#Hearts card game rules with queeens plus#

A similar game called 'Four Jacks' centred around avoiding any trick containing a Jack, which were worth one penalty point, and J ♠ worth two.

#Hearts card game rules with queeens plus#

In this game, a penalty point was awarded for each trick won, plus additional points for taking J ♥ or Q ♥ in tricks. The game of Hearts probably originated with Reversis, which became popular around 1750 in Spain. The original game of Hearts is still current but has been overtaken in popularity by Black Lady in the United States and Black Maria in Great Britain. The game is a member of the Whist group of trick-taking games (which also includes Bridge and Spades), but is unusual among Whist variants in that it is a trick-avoidance game players avoid winning certain penalty cards in tricks, usually by avoiding winning tricks altogether. It was first recorded in America in the 1880s and has many variants, some of which are also referred to as 'Hearts', especially the games of Black Lady and Black Maria. Hearts is an 'evasion-type' trick-taking playing card game for four players, although most variations can accommodate between three and six players. Notes: Hearts, while not trump, award one penalty point each, hence the game's name. If we are playing last and we can take the trick then we play our lowest card that can take the trick.52-card (51 or 54 for 3 or 6 players, 50 for 5) If we do have play options that could beat what is currently in the trick pile, then we play our highest winning card unless we are playing the last trick card. If we don't have a play that can beat what is currently in the trick pile, then if our partner played the current highest trick card then we play our lowest counter. Otherwise, play the highest non trump card that is guaranteed to take the trick. Remembering what has been played and what was shown during passing and melding, play the highest trump card that is guaranteed to take the trick.

If any play results in an average round score that is more than half a point lower than the highest average play, then remove it from the options considered. Finally, if necessary, we would choose to pass the cards that contribute the least amount of points to our meld score.įirst remove bad options: For each legal play, simulate the rest of the round 200 times with random deals of the unseen cards. Then prefer non-trump kings, then non-trump queens, then jack of diamonds (except if just received from partner), then lowest non-trump cards, then lowest trump cards. Then pass the cards that contribute the least amount of points to our meld score.įirst prefer not to pass any cards that result in a meld score for our hand. Then prefer queen of spades or jack of diamonds. Then, prefer to pass highest trump cards (except 9's of trump). Set the maximum willing bid at the round score achieved in more than 75% of the simulations.įirst prefer not to pass any cards that result in a meld score for your hand. Simulate many rounds with cards randomly dealt to standard strategy players. If we are playing last and we can take the trick then we play our lowest card that can take the trick. If we do have play options that could beat what is currently in the trick pile, then we play our highest winning card unless we are playing last. Otherwise, play the highest non trump card. Finally, if necessary, we would choose to pass the cards that contribute the least amount of points to our meld score.

Then, prefer to first pass non-ace cards that would make us void in a suit, then prefer non-trump kings, then non-trump queens, then jack of diamonds (except if just received from partner), then lowest non-trump cards, then lowest trump cards. Then prefer highest non-trump cards.įirst prefer not to pass any cards that result in a meld score for our hand. Then, prefer to first pass highest trump cards. Pick the trump suit that resulted in the highest willing bid.įirst prefer not to pass any cards that result in a meld score for your hand. Set the maximum willing bid at the round score achieved in more than 83% of the simulations.