Free Card Games: How to Play Hearts Like a Pro

Hearts is a popular trick-taking card game that can be played with 3-7 players, although four is the standard number. To play hearts, you'll need a standard deck of 52 cards without jokers and some scratch paper for scoring. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to play this free card game.

Objective

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The objective of the game is not to win tricks, but rather to avoid taking tricks by playing the lowest-ranking card during each trick. The player who wins the trick leads the next one, and so on until all players have no more cards in their hands.

How to Play

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Here's how to play hearts:

1. Dealing: Deal the cards equally among the players in a circle. If there are leftover cards at the end of dealing, remove them from the game without looking at them and shuffle them back into the deck.

2. Leading the Trick: The player to the left of the dealer leads the first trick. Players must play a card from their hand that matches the suit of the leading card if they have it. If not, they can play any card.

3. Winning the Trick: The highest-ranking card that matches the suit of the leading card wins the trick. The player who played that card takes all the cards in the trick and keeps them face down in a pile in front of him or herself until the end of the hand.

Tips and Tricks

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Here are some tips to help you improve your chances of winning at hearts:

* Avoid Taking Tricks: Try not to play the highest-ranking card during each trick. This will increase your chances of avoiding taking tricks.

* Pay Attention: Pay attention to the cards that have been played to get an idea of what's left in the deck.

Variations

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While four is the standard number of players for hearts, it can be played with 3-7 players. The dealer changes at the start of each hand, and the first dealer is either pre-determined or selected via a random draw.

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Hearts is a fun and easy-to-play card game that's perfect for free time with friends. With these simple rules and tips, you'll be playing like a pro in no time. So grab a standard deck of cards, gather some friends, and start playing hearts today!

Free card games hearts