Can you play Hearts with 2 or 3 players?
The classic version of Hearts is designed for 4 players with a standard 52-card deck. You can play 2- or 3-player variants, but they typically require modified dealing rules. On this site, the standard experience is a 4-player game versus AI. To start, play Hearts online.
Player count overview (table)
| Players | Is it “standard”? | What changes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | Yes | 52 cards deal evenly (13 each); 13 tricks |
| 3 | Variant | Usually remove cards so the deal is even; rules vary |
| 2 | Variant | Often uses a dummy hand or a special deal format |
Why 4 players is the default
With 4 players, 52 cards divides perfectly into 13-card hands. That’s why standard Hearts naturally becomes 13 tricks per hand. See how many cards are in Hearts.
If you’re looking for a quick “2-player” experience
A practical substitute is playing the normal 4-player rules against AI (you + 3 AI). It keeps the real scoring, passing cycle, and strategy intact.
Related Hearts FAQ pages
Need a quick definition? See the Hearts glossary.
- How long does a Hearts game take?
- Is Hearts skill or luck?
- How many cards are in Hearts?
- Who leads first trick (2♣)?
- Passing directions
- Hearts scoring rules
- Queen of Spades points
- Breaking hearts rule
- Shooting the moon
- Is Hearts free?
- Play without downloading
- Win rate percentage explained
Back to the main table: Hearts.