Hearts

RULES

An Overview

Mplayer Hearts is played with 4 players, using a standard 52 card deck. The cards are ranked from lowest (2) to highest (Ace). The point of the game is to have the lowest number of points. A game of Hearts is played as a series of hands. In each hand a player is dealt 13 cards. You get one point for each Heart you take and 13 points if you take the Queen of Spades. When a player gets 100+ points over a series of hands, the game is over and the player with the fewest points wins the game.

How To Play

Deal - Each player is dealt 13 cards at the beginning of each hand.

Passing - At the start of the first hand, each player passes three cards to the player on their Left. Simply click the three cards you would like to pass, they will be highlighted yellow, and then click the Pass button. When all players have clicked the pass button, you will see your new cards and play begins. On the second hand, you pass to the Right, on the third you pass Across, and on the fourth you do not pass to anyone (you keep all of the cards you were dealt that hand). Then the pattern repeats, beginning with the pass to the left, then to the right, then across, then no pass.

Playing - After the cards have been passed, play begins. The player with the two of Clubs begins each hand and must lead that card (the computer will do this for you automatically since you don't have a choice). The play continues in a clockwise direction. The next player must 'follow suit', or play a card of the same suit as the first player put down, if possible. If a player does not have any cards of that suit, then any card may be played. (EXCEPTION: No Hearts nor The Queen of Spades may be played on the first round of a hand.) When each player has played a card, the player who played the highest card of the lead suit 'wins the trick', that is wins all of the cards that have been played in that round. This player begins the next round. After the first round, the player who leads can play any card, except a Heart unless a Heart has been discarded in a previous hand ('Broken'), or the player has no other cards in their hand.

Scoring - After each hand, the points you took will automatically be tallied and your total score will appear beneath your portrait. The points will not tally after each trick, only after each hand. For each Heart you took you get one point, and for the Queen of Spades you get 13 points! (Remember, you want the fewest points) All other cards don't count as any points.

'Shooting the Moon' - If you can manage to win all 13 of the Hearts and the Queen of Spades, you have shot the moon! This is pretty risky, but well worth the 26 points subtracted from your score if you do it!

Winning - When a player gets 100+ points, the game is over and the player with the fewest points wins the game!

TECH NOTES

Bug

On rare occasions, when you launch a game of Hearts, you may see a dialog box that reads 'Mplayer Error: Attempted to write to communications Community that was unavailable. [-92]'. Select 'OK' and you'll be sent back to the Game Room. You can relaunch and kick the AI out of your spot!

Players

Two to four humans (yes, that's you) can play. Games are always be played with four players, human or AI (that's Artificial Intelligence, you know, like little robots). If two or three people launch a game, AIs will take the extra spots. Also, if a player leaves during a game in progress, an AI will take that spot and there picture will become that of a robot.

Spectators

The game accommodates up to 28 spectators. If you join a game in progress you will be joining as a spectator. (If there are any AI players, you can take their spot.) As a spectator, you may text and voice chat, and see the cards that have been played. To avoid cheating, you can not see cards in players hands. If you are playing the game and choose to leave and re-renter, an AI will take your spot and you will re-enter as a spectator. You can, however, kick the AI out of your spot and rejoin the game.

Kick Out the AI and Join the Game!

If you wish to join the game as a player simply click on the icon of any white robot computer player (if there are any). The computer picture will turn yellow if your join request is accepted, indicating that spot has been spoken for. Also, the chat window should get a message telling you if you joined or not. If the join is successful, you will be dealt in the next hand, replacing the computer.

Turn Time Limit

Before launching the game, the Moderator can select to set a Time Limit for each players' turn. The default is 30 seconds. If a player does not play a card within the time limit, AI will play a card automatically.

Pass Time Limit

The Moderator can also set a Pass Time Limit. This is amount of time you have before each hand (except the holding hand) to pass 3 cards. The default is 60 seconds. If you do not pass any cards within the time limit, the AI passes cards automatically.

Password

The Moderator can choose a password for the game. Players must provide the password when clicking "Ready To Play" to join the game as a player or a spectator.

Playing a Card

The hand is played clockwise. Your portrait will appear in the lower left hand corner, next to your cards. If you are playing in the game, the name of the player whose turn it is has a red background. If you are spectating, watch the status message at the bottom of the screen for information on turns and passing. To play a card, double click the card you'd like to play.

Auto Play

At any time, click the "AUTO" button in the upper right hand corner to have the AI play for you. The button will remain depressed. Beware, the AI isn't very good! To play for yourself again, simply click the "AUTO" button again.

Text Chat

To text chat, begin typing. You will see your message in the chat window. Press 'Enter' to send.

Voice Chat

To talk, click and hold the "TALK" button in the upper left hand corner. Be sure to speak into your microphone (but not too close)! The gray button above the talk button does nothing.

Find Out Who is in the Game Room

To see a list of players and spectators currently in the game room type '/who' and press enter. The list will appear in the chat window.

Want a bigger Chat Window?

Hit F9 to toggle between a standard sized and large chat windows.

Leaving and Re-Entering the Game

Leave the game by clicking the 'Close' icon in the window title bar, or by pressing ESC. You may later re-enter the game, but an AI or another player may have taken over your spot. If your spot is still available, click the white robot and you'll rejoin on the next hand.

Launching the game with more than 4 players

You can launch the game with as many as 32 players. The moderator will get a spot in the game and 3 other players will be randomly assigned places in the game. The rest will be spectators.

OFFICIAL LEAGUES


Think You're Good?

Then join the official Hearts league of Mplayer run by Case's Ladder. You compete against the best players in the game. Try to climb the "ladder" to the number one spot or compete in daily tournaments. Our leagues are simple to learn and fun to play in. Simply sign up on Case's Ladder, play your games on Mplayer and then report your matches to Case's Ladder.

COMMUNITY LEAGUES

Join CrimsonWings on Mplayer for daily tournament FUN! Their trained staff will be happy to answer your tournament questions. Just look for the MTA, MHT, MST, MBGT, MLST, MSP or CrimsonWings prefixes on Mplayer screen names. Click here for leaderboard and tournament information