Multiplayer Mode in the Hearts Game
The Hearts game is a popular traditional card game that became available online, allowing players from different locations to compete.
Besides being free, Hearts is appealing because of its simplicity, strategic challenge, and ability to encourage social interaction. The classic game requires four players but may be adapted for 2 to 6 players.
This article will explore how rules are modified based on the number of players.
Solo Card Games: Fun Ways to Play on Your Own
Hearts can be enjoyed solo, but you’ll play against three computer bots. However, if this is not your thing, enjoy other card games like Free Cell, Minesweeper, and Solitaire instead.
Hearts for Two: Special Rules and Adjustments
Two Hearts players can experience the classic game. The goal remains the same: to score the lowest at the end of the game, but a few rules must be adjusted.
Card Dealing
A two-player Hearts game needs only 28 cards, removing all Kings, Jacks, 9s, 7s, 5s, and 3s. The removed cards will form a dead pile. Put the top card of the deck on the dead card file. Deal the cards so each player gets 13 cards. Place the remaining card on the side, joining the dead card pile.
Adjusting the Mechanics
The game starts similarly to classic Hearts, with the Two of Clubs as the lead card or if it goes to the dead pile card, start with the Four of Clubs. The game is played as usual, except players do not pass cards.
How to Adapt Hearts for a 3-Player Game
This is a less-known game version, but Hearts players will find it equally exciting. The Two of Diamonds is removed from the deck, leaving the players with 51 cards, giving each player 17 cards.
The “pass opposite” round is changed to “pass right” or “pass left” because one player has no opponent occupying the opposite side. A good strategy for this version is to pay attention to the cards the other players discard to understand how they play the game.
The Traditional 4-Player Hearts Setup and Gameplay
The game’s objective is to score the lowest when the game ends — when a player reaches 100 points. Each player gets 13 cards, then passing three cards to others in the following order: left, right, across, no passing. This order is maintained until the game is over.
Whoever has the Two of Clubs leads the 1st trick. Each player must follow the lead’s suit. If it’s impossible, they may play any card, except a Heart card or Queen of Spades, during this trick. The player with the highest card of the lead suit wins the round and is to lead the next one.
Strategies
- Attempt to pass the Queen of Spades and other high-value cards to the other players.
- Hold on to the low-value cards.
- Avoid taking a Heart, but attempt to force one player to take the highest Heart.
Why This Version Is Preferred
This version is more competitive and challenging to plan and adapt their strategy based on how the opponents play their cards. It stimulates a player’s thinking when they attempt to “shoot the moon” — getting all penalty cards to get a score of zero.
Five-Player Hearts: Game Setup and Scoring
This version needs only 50 cards, so each player gets 10 cards. Remove the Two of Clubs and Two of Diamonds.
Passing of Cards
Only two cards will be passed around: to the left in the first round, to the right in the second round, and no passing in the third round. The change in the passing rotation makes the game more challenging because the outcome of the player’s game strategy becomes more unpredictable.
The opening trick begins with the Three of Clubs instead. The next players must follow suit unless the player has no Clubs card.
The rest of the rules and the scoring remain similar to the Classic game.
Hearts with 6 Players: Tips for a Smooth Game
Players will have only eight cards each, with the Three and Four of Clubs and the Two and Three of Diamonds removed from the deck.
Card passing is similar to a 5-player game: to the left, to the right, and no passing. Observe all the other rules and scoring followed by the classic game.
The more players there are, the more challenging the game becomes. Aside from playing with fewer cards, there are more strategies to observe and study.
Pick Your Favorite Hearts Format!
Whether you want to play with your friends or alone, Hearts offers formats for different scenarios. The four-player format is a standard one, but you can play Solo to kill time or master your skills before the big game with real opponents!
