# Microsoft Hearts
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/microsoft-hearts/220
**Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports
**Created:** [September 9, 1999, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/microsoft-hearts/220 "1999-09-09T23:17:00Z")
**Posts on this page:** 10
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@LemonGrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LemonGrl)
#### Post date: [September 9, 1999, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/microsoft-hearts/220/1 "1999-09-09T23:17:00Z")
i know that there’s a cheat code in the game hearts where you can see the other players cards, but i don’t know what it is. if anyone could tell me i’d be happy. also, has anyone else noticed that the computer cheats? i **always** get the queen of spades in my hand, and if i don’t, i win the hand that has the queen of spades in it and get 13 points! ARGH! i win this game at most 5% of the time! all rightie i’m sounding like a real loser now. help, anyone?
---
### Author:  [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)
#### Post date: [September 9, 1999, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/microsoft-hearts/220/2 "1999-09-09T23:51:00Z")
By Legba! I must have missed Cecil’s column about cheating on Windows accessories. Do you have a link to a copy of that column in the Archives?
---
### Author:  [@JillGat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JillGat)
#### Post date: [September 10, 1999, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/microsoft-hearts/220/3 "1999-09-10T03:46:00Z")
If this isn’t a Cecil’s column, you might want to post it on General Questions.
---
### Author:  [@kidbrad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kidbrad)
#### Post date: [September 10, 1999, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/microsoft-hearts/220/4 "1999-09-10T16:59:00Z")
Dont’ want to criticize your playing skill too much, but every copy of Hearts I’ve ever played (and I’ve played a lot: temp work in various locations) has given me the QS ~25% of the time. What’s more, I find it ridiculously easy to win. In fact, my goal is to win with a score of zero. Try playing Hearts in one of the many gaming communities (I’m on Yahoo). If you succeed there, _then_ you should worry about Microsoft’s proramming skills.
---
### Author:  [@LemonGrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LemonGrl)
#### Post date: [September 10, 1999, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/microsoft-hearts/220/5 "1999-09-10T20:49:00Z")
well, okay, so maybe i’m not the greatest hearts player ever! but still, if anyone has those codes, let me know!
---
### Author:  [@Louie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Louie)
#### Post date: [September 11, 1999, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/microsoft-hearts/220/6 "1999-09-11T01:25:00Z")
Here’s how to do it:
Close Hearts, then open up Registry Editor (REGEDIT.EXE, in the Windows folder), and go to this folder…
HKEY\_CURRENT\_USER/Software/Microsoft/Windows/CurrentVersion/Applets/Hearts
Then make a new **string** (not binary) value with these settings…
Name - zb
Value - 42
Exit out of Registry Editor, then start a game of Hearts.
To see the others cards, press Alt+Ctrl+Shift+F12 at the same time, and now you will see what everyone has in their hand.
---
### Author:  [@Louie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Louie)
#### Post date: [September 20, 1999, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/microsoft-hearts/220/7 "1999-09-20T05:20:00Z")
Let me know if this code works for you, okay?
---
### Author:  [@LemonGrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LemonGrl)
#### Post date: [September 21, 1999, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/microsoft-hearts/220/8 "1999-09-21T18:36:00Z")
oops, sorry! yes, the code did work. someone told me you didn’t need the string code, but i did 'cause my computer didn’t previously have it. ANYWAY thanks a lot louie. you’re a pal. =)
---
### Author:  [@Kinross](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kinross)
#### Post date: [September 21, 1999, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/microsoft-hearts/220/9 "1999-09-21T20:11:00Z")
The programer just have liked the Hichhickers Guide 🙂
---
### Author:  [@Louie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Louie)
#### Post date: [September 23, 1999, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/microsoft-hearts/220/10 "1999-09-23T04:19:00Z")
I’m always here to help.