Hearts is the classic card game, usually played by four players, in which each player strives to take as few point cards as possible. Each heart is worth 1 point, and the queen of spades is worth 13 points. As an added wrinkle, if a player takes all 26 point cards, the other players are instead penalized: this is called “shooting the moon.”
In this version of the venerable game, you get to play against three challenging artificial intelligence opponents.
Rules
The object of the game is to have the fewest points when any of the players finally reaches 100 points. It will take multiple hands, each consisting of multiple tricks, before any player reaches 100 points.
At the start of each hand, each player is dealt 13 cards by the current dealer (the dealer changes after each hand, proceeding to the next player clockwise).
Players are awarded points by taking tricks containing hearts (each heart is worth 1 point) or the queen of spades (which is worth 13 points). The primary goal is thus usually to avoid taking such tricks (though there is an exception which will be discussed shortly). There are thus 26 points available in each hand.
A trick is awarded to the highest card in the trick that is of the same suit as the first card played in the trick. There is no trump. So, for example, if the trick consists of a 2 of diamonds, a 5 of diamonds, an ace of diamonds, and a 4 of hearts, the player who played the ace of diamonds (ace is the high card) takes the trick, and takes 1 point for the 4 of hearts.
An exception to the scoring occurs when one player takes all of the points of the hand. This is called “shooting the moon.” When a player shoots the moon. he or she takes NO points, but each of the other players takes 26 points.
By default, the first trick in a hand is started by whichever player has the 2 of clubs, and the player must lead this card. Note that in a free update of this game currently awaiting approval by Apple, you have the option to instead start the hand with the player to the dealer’s left.
In each trick, each player must “follow suit.” That is, he or she must play a card that is the same suit as the first card in the trick. If the player has no such card, then the player may play any other card.
A player may not start a trick with a heart unless “hearts have been broken” (or unless the player has no cards except for hearts). “Breaking” hearts means that a heart has already been thrown in the current hand. In a free update of this game, you have the option of allowing play of the queen of spades to “break” hearts.
Finally, at the start of each hand, you may have to pass three cards to a neighbor. In the first hand you must pass three cards to your left. In the second hand you must pass three cards to your right. And in the third hand you pass three cards across. You pass no cards in the fourth hand. This pattern then repeats if there are more than four hands in the game.
Game Play
You play the game by dragging cards into the center of the table to play them, or into your opponents’ hands to pass them. You must tap the board after each trick; this allows you time to see what was played and who won the trick.
The “pad” in the lower right-hand corner displays the scorecard. You can “turn the page” (lower right hand corner) to see statistical information about past games.
The “remote” in the lower left-hand corner (coming in the version not yet approved by Apple) permits you to see and change settings and rule options.
The pretzels are just pretzels.
You may tap anywhere in your hand to cause the cards to spread apart. This makes selecting a card for play much easier.