Overview
Hearts is a four-player trick-taking game in which points are bad. Cardems deals and scores a full match against three opponents, with passing before three of every four rounds.
Objective
Avoid point cards and keep the lowest cumulative score. When at least one player reaches 100 or more after a round, the unique lowest score wins; if the low score is tied, another round is played.
Setup
Cardems deals all 52 cards, one at a time, so each of the four players receives 13 cards. The pass direction cycles by round: Left, Right, Across, then Hold. In every passing round, each player selects exactly three cards and all passes resolve before the opening lead.
How to Play
- The player holding the 2 of clubs must lead it on the first trick.
- Follow the suit led when you can. If you are void in that suit, you may discard another suit subject to the opening-trick restriction.
- On the first clubs trick, a player who cannot follow clubs must avoid Hearts and the Queen of Spades if any non-point card is available. If every available card is a point card, one may be played.
- The highest card in the led suit wins each trick; there is no trump. The trick winner leads the next trick.
- Hearts cannot be led until a Heart has been discarded on an earlier trick, unless the leader has only Hearts remaining.
Important Rules
- The passing cycle is Left, Right, Across, Hold, then repeats. Hold rounds have no pass.
- You must follow suit whenever possible. Being void lets you discard any legal card.
- A Heart breaks Hearts when it is legally played; after that, Hearts may lead later tricks.
- The first trick must begin with the 2 of clubs. It is illegal to lead any other card then.
- A Heart or the Queen of Spades is normally blocked on the opening trick when a non-point discard is available.
Scoring and Winning
Each Heart captured in a trick gives that trick's winner 1 point; the Queen of Spades gives 13. Points are added to each player’s match total after all 13 tricks.
If one player captures all 26 points, Cardems treats it as Shooting the Moon: that player receives 0 for the round and each other player receives 26. At 100 or more, the match ends only if one player alone has the lowest cumulative total. A tied low total continues the match.
For example, taking three Hearts and the Queen of Spades scores 16 points for the round. Shooting the Moon instead turns a raw 26 into 0 for the shooter and 26 for every opponent.
Strategy
Count which suits have been led and watch for players who are void. If you are holding the Queen of Spades, do not assume a low spade is safe once another player may be able to discard the Queen into your trick.
FAQ
How many cards do I pass?
Exactly three in Left, Right, and Across rounds. The fourth, Hold round has no passing.
Who leads first?
The player with the 2 of clubs must lead it.
Can I lead Hearts before they are broken?
Only if every card you still hold is a Heart. Otherwise, Hearts must first be discarded on another player’s led trick.
What happens when a player Shoots the Moon?
The player who takes all 26 point cards receives 0 points for the round, while each opponent receives 26.
When may a point card be played on the opening trick?
Only when you cannot follow clubs and have no non-point card available. Otherwise, Hearts and the Queen of Spades are illegal on that trick.
What happens at 100 points?
After the round, the player with the unique lowest cumulative score wins. If the lowest score is tied, Cardems starts another round.
