Hearts in There  

For your reference, our rules for Hearts tables are located here:
http://webapps.prod.there.com/sg/rules/there_hearts.html

Object: Players don't want to have cards with hearts or the Queen of Spades, but they do want the Jack of Diamonds, at the end of the game

The cards: Standard 52 card deck, each player is dealt the same amount of cards. In each suit the cards are also ranked from the Ace (the highest value) on down, with 2 being the lowest

How it’s dealt:

Our tables have four seats and all 4 places will be dealt cards, all cards are passed out.   The table host is the dealer, and starts the game by clicking Deal on the game display. All cards are dealt, giving each player 13 cards.

After the cards have been dealt, each player looks at their cards and then chooses three cards to pass to an opponent prior to receiving any cards from opponents. Cards are passed to the right at the first deal, to the left with the second, and across with the third. At the fourth deal, players keep their own cards.

When starting a new game or sitting at the table for the first time, you will be asked how many total points you want to play for: 50, 75, or 100. Once a player has that many points, they lose and the game is over, the winner is the person with the least points.   This allows you to control the length of time it will take to play one game.  50 points= about an hour.

How to play the game:

The player with the 2 of clubs plays first and must lay down the 2 of clubs. Each player after the lead must follow suit if he can. If the player can't, the player may play any card he or she wants aside from a heart of any kind (as this is the first round).   Playing Hearts in There, our game interface will recognize who has the 2 of clubs and will not let anyone else start the game, nor will it let you throw any other card. It will only let you throw a 2 of clubs to start game play.  Play will continue clockwise.

A player wins a trick when he or she plays the highest card of the suit that is led. The winner of the trick leads the next.

Again, each player after the lead must follow suit if he can. If the player can't, the player may play any card he or she wants.

A player can't lead with a heart until a heart has been played in the game (broken). Hearts are broken when a player lacks a card in the suit that has been led, so he or she throws down a heart instead. Hearts can't be broken on the first trick.

Playing continues until all cards have been played

Scoring:

As the cards are played, tricks are counted. Each heart card a player has results in a point. The player who ends up with the Queen of Spades gets 13 points

When one player reaches 50 all points are tallied and the player with the least amount of points wins.

In There, Scoring is continual throughout the game; our Game interface will add them as you go.  However, once you finish a game and you have picked up all the hearts and the queen of spades, it will ask you what you want to do.

 When Shooting the Moon you are rewarded with an option to either deduct 26 points from your own score or have 26 points added to all other players' scores. You will be presented with a system message asking if you would like to "Add" or "Deduct". After answering this, the scores will be updated to reflect your choice and you will lead the next deal.

Strategies:

- Although strategies can vary here are some basics to think about:

- When the round first starts and you are given the chance to pass card to another player most players will choose to get rid of their highest cards.

- If you have very few cards in a suit at the beginning of a round trade all of those cards. This way, later on, when that suit is led you can get rid of cards you don't want, like hearts.

- Try to remember which players have taken points so that no one will be able to shoot the moon

- Shooting the Moon will give all of your opponents 26 points or subtract 26 from your score (depending on the rules set at the start of the game).

- It's a good idea to pass the Queen of Spades, since only one spade protects it in this hand. Also, pass the K, which is likely to take a trick with several hearts, and the singleton A so you can discard high cards or hearts when diamonds are led.

How to Shoot the Moon when playing Hearts!

The card game of hearts is unusual in that the winner is the individual who accumulates the fewest number of points! Point cards are the queen of spades (13) and any heart (1 point each). However, if a player can capture every point card, they will in fact collect no points, while giving 26 points to every other player--this is called "shooting the moon".

-          Practice playing

-          Wait for the right hand.  A good hand will be one with many high cards (especially hearts), or those that include mot of a suit with many high cards).

-          Take into account how the person passing to you- if they routinely cover their pass, don’t throw away all your low cards or you’ll be stranded with a 22 pt hand.

-          Always be on the lookout for the stoppers.  If you have all the diamonds except the ace, its fall promotes your king to be the highest diamond. If it’s still out there, you won’t make the shot.

-          When passing cards, try to get rid of your lowest cards in your least abundant suits, but depending on the strength of your current hand, be prepared.

-          Taking 4 hearts is nothing compared to allowing a shot, don’t expect opponents to duck every round of hearts.

-           When playing against people who know what they are doing, keep a couple out cards (like 2 or 3 of some suit) in case a heart falls early, or your opponent covers. 

-          Even good players will occasionally receive desperate hands that they can’t cover with. If you are dealt a strong hand that can shoot or duck with only 1,2 or 3 hearts, try passing them all (having a long suit with both high and low cards). If the incoming pass is covered you haven’t lost much.  If hearts are broken on you, you can quickly void your heart suit.  If your opponents didn’t take it, teach them a lesson by shooting.

-          Don’t make it obvious. A 3 of clubs on the first round is an automatic red alert; either that person is shooting or he just voided his club suit.  Still, it is hard to shoot with low cards, so a balance should be found. If you have a straight, play the highest card early- when others generally play high, and the lowest cards later on, when others generally duck, when you choose to play from the straight, it looks less suspicious that way.

-          Wait until you are in command of a suit (having at least 6 of that suit).  If this happens, pass low cards from other suits, and then keep playing that suit.  Hearts or spades are good suits to command.  This can work when you have a few low cards from off suits.  When you initiate your shoot, people will usually keep their highest hearts in the process of the cards that would beat your random low cards. They can also be used as ‘out’ cards if your opponent is clinging to stoppers.

-          Holding the queen of spades is good during a shoot, because if you can’t make it, you can shake the lead onto someone else with an out card and then queen them!  You might take a bunch of hearts, but you won’t take the queen.

-          Passing 3 hearts or low spades to someone is a clear indication that you are shooting.  The only reason to ever pass low spades is to shoot.  Watch that person, for you have revealed your intentions, a smart opponent will actively heart drop someone else to stop the shot, or keep his higher cards if unable to do so.

-          It will work to your advantage to "count" the hearts being played (there are 13). A common strategy of opponents when you are playing a run of hearts is to play progressively lower hearts, but save the highest heart they hold for the last trick. Anticipating this can mean the difference between shooting the moon and gaining 25 points. Note: experienced players will never fall for this and will gobble a few points to stop the shot. This can be exploited by voiding your heart suit in the process. If you have the ace and 2 of hearts, play the ace first, then the 2. Then you're free to dump on subsequent heart leads

-          A "perfect" game of hearts involves shooting the moon four times in a row, giving yourself 0 points and your opponents 104. Though exceedingly difficult, this is possible, and is a worthy goal if you have enough free time. Note: this only happens through sheer luck or outrageously stupid play by your opponents. Focus on the more important aspects of the game, like queen dropping the low man, card counting, and anticipating and manipulating your opponents' plays

-          Understand that among experienced players the shot reaches the moon once in a blue moon. About every third hand has shooting potential, but that percentage falls drastically when accounting for the covered pass. Don't bank on it (unless you hold A-J of hearts), make contingencies, and remember: it’s all for fun!