Hearts Strategy: How to Keep Your Score Low
In Hearts, the lowest score wins, and most points come from just one card. Here's how to stay out of trouble.
Passing three cards
- Pass the Q♠ unless you have four or more lower spades to protect her. Also pass the A♠ and K♠ if your spades are short: they tend to catch the queen.
- Don't pass low spades. They protect you when spades are led.
- Make a void: passing all your clubs or diamonds (if you have three or fewer) means you can throw away bad cards when that suit is led.
- Pass high hearts like the A♥ and K♥.
The Queen of Spades
- If you hold her with few spades, try to make a void in another suit so you can throw her on someone else's trick.
- If you don't hold her, lead low spades to flush her out ("smoking out the queen") as long as you don't hold the A♠ or K♠.
- Never lead the A♠ or K♠ while the queen is still out.
Leading and following
- Lead low cards of short suits; you'll be void sooner.
- When following, play the highest card that still loses the trick.
- Early in a suit (first round of clubs or diamonds), it's often safe to get rid of high cards, because nobody is void yet and there are rarely points.
Watching for the moon
If one player is collecting every heart, take just one heart trick yourself to stop them. Giving yourself a few points is better than giving everyone else 26.
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FAQ
Should I always pass the Queen of Spades?
Usually, unless you hold four or more lower spades. With good protection she can be safer in your hand.
What is the best card to lead in Hearts?
A low card from a short suit, so you lose the trick and become void sooner.