World Hearts Applet Version 2.1 
 

This is the classic game of Hearts.  This applet, in conjunction with the
World Hearts Game Server, will allow you to play Hearts over any TCP/IP
connection with up to 3 other players.  Imagine playing hearts over the
Internet with 3 of your friends half way around the world!

The applet begins by displaying the title screen and prompting you to type
your name.  You can put any name you want up to 10 characters (anything
more will be discarded).  This will identify you during the game.  You
should see your name at the bottom since this is where you will always sit.

If other players have joined, you will see their names appear around the
table.  If the table isn't full, you will be prompted whether to start the
game now (computer players will fill the empty seats) or to keep waiting
for other players.
If you clicked on wait, but you get tired of waiting you can click on OPTIONS
to go to the Options screen and start the computer players.  In the Options
screen you can also change the table background to green at any time.

To communicate with the other players before, during, or after a game, you
can use the chat window.  Just type whatever you want to say at the top and
press ENTER and everyone will see what you typed.  If the chat window takes
up too much of your screen, you can hide it by clicking on the HIDE CHAT
button.

The object of the game is to get the least amount of points.  The game is
over when a player reaches 100 points.  Then the player with the least
number of points wins.
You get one point for every heart you take or if you are unlucky enough to
take the Queen of Spades, then you get 13 points.  So if you feel like
screaming.  Just click on PANIC and Jim will do the screaming for you. Aaaah!
The only exception is when you take all of the hearts and the Queen of
Spades, then all of your opponents will get 26 points, this is called
Shooting the Moon.

Each game begins after all 52 cards have been dealt.  Then you need to pass
3 cards to one of your opponents.  Click on a card to select it and click it
again to de-select it.  Once you have selected your 3 cards then press SUBMIT.
In the first round you pass to the left, in the second you pass across, in
the third you pass to the right, and in the fourth round you don't pass.
The next round you pass to the left and so on.

At the beginning of each game, the player with the 2 of Clubs must start the
"Trick" by throwing that card.  Each player must follow suit and the player
with the highest value card of the first suit takes all of the cards.  Aces
are highest value card.  If you don't have any cards of that suit, then you
can throw any card.
The only exception is that you cannot throw any point cards (hearts or the
Queen of Spades) on the first "Trick".
At the beginning of the subsequent "Tricks", the winner of the previous
"Trick" starts by throwing any card.
The only exception here is that a player may not throw hearts until they are
"broken".  When you cannot follow suit, hearts may be "broken" if you decide
to throw a heart.


Enjoy the game!