Family game night is always a fun way to spend time together, but sometimes it can be hard to pick out a game that everyone will enjoy. If you’re looking for a game that’s easy to learn and fun for all ages, Hearts might be a perfect choice. Here are some tips to help you win at Hearts next family game night!
Know the game rules
Hearts is a trick-taking card game that’s pretty straightforward. On each hand, everyone gets 13 cards and tries to get as few points as possible by avoiding hearts and the queen of spades. The player with the highest value in hearts starts each hand. The objective is to not run out of cards as the hand progresses.
The player with the ace of spades begins by leading any card, which sets the lead suit for that hand. The rest of the players must play a card in that same suit if they have one or else they must pick up an extra penalty card (if you can’t follow suit). For example, if the lead is diamonds and you don’t have a diamond but you have a heart, your only option is to play a heart or else pick up 2 penalty cards. If you don’t have anything in the lead suit and you have nothing to follow it with, you must pick up 3 penalty cards!
Once all players have played their card, whoever played the highest card in the leading suit takes the trick and leads the next trick. He or she may lead with a heart if they have nothing else in that suit.
Choose a strategy
There are a few different strategies you can use when playing Hearts that could help you win. One is to try and get rid of as many penalty cards as possible by avoiding hearts and the queen of spades (and maybe even tricks with low-value cards like 2s, 3s, and 4s). Another strategy is to get rid of hearts and the queen of spades by dumping them on other players. And yet another strategy is to keep track of how many penalty cards each player has at all times so you can avoid ending up with a lot if you have a good hand.
Play often
The more you play, the better you’ll get! Practice makes perfect, so be sure to play often. And if you’re struggling to beat the game, try playing without keeping score. It’s still fun even if no one wins. A good tip for practicing any card game is playing online, so by playing Hearts online you can practice on the go and perfect your skills for family game night!
Pay attention
It’s easy to lose track of cards when playing Hearts. For example, if you have a trick with hearts and another player has the queen of spades, there’s a chance that they could lead the next trick with the queen so nobody else plays anything on your heart-filled trick. So be sure to pay attention to what cards are played so you don’t lose track of anything important.
Have fun!
Playing Hearts can be a fun way to spend an evening with family and friends. But to make the game more enjoyable – and increase your chances of winning – it’s important to know the game rules, choose a strategy, and play often. By paying attention, you’ll also be able to avoid costly mistakes. Above all, make sure everyone has fun while playing Hearts!