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'''Hearts''' is a [[trick]]-taking [[card game]] that is often compared to [[Bridge]] in its simplicity and elegance. However, it is simpler and more direct than Bridge or [[Spades (card game)|Spades]], which makes it easier for childen to learn.

'''Hearts''' is a [[trick]]-taking [[card game]] that is often compared to [[Bridge]] in its simplicity and elegance. However, it is simpler and more direct than Bridge or [[Spades (card game)|Spades]], which makes it easier for children to learn.  The game usually has four players.

==Gameplay==

==Gameplay==

The game uses a regular [[deck]] of [[playing cards]], with the [[joker]]s removed. [[Ace]]s count as high, e.g., 14. All of the cards are shuffled and dealt to the players (usually four players). On each trick, the "leader" player plays a card from his hard. Each other player must "follow suit" by playing a card from his hand also. It is generally not allowed to "break hearts" (play a heart card) until someone has led a heart as part of a normal trick. Otherwise, players are allowed to play whatever suits they like, if they are out of the current leading suit. The highest card of the suit led, takes the trick.

The game uses a regular deck of playing cards, with the jokers removed.

 

On each trick, the "leader" player plays a card from his hard. All other players must "follow suit" by playing a card of that suit from their hands, unless a player does not have any cards of that suit. In that case a player can play a card of any suit, with one exception: it is generally not allowed to "break hearts" (play a heart card) until someone has led a heart as part of a normal trick, unless a player only has hearts in the hand. The highest card of the suit led (the ace is the highest possible card, the two the lowest), takes the trick.

At the end of the game, when all 13 hands have been played, the players tally their scores. Each [[heart]] taken by a player is one point, and the Queen of [[Spade]]s, or "Old Maid", is 13 points. However, if one player manages to take all the cards, then he has successfully "Shot the Moon", and ''everyone else'' is awarded 26 points as a [[penalty]].

At the end of the game, when all 13 hands have been played, the players tally their scores. Each [[heart]] taken by a player is one point, and the Queen of [[Spade]]s, or "Old Maid", is 13 points. However, if one player manages to take all the cards, then he has successfully "Shot the Moon", and ''everyone else'' is awarded 26 points as a [[penalty]].

The game is over after a set number of rounds, or when one player accumulates one hundred points, depending on how long a game you want to play.  The player with the lowest score wins.

The game is over after a set number of rounds, or when one player accumulates one hundred points, depending on how long a game you want to play.  The player with the lowest score wins.

*'''Hearst:''' Kings and Queens have reversed ranks, so that the order of ranks is 2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-J-K-Q-A. This makes it much harder to get rid of the Old Maid, because there are fewer cards that beat Q. This variant is usually played like [[Mao]], where one player doesn't know the secret rule and the other players try to score points based on that player breaking the rules.

*'''Hearst:''' Kings and Queens have reversed ranks, so that the order of ranks is 2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-J-K-Q-A. This makes it much harder to get rid of the Old Maid, because there are fewer cards that beat Q. This variant is usually played like [[Mao]], where one player doesn't know the secret rule and the other players try to score points based on that player breaking the rules.

[[Category:Games]]

 

[[Category:Card Games]]