Shooting the Moon in Hearts

In Hearts you usually avoid points. But if one player takes every point in a hand (all 13 hearts and the Q♠, 26 points) they "shoot the moon": they score 0, and each of the other three players scores 26.

Which hands can shoot the moon

You need control: high cards that win tricks and long suits that run.

The A♥, K♥ and Q♥ (so nobody can take a heart from you),
the A♠ or K♠ with the Q♠, or a way to make the queen fall to you,
long suits headed by the Ace and King, so you can keep the lead.

A hand with many low cards in several suits almost never makes it.

How to play for it

Keep your high hearts when passing; pass low cards instead.
Take early tricks quietly with high cards, before the others notice.
Once hearts are broken, lead your top hearts and run them.

Stopping a moon shot

If one player has taken every point so far and is winning trick after trick:

Take one heart yourself. One point for you beats 26.
Hold on to a high heart for as long as you can.
Work with the other players: whoever can beat the shooter's lead should.

On kawu, the score panel shows the points each player has taken this hand in the top corner. A player with every point so far is a warning.

Play Hearts · Rules · Strategy

Frequently asked questions

What does shooting the moon mean in Hearts?

Taking all 13 hearts and the Queen of Spades in one hand. Instead of 26 points for you, every other player scores 26.

Do you have to take every trick to shoot the moon?

No. You only need every point card: all hearts and the Q♠. Tricks without points don't matter.

Last updated 2026-10-18