Online Hearts Play

Hearts FAQ Hub

Browse our Hearts FAQ articles. Each page answers one topic in depth and links to related Hearts questions. If you’re new to trick-taking terms, start with the Hearts glossary. For gameplay, return to Hearts online.

Top Hearts questions

Topic What you’ll learn
How long does a Hearts game take? Typical minutes per hand and per full game (great for phone play).
Is Hearts skill or luck? What’s random, what’s skillful, and how to think long-term.
Can you play Hearts with 2 or 3 players? How variants work and what the standard 4-player game uses.
How many cards are in Hearts? Deck size, hand size, and why it’s 13 cards per player.
Is Hearts a free game? What “free” means online, and what you should watch for.
What is Hearts online win rate/percentage? How to think about win rate, skill impact, and variance.
How do you play online Hearts for free without downloading? Browser play, no installs, and what “no download” actually means.
Hearts scoring rules Points, totals, and how “shoot the moon” changes scoring.
How many points is the Queen of Spades? The “Black Lady” penalty and how to avoid taking it.
How do you break Hearts? When hearts can be led and what counts as breaking.
Hearts passing directions Left/right/across/no-pass cycle and how to plan your pass.
What is shooting the moon in Hearts? The 26-point sweep, when to attempt it, and how to defend.
Who leads the first trick in Hearts? Why the 2♣ usually leads and what happens next.