Hearts is an "evasion-type" trick-taking playing card game for four players, although most variations can accommodate between three and six players. wikipedia.org
Players draw cards to determine the first dealer; lowest deals. Eldest hand leads to the first trick. Players must follow suit if able; otherwise, they may play any card. The trick is won by the highest card of the suit led, and the winning player captures the cards played in the trick. The winner also leads the following trick. The winner is the player with the lowest score after an agreed number of deals.
Hearts itself emerged in the United States during the 1880s, The Standard Hoyle of 1887 reporting that it had only been played there for "the last five years" and was "probably of German origin".