How to keep score in Hearts

In Hearts, points are bad. Each heart you take is 1 point and the queen of spades is 13, so every hand adds up to 26. When someone reaches 100, the lowest score wins.

At a glance

• Players: 3 to 6, best with 4

• Who wins: Lowest score when someone reaches 100

• Each hand: 26 points to share out

• Scored: After every hand

What each card is worth

Count the penalty cards in the tricks you took. Every other card is worth nothing.

Before you write the scores down, add them up. If they don't come to 26, someone has miscounted. The one exception is a moon shot, below.

Shooting the moon

Take every heart and the queen of spades in one hand and you shoot the moon. Instead of 26 points for you, everyone else scores 26 and you score 0.

Some tables let the shooter choose: take 26 off their own score instead. That's useful near the end, when giving everyone 26 would push someone past 100 and end the game while the shooter is still behind.

When the game ends

Keep a running total for each player. When someone reaches or passes 100 at the end of a hand, the game is over and the player with the lowest total wins.

For a shorter game, play to 50. If two players tie for the lowest score, many tables play another hand to settle it.

House rules that change the score

• Jack of diamonds: whoever takes it takes 10 off their score. Each hand then adds up to 16 (26 minus 10).

• Passing: before each hand, pass three cards to the left, then right, then across, then keep them. Passing doesn't change the scoring.

• Hearts broken: you can't lead a heart until one has been played. It changes the play, not the points.

A scoring example

Four players, three hands. In the second hand Cleo took every heart and the queen of spades, so she shot the moon.

Hands 1 and 3 each add up to 26, and hand 2 is a moon shot. Cleo leads with 11, and the game goes on until someone reaches 100.

Keep score in Tallynight

Hearts is set up for you: rounds, lowest score wins, to 100. Type everyone's points for the hand on one keypad, and the table keeps the totals, who's in front and who deals next.

• Checks that every hand adds up to 26, and spots a moon shot

• Offers to end the game when someone reaches 100

• Tap any hand to fix a miscount

• Play to 50, or change any rule and keep it as a favourite

• Get Tallynight on the App Store: free, no ads.

• Print a Hearts score sheet if you'd rather keep score on paper.

Questions

How many points is the queen of spades in Hearts?

13 points, the same as all the hearts put together. Each heart is 1 point.

Do you want a high or low score in Hearts?

Low. Every point is a penalty, so the player with the lowest total wins when someone reaches 100.

What happens when you shoot the moon?

You score 0 for that hand and every other player scores 26. Some tables let you take 26 off your own score instead.

How many points do you play to in Hearts?

100 is the usual target, and the game ends when someone reaches or passes it. Play to 50 for a quicker game.

Why don't our scores add up to 26?

Someone has miscounted, or someone shot the moon. A normal hand always comes to 26: thirteen hearts at 1 point and the queen of spades at 13.

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