Can you play points on the first trick in Hearts?
The first trick of every Hearts hand is a free one. Here is the rule, the reasoning, and how to squeeze value out of the safety.
The rule
The hand opens with the 2 of clubs, everyone follows suit if they can, and the highest club takes the trick. If a player has no clubs at all, they may discard from another suit - but not a heart, and not the Queen of Spades. Penalty cards must wait for trick two. On this site the rule is enforced automatically, so you cannot break it by accident. The full ruleset is on the rules page.
Why the rule exists
Without it, a player void in clubs could drop the Queen of Spades on the very first trick, deciding 13 of the hand's 26 points by pure luck of the deal. Blocking points on trick one - together with the breaking hearts rule - guarantees every hand opens with at least a little maneuvering before the pain starts.
Using the free trick
Since the opening trick cannot cost points, it is the perfect dumping ground for a dangerous high club - the Ace or King of clubs wins the trick for free instead of winning a painful one later. If you are void in clubs, discard your riskiest legal card, like a bare Ace of Spades. Small edges like this are what the opening is for, as who leads first explains.
Related questions
Who leads first in Hearts?
The player holding the 2 of clubs leads first, and must lead that exact card. Everyone follows with a club if they can, the highest club takes the trick, and its winner leads the next trick. Because no penalty cards may be played on the first trick, the opening is always safe.
What does 'breaking hearts' mean?
Hearts are 'broken' the first time someone plays a heart during a hand, which happens when a player has no cards in the suit that was led and discards a heart instead. Until hearts are broken, no one may lead a heart - unless a player has nothing but hearts left in hand.
How do you play Hearts?
Hearts is a four-player trick-taking game using a standard 52-card deck, 13 cards each. After passing three cards, the player holding the 2 of clubs leads it, everyone must follow suit if they can, and the highest card of the led suit takes the trick. You want to avoid taking hearts (1 point each) and the Queen of Spades (13). Lowest total score wins.