In standard 4-player Hearts, the game uses a 52-card deck with 13 cards per player. That is why each hand lasts 13 tricks.
How many cards are in Hearts?
At a glance
| Deck size | 52 cards, no jokers |
|---|---|
| Players | 4 in the standard game |
| Cards per player | 13 |
| Tricks per hand | 13 |
Why 13 cards each?
Hearts is a 4-player trick-taking game. Because 52 divided by 4 equals 13, everyone gets the same hand size and the full deck is used with no leftovers.
Do variants use different deck sizes?
Yes. Three-player and larger-table variants often remove cards or add jokers to keep deals even. But if you are playing the common online version, assume the classic 52-card format.
Ready to practice with the standard rules? Play Hearts online.
Related Hearts FAQ pages
Need a quick definition first? See the Hearts glossary.
- Can you play Hearts with 2 or 3 players?
- How long does a Hearts game take?
- Hearts scoring rules
- Who leads the first trick in Hearts?
- Hearts passing directions
- How do you play online Hearts for free without downloading?
Back to the table: Play Hearts Online.