How to play Hearts: strategy for a low score

In Hearts, the best player takes the fewest points. Most of that comes down to three skills: passing well, ducking, and knowing when the moon is in play.

The rules

Four players get 13 cards each. Before each round, pass three cards (left, right, across, then none). The 2 of clubs leads. Follow suit if you can; the highest card of the suit led wins the trick. Each heart taken scores 1 point and the Queen of spades scores 13. Hearts can’t be led until broken. Take all 26 points in one round to shoot the moon and give everyone else 26 instead. When someone reaches 100, the lowest score wins.

Pass the danger

• The Queen of spades, unless you hold several other spades to protect her.
• The Ace and King of spades, which can be forced to win the Queen.
• High hearts, which tend to win tricks full of points.

Create a void

If you have only two or three clubs or diamonds, passing them all leaves you void. When that suit is led, you can throw away the Queen or high hearts.

Duck

When following suit, play the highest card that still loses to the card winning the trick. You get rid of a dangerous high card without taking points.

Shooting the moon

With lots of high hearts and the Queen of spades, you might try to take everything. It’s risky: if anyone takes even one heart, you’re stuck with the rest. Watch other players too, and if one is taking every heart, take one yourself to stop them.