Dirty Hearts Card Game Rules

The Dirty Hearts card game is a popular trick-taking game that has been entertaining players for generations. The objective of the game is to be the player with the fewest amount of points at the end of the game, which can be achieved by avoiding having to take tricks containing any of the 13 Hearts or the Queen of Spades.

How to Play

The game begins with each player receiving thirteen cards from a standard 52-card deck. The player holding the two of clubs goes first and must lead with said card. Each player then plays one card each, going clockwise. Passing is not optional; players must pass exactly three cards when instructed.

During the second round, you pass your cards to the opponent on your right, while during the third round, you pass them to the opponent opposite you. During the fourth round, you do not pass any cards at all.

In addition to passing, each player has a chance to ditch three cards they do not like by passing them to their opponents. This opportunity arises at the beginning of each round, with the first round seeing players pass cards to their left-hand opponent.

Scoring

For each Heart you take during the round, you gain one point. At the end of each round, each player counts up their penalty cards and adds it to their score. Some variations place restrictions on leading with hearts before they have been broken, but in this standard four-player game, any player may lead with hearts for the remainder of the round after hearts have been broken.

When leading a trick, you cannot lead with a Heart until Hearts have been broken, i.e., someone has played a Heart previously in that round due to being unable to follow suit. When all four players have played a card, the person who put out the highest-ranked card of the lead suit takes the trick and then leads the next one.

Following Suit

If you cannot follow suit, you may play any card you have. If another player has a card in the same suit as the first card, they must play that card. Players must always follow suit if they are able to do so.

Objective

The objective of Hearts is to be the player with the fewest points at the end of the game by avoiding tricks containing any of the 13 Hearts or the Queen of Spades. By following these simple rules, you can enjoy a fun and challenging game of Dirty Hearts with your friends and family.

Variations

While this page describes the standard four-player game of Hearts under the Black Lady variation, multiple other variations exist. Some players may choose to play with additional rules or restrictions, so feel free to experiment and find the version that suits you best.

Dirty hearts card game rules