely of hearts and the Queen of Spades.

What does shooting the moon mean?

It means taking all 13 hearts and the Queen of Spades in one hand. Instead of scoring 26, you choose to subtract 26 from your own score or add 26 to each opponent's. Some versions give a fixed 26 to each opponent instead.

How do you play Hearts with 3 players?

Remove the 2 of diamonds so each player gets 17 cards, and skip the across pass, rotating left, right, then hold. The player with the 2 of clubs still leads first.

Does a hearts trick go to the highest heart played?

Only if hearts were led. There is no trump suit, so the highest card of the suit that was led wins. If clubs are led, the Ace of Hearts discarded on that trick wins nothing.

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