# Hearts Score Sheet: Frequently Asked Questions
A Hearts score sheet keeps track of penalty points across hands until someone hits the losing threshold. Below are the most common questions new players have about filling out and using a Hearts score sheet, plus worked examples and rule clarifications.
FAQ 1: What cards give points in Hearts?
Only these cards carry penalty points:
- Every heart card: 1 point each
- Queen of Spades (Black Lady): 13 points
Total maximum penalty per hand: 26 points.
All other cards (2–10, J, K, A of clubs, diamonds, spades excluding Q♠) are worth 0 points.
> Note: In standard Hearts, there are no positive points. All points are penalties.
FAQ 2: What is the standard losing score to end the game?
The most common rule is **100 points**.
The score sheet keeps running totals. When any player’s running total reaches or exceeds 100, the game ends. The player with the lowest total score wins the full game.
Some house variants use 50 or 125 points; write the agreed target at the top of your score sheet before starting.
FAQ 3: How do I record “Shooting the Moon” on the score sheet?
Shooting the Moon means one player takes **all 13 hearts + the Queen of Spades** in a single hand.
Two standard scoring options (agree before play):
1. The shooter gets **0 points**, and every other player adds 26 penalty points to their score (most common for score sheets).
2. The shooter subtracts 26 points from their own total (less common).
Write a note on the score sheet: “STM” next to the shooter’s row to mark it.
> Important: You cannot shoot the moon if you only capture all hearts and miss the Queen of Spades. That player just gets 13 penalty points for the hearts.
FAQ 4: How to fill the score sheet for a normal hand (no moon shot)?
Worked example (4 players: Amy, Bob, Chris, Dana):
- Amy captured Q♠ + 3 hearts = 13 + 3 = 16
- Bob captured 4 hearts = 4
- Chris captured 2 hearts = 2
- Dana captured no point cards = 0
You write each player’s hand score in the current hand column, then add it to their running total.
Example running totals after this hand:
Amy: 16 | Bob:4 | Chris:2 | Dana:0
FAQ 5: What happens if someone takes only the Queen of Spades, no hearts?
They add 13 penalty points to their score. This is a painful hand, but it is NOT shooting the moon. Mark 13 on the sheet for that player.
FAQ 6: Do I add points to the score sheet before the next hand?
Yes. After all tricks finish for the hand, tally each player’s penalty points for that round first. Then add the round’s points to their cumulative running total. Always update running totals before dealing the next hand.
FAQ 7: How many players fit on a standard Hearts score sheet?
Classic Hearts is for **4 players**, so most printed score sheets have four rows.
If you play with 3 players: remove one card before the game (usually 2♦), the scoring rules stay the same. Add an extra row on your sheet for the third player.
5-player Hearts: remove two low cards, add a fifth row.
> Scoring rules do not change when you adjust player count, only the deal changes.
FAQ 8: Can multiple players get points in the same hand?
Absolutely. Penalty cards can be split across different players. The score sheet simply records each player’s separate penalty count for that hand. The Queen of Spades can only go to one player, though.
FAQ 9: What is “Shooting the Sun” and how do I score it?
This is a less common variant: a player takes every single trick in the hand. Usually it is scored the same as shooting the moon (others take 26 points). If your group uses this rule, write “STS” on the score sheet. This is not standard, so confirm before play.
FAQ 10: Common mistakes when writing on the Hearts score sheet
❌ Treating points as positive scores: these are penalties, lower is better.
❌ Forgetting the Queen of Spades is 13 points (new players often count it as 1).
❌ Miscalculating shooting the moon: giving the shooter 26 points instead of giving it to opponents.
❌ Ending the game when someone hits exactly 100 and declaring them winner — that player is the loser.
❌ Mixing up hand score and running total: always keep separate columns for “This Hand” and “Total”.
FAQ 11: Sample simple score sheet layout you can copy
| Player | Hand 1 | Running Total | Hand 2 | Running Total |
| ---- | ---- | ---- | ---- | ---- |
| Amy | 16 | 16 | 0 | 16 |
| Bob | 4 | 4 | 26 | 30 |
| Chris | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Dana | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Game target: 100 points.
Quick Cheat Sheet
✅ Hearts = 1 point each, Queen of Spades = 13 points
✅ Standard game end target: 100 penalty points
✅ Shoot the Moon: shooter gets 0, others +26 (default)
✅ Columns: Player name, per-hand score, cumulative running total
✅ Lowest total wins when the game ends
✅ Mark STM on sheet for moon shot to avoid confusion