Hearts is a four player point based strategy card game. The object is to get the LEAST amount of points.
• THE POINTS •
In a standard game all hearts count for 1 point, the queen of spades counts for 13 and the jack of diamonds is -10. "Shooting the Moon", which consists of taking the queen and all 13 hearts is -26.
• THE PLAY •
The game of Hearts is played by dealing the deck out in full. After receiving their thirteen cards each player selects three cards they would like to get rid of and passes them. The pass rotates after each hand: first to the left, then to the right, then across. Every fourth hand is a "keeper" in which, like life, you must play the cards dealt you.
After the pass the player with the two of clubs begins play by leading any club (it need not be the two). The highest card of the suit led takes the trick and leads the next one. Every player must follow suit if possible. If however, you should find yourself out of the suit led you may play any card in your hand with the exception of the first trick on which no points may be played. Furthermore, hearts or the queen of spades may not be led until one has been discarded in the course of play, i.e., broken. Play continues until there are no more cards left at which point the score for that round is tabulated and the game continues. The game is over when one player exceeds the limit set for the game. The player with the lowest score wins.
• SUMMARY •
* THE OBJECT OF THE GAME IS TO GET THE LEAST AMOUNT OF POINTS.
* QUEEN OF SPADES = 13 points. (very bad)
* ANY HEART = 1 point. (bad)
* JACK OF DIAMONDS = - 10 points. (good)
* SHOOTING THE MOON = - 26 points. (very very good)
* EVERY PLAYER GETS 13 CARDS.
* PASS THREE CARDS.
* THE PLAYER WITH THE TWO OF CLUBS LEADS.
* HIGHEST CARD OF THE SUIT LED WINS.
* YOU MUST FOLLOW SUIT IF POSSIBLE.
* YOU CANNOT LEAD A POINT UNTIL THEY HAVE BEEN BLED.
* THE HAND IS OVER WHEN ALL CARDS ARE PLAYED.
* THE GAME IS OVER WHEN A PLAYER EXCEEDS THE LIMIT SET FOR THE GAME; THE PLAYER WITH THE LOWEST SCORE WINS.
