The card game hearts is played with a standard deck of 52 cards and generally four players per game. The object of the card game is to score the least number of points. Hearts is often played on a computer using a program or playing against others on the Internet.http://fun.familyeducation.com/card-games/valentines-day/35040.html?page=2l

In a standard game of hearts, a hand begins with the 52 cards dealt equally to four players. Before each hand, three cards are selected by each player and passed to another player at the table using a rotating process. The player with the two of clubs starts the hand by playing it in the center of the playing area. Following in a clockwise manner, each additional participant plays one card per trick. Similar to euchre, each player must follow suit if possible, playing a card of the same suit as the card that opens the trick. The first time a heart card is played in a hand, that instance is known as "breaking hearts." The first heart of the hand cannot be used to start a trick, however after a heart is played as the second, third or last card of a trick and hearts are broken, a heart can then be used to open a trick for the duration of the hand.http://fun.familyeducation.com/card-games/valentines-day/35040.html?page=2l

Whichever person plays the highest card in the same suit as the card that opened the trick receives the cards from the trick. The hand continues until all of the cards are played. Points are scored by collecting cards in the suit of hearts or collecting the queen of spades. Each heart, regardless of face value is worth one point while the queen of spades is worth 13 points. At the end of each hand, points are tallied and recorded on a score sheet. Should a player collect all of the hearts and the queen of spades during a single hand, that instance is known as "shooting the moon" and gives that player zero points for the hand while other receive 26 points each. Games continue until one player reaches a pre-determined point value, which can range from 100 to 500.http://fun.familyeducation.com/card-games/valentines-day/35040.html?page=2l