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  Hearts Tips and Strategies

Hearts Column of the Month – June 2002

By Joe Andrews

Partnership Hearts -- Variety 1, Original Version
(Variety 2, "online" version, will be featured in the next column.)

A most challenging variant of Hearts is the pairs, or doubles, game called Partnership Hearts. The partners must cooperate effectively to win. The rules are the same as in the standard ("solo") game; however, the points accumulated by you and your partner are combined. The scoresheet has only two columns: "We" and "They." The basic idea is to Shoot the Moon (together or separately -- as long as your side takes all the points in a given hand) or to take only one point and pin the opponents with 25 points! The score limit is 125 points. A shorter game of 100 or 75 points may be played. The passing rotation is the same, and some players prefer to eliminate the "keeper" hands. It is essential to think in twos. Playing for yourself is often a disastrous strategy. Passing a middle Heart is very important for the Left and Right passes. Many seasoned pairs utilize systems specifically when passing to partner. Observe this hand. At first glance it appears the Ace of Hearts is a stopper and a Moon cannot be made.

(Pass to the left already completed)


North
 A J
 K J 10 9 7 6
 A K Q
 A 2


South
 K Q 10 2
 Q 4 2
 Void
 K Q J 6 5 3


In a "solo" or "cutthroat" game, North would be crushed. His minor (Club and Diamond) suits offer no escape. The Spade suit is ticklish, and there is no getting around that miserable Heart suit. Prognosis: 22 points.

Partnership Hearts offers much more of chance. The Deuce of Clubs lead is ducked by South to either opponent. Any return, including a Spade, is taken high by North. The Diamond suit winners are cashed, as South unloads his Heart suit. After the black suit Aces are out of the way, the Jack of Spades is transportation to South's hand for a comfortable trip to the moon!

Of course the cards are favorable; however, North must still unblock his high cards and allow South to clear his Heart losers. Thus, the Ace of Hearts, in either enemy hand, has no value here. Not all deals are this easy. Often it is necessary to read the discards and draw inferences from your partner's play. Next month, I will review the Variety 2 Game, which is the most frequently played partnership Hearts game online.

HEARTS QUIZ:

Advanced Alley
The "Rubin Maneuver"

During the glory days of the New England Hearts Players' Association, Steve Rubin, a player from Framingham, MA, innovated a devious tactic. It became known as the "Rubin Maneuver," and you may rest assured that when it worked, the player on the receiving end of the Queen of Spades needed a Heimlich Maneuver for immediate relief! Let us say that before the pass in a close game, you pick up:


 A Q J 10 9 2
 K 9 3
 K 10
 A Q


You are passing to the left, and that person is in first place by a few points. Most players would unload the two Clubs and the 9 of Hearts. In this position, Rubin passes the Spade Queen, Diamond 4, and 9of Hearts. The idea is to grab the lead early in minor suit (Clubs or Diamonds), and commence with the "smokeout" of Her Royal Highness. The first Club is taken, and the Spade Jack is led. This will eventually (and quite soon) produce the King of Spades. With at least one more entry, Rubin now blasts out the Spade Queen, barring abnormal distributions.

This is a marginally risky play; however, it can be quite effective. Some players become quite peeved when this maneuver is used against them -- then again, who said Hearts is a game of etiquette or kindness?

So long, summer! And hello, autumn!

a.       Dropping a Heart or the Queen of Spades on the first trick of the hand:

The standard rules of Hearts clearly prohibit discarding a point card on the first trick of a hand. The Deuce of Clubs is always the opening lead. However, there are two possible hands which feature situations where a point card must be dropped on the first trick. One hand is very specific. The other has several combinations. Describe both of these scenarios.

b.       What was the original (medieval) name given to the Queen of Spades? (All of the face cards were named after historical figures or mythological entities.)

c.        The standard passing rotation in Hearts is Left-Right-Across-Hold-then-repeat. However, there are two other three-card passing variations in use (in "live" games). Identify both of these variations.

d.       In what country did the game of Hearts originate? (It evolved from a game called "reversis.")

e.       What is the name of the only pure "squeeze" play in the game of Hearts? (See example below.)

West
 A
 K

South
 Q
 A

West, on lead, has already taken 12 Hearts, and the Ace is the last card in the suit. East and North's hands are immaterial. South has the only card which can stop the Moon -- the Spade Queen. If West leads the Club King, South takes the Ace, and cashes the Spade Queen for a stop; however, if West leads the Heart Ace, South is croaked! Giving up the Spade Queen is instant surrender; parting with the master Club promotes West's King, and the Queen of Spades is now "squeezed" out!