- Can you lead hearts on the first trick?
- No. The first trick is always led with the two of clubs, and nobody may play a heart or the queen of spades on it. After that, hearts may be led only once one has been discarded on an earlier trick — unless you hold nothing but hearts.
- What is shooting the moon?
- Taking every heart and the queen of spades in one hand. Instead of scoring 26 yourself you score nothing, and every other player takes 26. It is the reason you cannot simply throw penalty cards at whoever is winning tricks without watching what they are collecting.
- How many points is the queen of spades worth?
- Thirteen — as much as all the hearts put together. Each heart is worth one.
- Which way do you pass cards in Hearts?
- Three cards, face down, and the direction turns every hand: to the left, to the right, across the table, and then a hand with no passing at all before it starts again.
- When does a game of Hearts end, and who wins?
- When a player reaches 100 points at the end of a hand. The player with the lowest score at that moment wins.
- When can you get rid of the queen of spades?
- On any trick after the first where you cannot follow the suit that was led, or on a spade lead where it will not win. Spades may be led at any time, which is how players holding the ace or king of spades get chased into taking her.
- Can Hearts be played with three, five or six players?
- Yes. Four is the classic game, and with other numbers the deck is trimmed so it deals out evenly — usually by taking out low clubs or diamonds.