Is Hearts skill or luck?
Hearts is both. The deal and the pass create luck and variance in the short term, but over many games, strong decision-making consistently improves outcomes. If you want to test your skill, play Hearts online and track your results.
Skill vs luck (table)
| Factor | Skill or luck? | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| The deal | Luck | Starting hands can be strong or awkward |
| Passing 3 cards | Skill | Good passes reduce risk or enable a plan |
| Trick decisions | Skill | Timing ducks/wins controls who takes penalties |
| Moon swings | Both | Attempts require skill; success also depends on layout |
Why Hearts can feel random
- You only see one hand at a time; a few bad deals can spike points quickly.
- The Queen of Spades is a 13-point “event card” that creates big swings.
- Shooting the moon changes scores by 26 points, so a single hand can flip standings.
What skilled Hearts players do consistently
- Plan the pass: manage risk around Q♠ and high hearts.
- Track suits: know who is void and when a dump is likely.
- Control tricks: avoid winning penalty tricks and force others into them.
If you want a measurable way to think about skill, see Hearts win rate percentage.
Related Hearts FAQ pages
Need a quick definition? See the Hearts glossary.
- How long does a Hearts game take?
- Can you play Hearts with 2 or 3 players?
- Win rate and percentages explained
- Passing directions cycle
- Queen of Spades points
- Shooting the moon
- Hearts scoring rules
- Breaking hearts rule
- Who leads first trick?
- Is Hearts a free game?
- Play online without downloading
- How many cards are in Hearts?
Put it to the test: Play Hearts Online.