How to Play Hearts With 2 Players: Rules and a Two-Player Version

Hearts is a trick-taking card game where you try to avoid taking points. It is designed for four players, and there is no single official two-player version. But the game adapts well, and the version below is a simple one that works with a standard deck. First you will see how normal Hearts works, then how to adapt it for two.

How normal Hearts works (four players)

• Deck: 52 cards, ranked from ace (high) down to 2.
• Deal: 13 cards each.
• Goal: finish with the fewest points.
• Penalty cards: every heart is worth 1 point and the queen of spades is worth 13 points. That is 26 points in total in each hand.
• Passing: before play, each player passes three cards to another player.
• Tricks: play goes clockwise. The player holding the 2 of clubs leads. Each player must follow suit if they can. The highest card of the suit led wins the trick and the winner leads the next one.
• Hearts are broken: you may not lead a heart until a heart has been played in an earlier trick (or you hold only hearts).
• Shooting the moon: if one player takes all the hearts and the queen of spades, they score 0 and everyone else gets 26. (Some groups instead subtract 26 from the shooter's own score.)
• Game end: play until someone reaches 100 points. The lowest score wins.

Adapting Hearts for two players

Because the real game depends on four hands, the options below are house rules, not official ones. Agree on one before you start.

Option A: 13 cards each, 13 tricks

1. Deal 13 cards to each player. Put the other 26 cards aside face down without looking. They are not used this hand.
2. No passing.
3. The non-dealer leads any card except a heart (until hearts are broken).
4. Play 13 tricks. You must follow suit if you can. The higher card of the suit led wins and leads the next trick.
5. Score 1 point per heart and 13 points for the queen of spades that you take in tricks. The two players' scores will not always add up to 26 here, because some penalty cards are in the unused pile. That unknown is part of the game.
6. Play to a lower target such as 50 points. The lowest score wins.

Option B: Draw from the stock

1. Deal 13 cards to each player. Put the remaining 26 cards face down as a stock.
2. After each trick, the winner draws the top card of the stock first, then the loser draws one. This keeps both hands at 13 cards until the stock runs out.
3. Play continues until all cards are played. All 26 penalty points are in play.
4. Use the same scoring as above, and a target of 50 points.

Option B is a better test of skill, because all the penalty cards can show up. Option A is quicker.

Tips for two-player Hearts

1. Dump high cards early. The ace, king and queen of spades are dangerous if the queen of spades is still out. A high spade can be forced to take the queen.
2. Get rid of the queen of spades. If you hold it, discard it on a trick your opponent wins. If you do not hold it, lead low spades to flush it out.
3. Lead low cards. A low card is unlikely to win a trick, and in Hearts, winning tricks is often bad.
4. Keep a low heart for later. A low heart lets you avoid winning a late trick full of hearts.
5. Watch for a moon shot. If your opponent has taken lots of hearts and the queen, they may be going for all of them. Take one heart yourself to stop them.
6. Void a suit when you can. Having no cards in a suit means you can discard a dangerous card when that suit is led.

Other games for two with hearts-style rules

If you like avoiding points, two-player trick-taking games designed for the purpose, such as Piquet, Bezique and Pinochle, are worth trying.

Where to go next

If you want a card game that is built for two, read our guide to 2 player card games. For other trick-taking rules, see how to play spades with 2 players. Or try something more familiar like how to play rummy with 2 players. You can find free card and board games in the Board and Card category.

Hearts is a traditional game with no owner. Computer versions sold under the name Hearts may be trademarks of their publishers. This page is an independent guide and is not affiliated with any publisher.