How to Play Chasse-Cœur
Chasse-Cœur is a trick-avoidance game from northern France and Belgium. If you like careful card play and trying not to win certain cards, you’ll enjoy it — and you can find more Playmore guides at Playmore.
This guide gives a clear beginner walkthrough. Many local groups play slightly different versions, so check the linked official or regional rules for the exact scoring and special cards.
Quick facts
| Game | Players | Deck | Family |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chasse-Cœur | 3–5 | 32 French-suited (reduced from a normal 52-card deck) | Hearts-family avoidance |
What you are trying to do
Your main goal is to avoid taking tricks that contain penalty cards. Over several deals, those penalty cards give you points. You want the fewest points at the end. Exact penalty cards and scoring are version-dependent, so check your group's rules.
What you need and how to set up
You need a single standard 52-card deck reduced to 32 French-suited cards (the common reduction used in many European games). Play with three to five people and a flat surface for tricks.
Shuffle the 32-card pack well. How the dealer deals can change by region: some versions deal all cards, others leave a small talon or set up a kitty. As a safe beginner rule, deal so everyone has an equal number of cards if your group prefers that. Pick a dealer at random or by lowest card.
How to play
- Sort your hand by suit so you can see what you have. Keep cards face down until play begins.
- The dealer or last trick winner leads the first card. Play proceeds clockwise unless your group uses the other direction.
- When a suit is led, you must follow suit if you can. If you don’t have that suit, you may play any card allowed by your version.
- The trick is won according to the local rank rules (usually the highest card of the led suit wins when there is no trump). The trick winner collects the cards face down and leads the next trick.
- Penalty cards are those you want to avoid capturing. In Chasse-Cœur these are typically hearts and sometimes a special card from another suit. If you take a trick containing penalty cards, you gain the penalty points attached to them.
- Repeat until all cards are played. Score the penalty cards from the tricks each player took and add them to running totals if you play multiple deals.
- Many groups include extra rules (passing cards before play, special penalties, or bonus catches). Ask your group before you start — don’t assume every table uses the same extras.
How a round or game ends
Rounds usually end when all cards have been played and tricks collected. The match ends when a player reaches a pre-set score threshold or after a pre-agreed number of deals. The player with the fewest penalty points wins. Exact scoring totals and end conditions vary by region, so confirm the target score and any special penalties before you start.
Beginner tips
- Keep track of which penalty cards have been played. That helps you know when it’s safe to dump risky cards.
- Play your low cards early in suits you don’t want to win. Ducking a trick can save you from penalties.
- Watch what opponents lead. If someone avoids leading a suit, they may be trying to force you into taking penalties later.
- If passing cards is used, pass your worst penalty cards when you can. If not, protect yourself by holding safe low cards.
- Ask about regional rules before the first deal. Small rule differences change strategy a lot.
FAQ
Which cards are penalties?
That depends on your group. In most Chasse-Cœur versions hearts are penalties; some puts a special penalty on a particular card too. Check your group’s rule sheet for the exact list.
Is there a trump suit?
Some local variants add trumps or special ranking. The basic beginner loop doesn’t require a trump. Ask before you play to be sure.
Do players pass cards before play?
Some versions include passing (left/right/opposite) and some don’t. Passing changes strategy a lot, so agree on it before dealing.