How to play Hearts
- Start a new game and you'll be dealt 13 cards with three computer players around you. Click any card in your hand to play your turn, and watch the computer players respond automatically.
- The goal is to win each round by avoiding hearts and the Queen of Spades, which carry penalties. The player with the lowest score after the entire game wins.
- At any time, click Settings to change opponent names and difficulty levels (1 is easiest, 4 is hardest), then click Apply to start a fresh game with your choices.
Common questions
How do I play Hearts?
You and three opponents are dealt 13 cards each. Take turns playing one card at a time. You must follow the suit led if you can, but if you don't have that suit, you may play any card. Avoid taking hearts (worth 1 point each) and the Queen of Spades (worth 13 points). Lowest score wins.
Can I change the difficulty?
Yes. Click the Settings button at the top, and you'll see difficulty levels 1-4 for each opponent. Level 1 uses simple strategy, while levels 2-4 use more advanced AI that thinks several moves ahead. Choose your level and click Apply.
About this version
This is a self-hosted, open-source version of Hearts (source), used under its BSD-2-Clause licence and hosted here so it loads fast and shows no third-party adverts inside the game. Browse all of our free games.