Board Game Arena

The game of Hearts is much more fun and strategic if the Jack of Diamonds variant is played. Whereas the Queen of Spades is -13 against you, the Jack of Diamond is +10 for you. This totally changes the game. Now you strategically keep some of the high cards instead of just getting rid of them, with the intent of winning the Jack of Diamonds, yet not get caught with the Queen of Spades also. However, if that happens, it would only be -3 instead of -13. In another example, if you were to end up with 8 hearts and the Jack of Diamonds, you would be +2 instead of -8. A person who runs the hearts and also gets the Jack, would score -36 against the opponents.

Falcon5

Whats the point? Then if you have it then you can just wait until everyone is out of diamonds and then play the card, so basically the person who has it, gets it. That's my opinion.

Cheers,
Pisaac

Not true. If in your hand, it is most often lost. For example, if you have the Jack and 2 other Diamonds below the Jack in your hand, the Ace, King, or Queen will likely take the Jack. You must follow suit. Or if someone just plays Clubs, Spades or Hearts the last 3 tricks, they also will win the Jack. So many ways to lose it. Tough to keep since everyone is after it.

Falcon5

I guess...
But still there aren't many known variants of hearts and I don't know if it's popular enough to spend the time to make another version, but whatever.