Ah, Hearts.

I’m sure we’ve all encountered this rather popular card game before. Although experiences like blackjack, poker, and even solitaire are more mainstream, you’ve likely played it before. After all, its popularity reached all-time highs in the late 90s and early 00s due to being a built-in game on Microsoft Windows. We’re not sure if it’s still around, but thankfully, Hearts Card Game sites are accessible, enabling you to dive into the best of what it has to offer.

Hearts’ History: When did our love affair start?

Like all romance stories, our love affair with Hearts had obscure origins. However, it is surmised that it originated in the mid-18th century with Reversis, a popular card game in Spain.

In its current form, Hearts blossomed in the United States in the 1880s, with publications suggesting it had been around for over five years and originated in Germany. We could safely assume it was brought over to America by European immigrants, spreading the game across North America. In a way, it mirrors the spread of other card games and other popular experiences that become widespread throughout the continent.

Hearts, like the game of love, has rules

Though they say all is fair in love and war, Hearts has rules.

Players start with the standard deck of 52 cards, though Jokers have to be removed if they are present. Like most games, cards are ranked; in Hearts, 2s are ranked lowest, while Ace is the highest. Cards are distributed equally, with all four players having 13 cards each. Players will then pass three cards to their opponents (usually clockwise), and afterward, the exciting parts start.

Every round of Hearts starts with the player holding the 2 of Clubs playing it first. All players will then subsequently play cards of the same suit, but if they can’t, they can play any others of a different suit. The player who plays the highest-ranking card wins the trick (where you play your hand) and will start the next trick. In certain circumstances, rules are adjusted according to the number of players, like in the case of three players, 2 of Clubs is removed, while if you have five players, 2 of Spades and 2 of Diamonds are out of the equation.

To score and win, players must avoid taking Hearts cards and, most importantly, the Queen of Spades. Each Heart card is worth one penalty point, while the Queen of Spades has 13. At the end of every hand, players will count their penalty points, and the character with the lowest will win the round. Usually, games have several rounds, and the player with the lowest penalty points usually wins.

Seems complicated, right? Well, we do admit it has a bit of a learning curve; diving into digital Hearts games online will give you a hands-on experience.

Hearts and its many variants

Hearts has many variants, each with differing rules and ways to play and win. These include Auction Hearts, Black Jack, Black Maria, and the French variant Chasse Couer. Moreover, there’s even a Greek variant called Greek Hearts, where the Queen of Spades scores a massive 50 penalty points.

Regardless of the Hearts game you play - may it be the original or one of the less well-known variants, you’re guaranteed a good time.

Hearts in the digital age

Although experiences like solitaire, blackjack, and poker dominate the industry, Hearts played a prominent role in Microsoft desktops in the 90s and early 2000s, contributing to its popular status.

I played the game as a kid, randomly selecting cards and celebrating when the card animation went my way, only to find out that at the end of every game, I finished last. I spent dozens of hours playing it without actually playing the rules. Nostalgia aside, surely this was the case for many players; those who played it probably didn’t know what they were doing but relished the experience of picking and playing the cards.

With games becoming more accessible today thanks to browser games and mobile phones, Hearts is gradually making a comeback, and best of all, you can play this beloved classic online. In the future, it will surely become more mainstream, and, who knows, you could end up playing it with friends and random players globally!