Strategy guides
Play better. Win more.
Deep dives on all six games — written for ranked players, then battle-tested on RankFelt.
Hearts
Pass strategy, moon shots, reading the table.Hearts Passing Strategy: Which Cards to Pass and Why
The passing phase determines your hand before a single card is played. Learn which cards to unload, when to create a void, and how to set up a winning position in Hearts.
Shooting the Moon in Hearts: When to Go For It (And When Not To)
A successful moon shot adds 26 points to every other player. Learn how to recognize a moon attempt hand, execute it under pressure, and block your opponents from pulling it off.
How to Play Hearts: Complete Rules and Beginner Guide
Learn the rules of Hearts from scratch. This guide covers setup, gameplay, scoring, the Queen of Spades, shooting the moon, and winning strategies for new players.
Spades
Nil bids, bag management, partner communication.Nil Bids in Spades: When to Bid Zero (And How to Pull It Off)
A successful nil bid scores +100 points for your team. A failed one costs -100. Learn how to read your hand for nil potential, protect a partner's nil bid, and know when the risk is not worth it.
Bag Management in Spades: Stop the Bleeding Before It Costs You
Every 10 bags costs your team 100 points. Learn how to bid conservatively, read the score for bag pressure, and use bag accumulation against your opponents.
How to Play Spades: Complete Rules and Beginner Guide
Learn the rules of Spades from scratch. This guide covers partnerships, bidding, trick-taking, bags, nil bids, and winning strategies for new players.
Gin Rummy
Knock timing, reading discards, deadwood arithmetic.Knocking vs. Going Gin in Gin Rummy: Making the Right Call
Knowing when to knock and when to hold for gin is the central skill decision in competitive Gin Rummy. Learn the math, the undercut risk, and how to read when patience pays off.
Reading Your Opponent's Discards in Gin Rummy
The discard pile is an open book. Learn how to track what your opponent is building, identify which cards are safe to discard, and use the dead card pool to play faster and more accurately.
How to Play Gin Rummy: Complete Rules and Beginner Guide
Learn the rules of Gin Rummy from scratch. This guide covers melds, deadwood, drawing, discarding, knocking, going gin, and winning strategies for new players.