Hearts is a popular trick-taking game, but unlike most games, the the object is to avoid winning hands - or at least to avoid winning hands containing hearts, and most especially, to avoid taking the queen of spades (known as the "Black Lady"). Conversely, if you manage to win all the points - that is, all 13 hearts plus the queen of spades - then you have "shot the moon". and can either subtract 26 points from your score, or add 26 point to all your opponents scores.
In spite of the apparent simplicity of the rules, the game allows ample opportunity for skillful play, and according to one commentator, "is almost unsurpassed for opportunities to apply skill and deduction in analyzing the meanings of your opponents' play and in planning your own strategy so as to make the most of what you deduce about the other players' hands when compared to the strength of your own hand." (John Scarne in Scarne on Cards)
Hearts Links
- Arcatm
"Here at Arcatm we love, live and breathe Hearts." With rules, links, strategy tips, and Hearts videos. - Grand Prix Card Tournaments
Grand Prix Tournaments is the host to the World Series of Classic Card Games, including the World Series of Spades, the World Series of Euchre, the World Series of Hearts, the World Series of Pinochle, and the World Series of Bid Whist. - Hearts & Tactics
Everything you ever wanted to know about the hearts card game. This web site provides a place where gamers of any skill level can gather to talk and improve their hearts game. - Hearts Homepage
Learn about the game, with rules, some variation listings, lots of links and more. - HeartsWorld.co.uk
"At heartsworld.co.uk we live and breathe hearts. We feel that it is by far and away the best card game and this website was set up to make hearts more accessible to the world." - Pagat Hearts
John McLeod's Hearts page, with rules, strategies and links. - Wikipedia Hearts
An article about Hearts, with hitory, rules, and strategy tips, from the free online encyclopedia.
