Objective of the Game
The objective of Herz zu Herz is to strategically play cards to collect as few point cards as possible. Players aim to avoid taking hearts and the Queen of Spades, as these count as penalty points.
Components
- 52 playing cards (standard deck without jokers)
Setup
- Shuffle the deck thoroughly.
- Deal 13 cards to each player so that everyone has 13 cards in their hand.
Game Play
The game consists of multiple rounds where players aim to either achieve specific card combinations or trick their opponents.
- Starting the Round: A player begins by playing a card in the center of the table. The other players follow clockwise, playing one card each of the same suit, if possible.
- Follow Suit Rule: Players must follow the suit of the first card played if they can. If they do not have a card of the same suit, they may play any other card.
- Winning the Trick: The player who plays the highest card of the original suit wins the trick and collects the cards. They then lead the next round with a card of their choice.
- Hearts and Queen of Spades: Hearts are worth one penalty point each, and the Queen of Spades is worth 13 penalty points. The objective is to collect as few penalty points as possible.
Scoring
- Each heart is worth +1 point.
- The Queen of Spades is worth +13 points.
At the end of each round, players count the penalty points from the cards in their captured tricks. The game continues either for a predetermined number of rounds or until a player reaches a score limit (such as 100 points). The player with the fewest penalty points wins the game.
Strategic Tips
- Avoid Hearts and the Queen of Spades: Try to steer clear of hearts, especially the Queen of Spades, as they add to your penalty score.
- Control the Trick: Sometimes it's beneficial to control the trick by starting with a high card to avoid collecting unwanted cards.
- Card Counting: Keep track of which cards have been played to better anticipate what might still be in play.
- Team Play: If playing with partners, work together to keep the team's total penalty points low.
Enjoy playing and outsmarting your opponents!
