How to Play Dirty Hearts Card Game: Rules and Tips for Fun Family Nights

Dirty Hearts is an exciting trick-taking card game perfect for fun nights with friends or family. The objective is simple – be the player who ends up with the fewest points by avoiding certain cards throughout the game. But before you can start competing, let's dive into some essential rules to get everyone on the same page.

Number of Players

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Dirty Hearts can accommodate anywhere from 3-7 players, making it an excellent choice for larger gatherings or even a casual night in with close friends and family members. However, if possible, opt for four players – this number provides the optimal experience while still allowing enough variety to keep things interesting.

Materials Needed

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To start playing Dirty Hearts, you'll need one standard 52-card deck without jokers (although some variations may include them). That's it! No special equipment or elaborate setup is required; just gather your loved ones around the table and get ready for a night of fun-filled competition.

Objective

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The objective of Dirty Hearts is simple: earn points by avoiding certain cards throughout each round while trying to force other players into collecting these dreaded cards. The player who ends up with the fewest total points at the end of the game emerges victorious, making strategic thinking and luck key factors in becoming the ultimate champion.

Gameplay

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Here's a quick rundown on how to play Dirty Hearts:

1. Deal out all 52 cards evenly among players.

2. Players take turns clockwise, starting from either the leftmost player or whoever is determined by coin toss (heads for first deal).

3. Each round consists of three tricks played in a standard suit-following order (spades, hearts, diamonds, clubs). The winning trick's suit becomes 'trick' and must be followed by subsequent players unless they have an Ace which allows them to change direction again.

4. If someone takes all the cards from another player during their turn without going 'bubbled', then that player gets a bonus point.

Dirty Hearts Card Values

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In Dirty Hearts, certain cards are worth more points than others:

* Aces: 15 points each (or 100 if taken as 'Bum' by an opponent)

* Jacks of Clubs and Spades: -10 points each when played on the same suit as another player who already holds a jack in their hand

* All other cards are worth face value (-1 point for Ace, zero or negative values depending upon which suits they belong to)

Winning Conditions

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The game continues until one player reaches exactly 100 total points. At this stage:

* If two players tie at exactly 99 points each after all remaining tricks have been played out then both are declared losers and must restart from scratch.

Alternatively, if only one person remains unbroken after reaching their target score before everyone else has reached theirs then they win outright without needing any further rounds being completed.

Tips & Strategies

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Here are some helpful tips to keep in mind when playing Dirty Hearts:

* Pay close attention to the cards that have already been played. This will give you an idea of which ones your opponents might be trying to avoid and allow you to strategize accordingly.

* Try not to go 'bubbled' – if another player takes all their cards from them, they'll receive a bonus point!

* Use your Aces wisely; while taking risks can sometimes pay off bigtime (literally), playing it safe with these high-scoring cards may prove more beneficial in the long run.

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And that's it! With this comprehensive guide to Dirty Hearts under your belt, you're ready for an unforgettable night of fun and excitement with friends or family. So gather around the table, shuffle those decks, deal out the cards – game on!

Remember: keep your cool head about you because in dirty hearts winning isn't everything; sometimes it's just not losing at all!

Dirty hearts card game