
      HEARTS.TXT                                      March 31, 1989


      HEARTS is a very easy card game to play and one that will
      give you many hours of enjoyment.  The rules for this game are
      quite simple.  After the cards have been shuffled, they are
      delt clockwise to each player.  There are four players in this
      game with each receiving 13 cards (a total of 52).  The
      direction of play, like most card games, is clockwise around
      the table.  A player must always match the SUIT of the card
      that is lead.  If a player does not have the lead suit he or
      she can play any card in their hand.  The player having the
      highest RANK in the lead suit takes that trick and begins play
      on the next trick.  There are four cards in each trick and 13
      tricks per hand.  The cards are ranked in desending value from
      the A to 2.  The Ace (A) being the highest rank.  Each new hand
      is started by leading the TWO of CLUBS.

      The scoring of HEARTS is what makes this game unique from most
      other card games.  The LOWEST accumulated score wins the game.
      The score is determined by the number of POINT CARDS that a
      player has received in the tricks that he or she has taken.
      The point cards are - all HEARTS, each counting as one point
      and the QUEEN OF SPADES which counts as 13 points.  There is a
      total of 26 points for each hand.  The score from each hand is
      then added to your Game Score.  When a player reaches or
      exceeds the Game Point, then the game is ended and the player
      with the LOWEST score wins that game.

      If you are able to take all 26 points for that hand, then you
      have RUN the DECK and each of your opponents will receive 26
      points.  Remember, LOW score wins, and a score of 25 does not
      qualify as a RUN.  You cannot lead a HEART or the QUEEN OF
      SPADES until they been BROKEN (one has already been played),
      or unless this is all that remains in your hand.

      At the beginning of each hand all players have the opportunity
      to pass three cards to another player.  The direction of the
      pass is counter-clockwise.  The first pass is to the player
      on your right.  The next pass to the player across from you and
      the last to the player to your left.  The next hand is a HOLD
      hand, inwhich no cards are passes.  The pass rotation then
      begins again.

        3     The players are numbered from 1 to 4, with you playing
      2   4   position number 1 at the bottom of the table.  As
        1     always, play rotation is clockwise.

      The OPTION MENU can be called any time throughout the game.
      This is done with the ESCAPE key.  The hand you are playing
      will be void and a new one delt.  If you care to cheat, you
      may find this of value.  However, its main purpose is to allow
      option selection and game termination at your convenience.

      Use the RIGHT and LEFT arrow keys to select the card you wish
      to play.  When you have selected your card use the ENTER key
      to play that card.  The CURSOR will skip played cards and will
      wrap from each end.  This will make card selection easier and
      game play faster.

      Any comments or suggestions will be gratefully accepted and an
      honest attempt will be made to answer them.  Additonal inform-
      ation can be found in the file REGISTER.TXT.  This product will
      not operate properly without the following files present and in
      the same directory.

      **    HEARTS.EXE - HEARTS.DAT - HEARTS.TXT - REGISTER.TXT    **

                      ---   Good Luck and Enjoy   ---
