Rediscovering the Joys of the Hearts Card Game Classic

Whether you're looking to refresh your knowledge of this classic card game or are playing for the first time, we've put together the perfect introduction to Hearts.

So, if you're ready to discover the joys of Hearts - read on!

Mastering the Basics

Before you begin playing Hearts, you should familiarize yourself with the basic rules of gameplay. This way, you'll feel as confident as possible!

The Cards.

• Hearts is played with a standard 52 deck of cards.
• The number of cards each player receives depends on how many people are playing.
• Cards rank from highest to lowest, with Aces being the highest.
• Heart cards carry 1 penalty point each, and the Queen of Spades is worth 13 points.

Gameplay.

1. Each player will take turns to adopt the role of dealer. They will shuffle the cards before handing them out (face down). When playing online, cards will be dealt automatically.
2. Players must then choose three cards from their hand to pass on to their opponent on the left. When playing a traditional game, players do not get to see their hand beforehand. However, when playing 247 Hearts, you get to see your cards, allowing for more strategic gameplay.
3. The first trick will be initiated, with a player placing a card face-up in the center. Moving in a clockwise formation, players must then put down a card of the same suit (where possible).
4. You win a trick by playing the highest-value card of the initial suit, at which point you'll collect the cards played in that round. This can affect your score, as heart cards come with a penalty point. Similarly, the Queen of Spades is worth 13 points.
5. The gameplay continues until a player reaches 100 points. The person with the lowest score wins.

Essential Strategies

There are many different strategies that you can deploy in order to increase your chances of winning, even if luck may not be on your side when the cards are dealt.

For starters, you should be as strategic as possible when passing on three cards to the player to your left. While you may be tempted to hand over the heart cards outright, remember this means that they can be used against you at a later point.

Furthermore, there are many different playing styles that you may want to try out. For example, instead of trying to avoid the hearts, you may want to follow an alternative route - and collect them all. While this may seem counter-productive, collecting all of the available heart cards and the Queen of Spades is known as shooting to the moon. This means that all other players will receive 26 points.

Playing to Win

We believe that you'll have fun playing hearts regardless of the outcome. After all, our online platform is designed with that in mind! However, there are certain steps you can take to increase your chances of winning!

Common Mistakes to Avoid

There are many different mistakes that you'll make as you get to grips with playing Hearts. After all, it is slightly different from other traditional card games, such as Solitaire.

One of the most common mistakes is failing to take note of which cards have been played already. After all, doing so can provide you with valuable insight into your opponent's gameplay so that you can predict their next move and take action accordingly.

As mentioned above, you should also be wary of trying to purge your heart cards right away, especially if the card is of a lower overall value. After all, this means that you may be able to avoid winning a trick that involves multiple hearts.

Advanced Techniques

One of the easiest strategies that you can deploy when playing cards is getting rid of all of the cards in a particular suit. This is known as 'voiding'. By creating this void, you can then begin to discard hearts cards during subsequent tricks.

Staying Sharp

The amount of time it takes to play a game of hearts can vary depending on a variety of factors, such as the number of players or the strategies they are attempting to follow. In any case, it is crucial that you pay close attention throughout each round (remembering to take note of both the score and which cards have been played).

Online Hearts Tournaments

While hearts can be played both online and in-person, we believe that online hearts tournaments are the best way to experience this game. After all, this saves you a considerable amount of time when it comes to dealing out cards and preparing to play - as it's all done automatically on your behalf!

Playing in online tournaments also means that you can play Hearts at any time of day or night, no matter where you may be - you simply need to ensure that you have WIFI!

Finally, playing hearts online also comes with additional gameplay benefits. For example, at the start of the game, you're able to see your hand before passing cards to another player. This means that you can be as strategic as possible.

Tips from Hearts Pros

Once you've played a few tricks (or games) of Hearts, you should find it easier to develop your strategy and keep your score as low as possible. However, here are some tips from pro players that you may find useful!

• Practice makes perfect. The more you play Hearts, the better player you'll become. As such, you should try to practice as frequently as possible. When playing online, be sure to try out different difficulty levels as your skills progress.
• Get rid of hearts early. Playing heart cards as early as possible can minimize your risk when playing, especially if they are lower-value cards.
• Pay attention to the cards that have been played. Being able to pay attention to the cards that have been played already can help you to get ahead. This means that you can begin to anticipate your opponent's next move, especially if they are leading the trick.

DISCLAIMER: The games on this website are using PLAY (fake) money. No payouts will be awarded, there are no "winnings", as all games represented by 247 Games LLC are free to play. Play strictly for fun.