How to Play

Hartenjagen is the Dutch version of Hearts, a trick-avoidance game where players try to dodge hearts and the Queen of Spades while potentially attempting the daring 'shoot the moon' strategy.

Hartenjagen ('hunting hearts') is the Dutch version of the Hearts family of penalty-avoidance trick-taking games for 4 players. Each heart captured scores 1 penalty point, the Queen of Spades scores 13, and the player with the lowest cumulative score after multiple rounds wins. Passes between players, the first-trick lead from the holder, and the 'shoot the moon' sweep rule all match American Hearts closely.

Players

Exactly 4 players, every player for themselves (no partnerships). The first dealer is chosen by any agreed method; the deal rotates clockwise each hand. Play proceeds clockwise.

Card Deck

One standard 52-card deck, no jokers. All four suits and all thirteen ranks are used. Ranks within each suit: Ace (high), King, Queen, Jack, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 (low). No trump suit; highest card of the led suit wins each trick.

Objective

Over a series of rounds, finish with the lowest cumulative penalty score. Each hand has 26 points to distribute (13 hearts at 1 each plus the at 13); a clean round scores zero.

Setup and Deal

1. Shuffle the 52-card deck. The dealer offers a cut to the player on the right.
2. Deal all 52 cards clockwise, 13 to each player.
3. Passing phase: Each player selects 3 cards face-down and passes them to a neighbour. Passing direction rotates each hand: hand 1 pass left, hand 2 pass right, hand 3 pass across, hand 4 no passing (hold), then cycle repeats.
4. First lead: The player holding the leads it as the first card of the first trick.2♣
5. Misdeal: A void deal if a card is exposed during the deal or the wrong number of cards is dealt; same dealer redeals.

Gameplay

1. Trick structure: Play proceeds clockwise. Each player in turn plays one card face-up. You must follow suit if you hold any card of the led suit; if void, you may play any card.
2. Winning the trick: Highest card of the led suit wins; no trump suit, so off-suit cards cannot win. Trick winner leads the next trick.
3. Hearts broken: A player may not lead a heart until a heart has been discarded on a non-heart trick. A player holding only hearts may lead one by necessity.
4. First-trick restriction: No penalty cards may be played on the first trick (of the ). You cannot play a heart or on that trick unless your hand contains only penalty cards.2♣Q♠
5. End of hand: After all 13 tricks, each player totals the penalty cards in their captured tricks (1 per heart, 13 for ).Q♠
6. Renege (revoke): Failing to follow suit when able is a renege; the offending player takes all 26 penalty points for that hand.

Scoring

• Penalty values: Each heart captured = 1 point; captured = 13 points. 26 penalty points per hand.Q♠
• Shoot the moon: Capturing all 13 hearts and in a single hand scores 0 for the shooter and 26 against each opponent. A failed attempt scores the shooter whatever they captured.Q♠
• Jack of Diamonds bonus (optional): In the Omnibus variant, capturing subtracts 10 points. Declare before play if in use.J♦
• Running total: Cumulate scores across hands. The match ends when a player reaches 100 penalty points; lowest cumulative score wins.

Winning

• Match winner: Player with the lowest cumulative score when any player reaches 100 penalty points.
• Tie-breakers: If two players tie for the lowest, play one extra hand between them; lowest penalty in that hand wins.

Common Variations

• Omnibus: Adds as a -10 bonus card captured.J♦
• No-pass: Skip the 3-card pass phase for simpler play.
• Black Maria scoring: Include at 10 and at 7 for a harsher variant (the British Black Maria scoring).K♠A♠
• Cancellation Hartenjagen: Use two decks (104 cards); identical cards cancel in the same trick.

Tips and Strategy

• Pass high spades (, , ) away during the pass phase to avoid being stuck with the Queen. Pass them left on a pass-left round, right on a right, and to an opponent you think is holding up on a free hold round.Q♠K♠A♠
• Void a suit early so you can dump hearts and the on a lead of that suit later.Q♠
• Shoot-the-moon attempts are rare and risky. Only try with a near-perfect hand (Aces, Kings, protected); a single captured heart in the wrong trick ends the attempt.Q♠
• Block a suspected moon-shoot by deliberately taking a single heart mid-hand on a trick they cannot easily win.
• Track the . Once it is out, you can aggressively push spades; while it is still in play, every spade-led trick is a potential trap.Q♠Q♠

Glossary

• Penalty card: A heart (1 point) or (13 points); captured in tricks, scores against you.Q♠
• Hearts broken: The rule that a player cannot lead a heart until one has been discarded on a non-heart trick.
• Shoot the moon: Capturing every penalty card in a hand; scores 0 for the shooter and 26 for each opponent.
• Passing phase: The pre-play 3-card exchange between players.
• First-trick restriction: No penalty card may be played on the first trick (of ).2♣
• Omnibus: The variant that adds as a -10 bonus card.J♦
• Renege / revoke: Failing to follow suit when able; heavily penalised.