Hearts Strategy: When to Shoot the Moon (And When Not To)

What Is Shooting the Moon?

Shooting the moon is a high-risk, high-reward strategy in Hearts where you attempt to collect all the hearts and the Queen of Spades in a single round. If successful, you score zero points while all other players receive the maximum points.

When to Consider It

You need very good cards to pull off a moon shot — ideally, you want a hand with a lot of high hearts and the Queen of Spades, or at least a way to draw them out. It's also easier to attempt if you're already behind in points and need a big swing to catch up.

Warning Signs to Abort

Watch out for early signs that your opponents are catching on to your strategy. If they start playing more defensively, holding back hearts, or trying to force you to take points, it might be time to abandon the moon shot and switch to a safer strategy.

The Safe Play

Avoid hearts early on to keep your point total low. Try to get rid of dangerous cards like the Queen of Spades as soon as possible, and pay attention to what others are playing to avoid getting stuck with points.

Passing Strategy

Middle cards are dangerous when trying to shoot the moon, so consider passing them to opponents who are less likely to pass you high hearts or the Queen of Spades. Passing low cards can also help you avoid taking points early on.

Practice Makes Perfect

Hearts is a game of reading the table. Play against AI opponents on Family Time to practice your moon shots risk-free. Play Hearts →