By Neal Taparia - 9/16/2024
Bridge is a popular card game that has been a favorite trick-taking game for centuries. Like the Hearts game, it is a member of the Whist card game family. Played in pairs, it blends fun and logic and is a great way to exercise your brain while building a sense of camaraderie with friends.
If you’re a fan of Bridge and games similar to Pinochle, there are other trick-taking games you may love. Some of the most popular options are Hearts, Spades, and Pinochle. They are played differently but all offer mental challenges and endless enjoyment.
Like Bridge, the Hearts game is a fellow descendant of Whist. However, it’s a game that stands out from others. In most games, the goal is to win tricks. In Hearts, the goal is to avoid them, especially if the trick contains cards of the Hearts suit or the Queen of Spades because they carry penalty points. Also, in a game of Hearts, there is no trump suit.
Here are the basics of how to play Hearts:
Understanding how scoring works in Hearts is important to figuring out strategies for winning. Hearts cards carry one penalty point each, while the Queen of Spades carries thirteen penalty points. Rounds continue until someone reaches a score of fifty or one hundred, depending on the rules set ahead of time. Whoever has the lowest score at the end, wins.
Another common trick-taking game alternative to Bridge is Spades. In a game of Spades, players strive to win tricks and gather as many points as possible.
Here is a summary of how to play Spades:
Players receive ten points for each trick and one point for each trick over the set bid. However, winning fewer tricks than the bid called will cause players to lose ten points.
In most games, the first team to reach 500 points wins.
Trick-taking games like Bridge, Hearts, and Spades are driven by strategy and luck. They are consistently popular among card game enthusiasts. With so many to choose from, there’s a game for every mood and interest.
Players tend to suggest Spades or Hearts as great introductions to more complicated trick-taking games like Bridge. If you’re interested in getting in some rounds of Hearts, give a game at Hearts.co a try. Our site offers unlimited free games–no matter the time of day or where you are in the world!