

You can lead them and someone else will likely win the trick. Keeping low hearts is usually not a problem. The next priority is hearts, which carry a combined 13 penalty points.Īgain, the A, K and Q are great candidates to pass, as each one could net you 4 unwanted points or worse. Never pass a spade lower than the Q, unless you’re intentionally trying to help that player.

This gives you flexibility on when you want to drop it, if you’d like a particular player to win it. If you hold the Q with at least 4 (3 is riskier) lower ♠, you could keep the Q. If you have enough low-card protection in spades (at least 3 and preferably 4 or more) you can consider keeping them, depending on what else you’re holding. If you hold the A, K or Q of ♠s, you generally want to pass them. Passing SpadesĪs the Queen of Spades is the highest penalty card at 13 points, it makes sense that protecting ourselves from winning it is the top priority. While a large part of effective passing is getting rid of high cards, it isn’t just a matter of automatically selecting our highest cards. When selecting cards to pass, focus on making your hand as strong and safe as possible before trying to stick an opponent with troublesome cards. Here are some things to be aware of, starting with the first thing we have control over, the pass. There are many areas where informed play improves our chances to win.

Hearts isn’t exactly complicated, but it’s not one of the simplest card games either. Do you love playing Hearts but feel like your Hearts strategy is making you take more points than you have to? Make this great trick-taking/trick evasion game even better by winning more! Hearts Strategy
