Any tips on shooting the moon in hearts?

Question

I want to become a better hearts player but I'm never sure when it's a good risk to shoot for the moon.

Answer 1

It's been a long time to play hearts but I used to be 2200+ at Yahoo Hearts. I am sure this would help you if you play against beginner and intermediate tables.

1 major thing one must be careful is that when you try to moon, someone else doesn't do that on you. There are a few ways to make sure that if you take the risk, you are never punished. There are different ways you can be punished. Aah.......there is a lot to say I think. lol

To make long thing short......I would say if you have a higher player on the table that can be thrown towards the final score, you have to be sure not to give him/her the points if you don't shoot the moon. While passing you have to understand that if you are stopped from the moon, higher don't get the points.

There are certain ways you can be at minimum risk while passing. It's always better to try shooting if you have the queen. If you have Ace and King of Hearts with 2 or more hearts, it means you have a chance that you can take out the Queen (as two tricks of Ace and King will take out 8 hearts, including 4 hearts you have, it would be 12 hearts to take out). Any ways, if you got the point you have to be sure that you don't get the Queen unless you have taken all the hearts.

Now there is the major problem while shooting the moon. If you are playing against good players and you don't pass low hearts to them then you may be in trouble. Along with hearts, you must be good in position in all the remaining cards you have. If you are out of 1 color, let's suppose Diamonds, then you must be careful that no more than 2 tricks of Diamonds are played (If you have really good cards, don't even let them play once.)

Obviously whatever I am saying is a bit confusing, because I don't have cards in my hand. To make my thing clear I give you some rules that might be easier to understand.

1. It's better to shoot when there is even scoring.
2. If you have 4 or more hearts with at least A and K of Hearts, you are in a good shape to moon.
3. It's better to moon if you have the Queen.

If you are playing against very begginers, or there is a black sheep who isn't passing lower hearts, you may take a risk to remove all your hearts (if you have low hearts). Obviously you can have a perfect moon if you don't have hearts at all.

Answer 2

Shooting The Moon In Hearts

Answer 3

i asked a similar question about a month ago (i play on pogo, and was trying for a badge, and needed to shoot the moon 1 time to get it...i had never tried.) i posted this question, and i got the shoot the moon badge within 3 tries..remember....I had NEVER tried before! hope it helps you!
by the way, the best answer i had chosen said:

I don't really try this unless I have most of the hearts. That way you can draw out all the other hearts until there are none left. If you try it with having most of another suit, someone could hold back a heart and surprise you with it.

***and, she was right...don't try it unless you have most of the hearts.

Answer 4

The main things I find helpful for shooting the moon are:

1) Sluff the cards from the suit of which you have the least. (If you have 2 clubs pass those to your partner so you can discard your low diamonds when clubs are played).
2) Avoid letting anyone know you are trying to shoot
3) Be very aware of what cards have been played, so you know the true value of your own cards and can avoid thinking you have shot to moon only to have 1 heart missing.

Answer 5

To the Additional Details, that is the point of the game. To make your opponents get the hearts but taking one or two if you have to, just to stop somebody from shooting.

Answer 6

Pogo Hearts