Who Leads the First Trick in Hearts? (2 of Clubs Rule)

In the common modern ruleset, the player holding the 2 of Clubs must lead it to open the first trick.

Opening-trick rules

Rule	Typical implementation
Lead card	The 2 of Clubs opens the hand.
Following suit	Players must follow Clubs if they can.
Penalty cards	Often restricted on the first trick unless no safe card exists.

It makes the opening deterministic, removes arguments about who starts, and keeps the hand from beginning with an arbitrary penalty dump.

The first trick is tightly linked to breaking hearts and to the usual first-trick penalty restrictions.