zoom_in Click to enlarge

Black Maria

▲ ▼

description Black Maria Overview

Black Maria is a trick-taking card game and the standard British variant of the American game Hearts. It is played with a standard 52-card deck and follows the trick-avoidance mechanic, where players aim to avoid winning penalty cards in each trick. The Queen of Spades serves as the most significant penalty card, carrying a heavy 13-point deduction, while each card in the Hearts suit carries a 1-point penalty. The game is traditionally designed for four players and continues until a player reaches a predetermined score threshold.

help Black Maria FAQ

How does Black Maria differ from standard Hearts?

Black Maria is a British Hearts-family game for 3 to 6 players with no trump suit. In addition to all hearts, the ace, king, and queen of spades are penalty cards. [Black Maria rules](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Maria_%28card_game%29)

Why is the Queen of Spades called Black Maria?

Black Maria is the nickname of the Queen of Spades, which is the largest penalty card in the game. Under the standard scoring, it is worth 13 points. [Black Maria rules](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Maria_%28card_game%29)

Which cards are passed in Black Maria, and where do they go?

In the common rules, each player selects 3 cards and passes them face-down to the player on the right. Players must choose their discards before looking at the 3 cards they receive. [Black Maria rules](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Maria_%28card_game%29)

How is Black Maria scored?

Each heart is worth 1 penalty point, the ace of spades is worth 7, the king of spades 10, and the queen of spades 13. The deal therefore contains 43 penalty points, and the player with the lowest total wins. [Black Maria rules](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Maria_%28card_game%29)

swap_horiz

Looking for Black Maria alternatives? Compare top competitors ranked & scored

arrow_forward