Hearts vs Spades
Hearts and Spades are both four-player trick-taking games, but they pull in opposite directions. In Hearts every player is on their own and points are bad: each heart costs one, the Queen of Spades costs thirteen, and the lowest score wins. In Spades you play in partnerships, spades are always trump, and you score by making the bid your team announced.
Hearts is a game of defence and card passing, where most of the skill is in ducking tricks and knowing when to shoot the moon. Spades is a game of judgement and teamwork, where a sound bid and a reliable partner matter more than any single card.
Hearts and Spades at a glance
| Hearts | Spades | |
|---|---|---|
| In one line | Avoid hearts and the Queen of Spades; low score wins. | Partnership trick-taking: bid your tricks, spades are trump. |
| Players | 4 | 4 |
| Type | Table game | Table game |
| Family | Trick-taking | Trick-taking |
| Options | Play to: 100 or 50 | Play to: 250 or 500 |
| Turn timer (online) | 30 seconds | 30 seconds |
| Cost | Free, no download | Free, no download |
Choose Hearts if…
- You would rather play for yourself than with a partner.
- You enjoy the tension of dodging the Queen of Spades or going for a moon shot.
Choose Spades if…
- You like to bid and to work with a partner.
- You want trumps and to win tricks rather than avoid them.