LivingRoom Hearts

How to play

Avoid the hearts. Avoid the queen. Or take the lot. The same rules are in the app, under Rules on the home screen.

1. The game

   Four players, no partners, a standard fifty-two card deck. When somebody reaches 100, the lowest score wins — a tie at the bottom is shared.

2. Passing

   Before every hand but the fourth, everyone picks three cards and they cross the table at once: left, then right, then across. Nobody sees a thing until all four have chosen.

3. The first trick

   The two of clubs leads, always, and nothing that scores may be thrown on it unless that is all you hold.

4. Following suit

   Follow the suit led if you can. If you cannot, anything goes. There is no trump: the highest card of the suit led takes the trick.

5. Breaking hearts

   A heart cannot be led until a heart has been played, unless hearts are all the leader has left.

6. What it costs

   Each heart is one and the queen of spades is thirteen: twenty-six a hand.

7. The moon

   Take all twenty-six and you score nothing while the other three take twenty-six each.