Black Maria[a] is a popular British card game of the Hearts group for three to six players.

It is an elaboration of Black Lady, itself a development of the original American game of Hearts, the progenitor of the group.

[2] In the Penguin Hoyle of 1958, English economist, journalist and bridge player, Hubert Phillips claims to have invented Black Maria during the First World War.

[3] Its rules first appears in print in The Complete Book of Card Games in 1939, where Phillips and co-author, B.C.

[c] The games uses a standard French pack, normally of the English pattern, with 13 cards in each of the four suits: Hearts, Spades, Diamonds and Clubs.

Arnold mentions a type of slam known as 'hitting the moon' as an optional rule whereby a player with a poor hand is able to capture all the penalty cards.