Please note, this version of Hearts is a demo that will expire on August 1st. Please send any questions, comments and bug reports to me.
Hearts Rules
Customizing Rules
Multiplayer
Online
NOTE: Many of these rules may be customized in Hearts.
Hearts is a card game for 4 players. The object of the game is have the lowest score when one person gets more than 100 points. The game starts by dealing 13 cards to each player. Players then choose 3 cards from this hand to pass to the person on their left. The person with the 2 of clubs leads on the first trick. Play is standard trick-taking* without trumps until the hand is gone. Players may not lead hearts until they have been "broken" (already played on a previous trick), unless hearts are the only suit left in the player's hand. Playing the queen of spades also breaks hearts.
Scores are calculated at the end of each hand. Every heart taken is worth 1 point. The queen of spades is worth 13 points and the jack of diamonds -10. If a player manages to take all 13 hearts and the queen of spades (called "shooting the moon") then instead of adding 26 points to their score, they subtract 26. Or they may choose to take 0 points and give each of their opponents 26 points.
Depending on exactly how options are set, the game ends when one person gets more than 100 points. The winner is the player with the lowest score. If, however, at the end of the hand a player has exactly 100 points, they are declared the winner.
*Standard trick-taking is described as follows: Players must follow
the suit of the card lead. The player who plays the highest card (aces
high) of the suit lead takes the trick. If a player does not have a card
of the suit lead, they are free to play whatever card they want. The player
who takes the trick then leads the next trick.
Select the menu Game->Rules. Rules may only be changed before the game
starts.
| Rule | Description |
|---|---|
| Rotate Lead | the lead rotates between the players instead going to the 2 of clubs |
| Jack Is 0 Points | the jack of diamonds counts as 0 points, not -10 |
| No Passing | at the beginning of a hand, no cards are passed |
| (No Tricks) Bonus | if you haven't taken any tricks at the end of a hand, you get -5 points |
| Queen Doesn't Break Hearts | playing the queen of spades does not break hearts |
| Bleeding on the First Trick | players can play hearts or the queen of spades on the first trick |
| Exact Score Doesn't Win | if this is not checked, and you manage to hit 100 exactly, you are declared the winner |
| Shooting the Sun | if you manage to take every trick in a hand, you are awarded a bonus -24 points to your score. This makes the effective score total -60 for you after your moonshoot and jack of diamonds. |
| Game To | Select how long or short you want your game to be. |
Q: How do I play with other people?
A: To start a game with friends, select Network->Host Game->Host TCP/IP
Game. Then tell your friend your IP address, under Network->Host Game->Show
IP Address. Have your friend select Network->Join TCP/IP Game, enter the
IP address, and press OK. If you are behind a firewall, Hearts runs its
server on port 7895.
Q: How do I play on the internet?
A: Select Network->Connect To Tracker. This will bring you to the game
lobby. To start a new game, click on the Host button in the lower left.
To join a game currently running, click on the game from the list on the
left. If you are able to join, the Join button becomes enabled. Click Join.
If it gives you an error joining, the host is probably behind a firewall,
or has stopped the server just before you tried to join it. You may also
see the rules by clicking on Info to find out if you want to join that
particular game.
Q: Miscellaneous
A: When you are connected to the Game Lobby window, you must keep that
window open for your information to remain available to anybody logged
in. When you are hosting a game, you can kick out players that aren't responding
by choosing the menu option Network->Host Game->Kick Player X. During a
multiplayer game, names hilited in red are human players, names hilited
in black are computer players. Names that are hilited the system color
means that it is their turn to play/pass, etc. If you are connected to
a server, you can find out the current rules by selecting Game->Rules.
This will not affect your personal rule preferences. Toggling the console
window, Window->Toggle Console displays a log of chat messages during the
game, and allows you to chat with other players. Also note, messages sent
to the Game Lobby window will not be sent to the main game window, and
vice versa.
Q: How do I...
A: dskelly@kagi.com