What is Hearts?

Hearts (هارتس) is a classic trick-avoidance card game where the goal is to NOT win certain cards. Each heart card is worth 1 penalty point, and the dreaded Queen of Spades costs 13 points. Players pass cards to opponents before each round, creating opportunities for strategic play. The twist: if one player manages to take ALL the hearts and the Queen of Spades, they 'Shoot the Moon' and everyone else gets 26 penalty points instead. Played worldwide and deeply popular in the Arab world, Hearts combines simple rules with deep tactical thinking.

How to Play Hearts

Hearts is a trick-avoidance card game for 4 players:

1. Setup: Deal all 52 cards evenly — each player gets 13 cards. Before play, pass 3 cards to another player (direction rotates each round).
2. Play: The player with 2 of Clubs leads the first trick. You must follow the led suit if you can. Hearts cannot be led until they've been 'broken' (played on another trick).
3. Avoid Penalties: Each heart card taken in tricks costs 1 point. The Queen of Spades costs 13 points. Try to avoid winning these cards.
4. Winning: The game continues until someone reaches 100 points. The player with the LOWEST score wins. Or, Shoot the Moon (take all hearts + Queen of Spades) to give everyone else 26 points.

Frequently Asked Questions