The term 'HEARTS OR SPADES' is a reference to the card GAME, which can be answered by the four-letter word GAME. Hearts and Spades are two of the four suits in a standard deck of playing cards, along with Diamonds and Clubs. The GAME of Hearts or Spades is typically played with four players, each of whom is dealt 13 cards from the deck. The objective of the GAME is to win as many tricks as possible, with the player who wins the most tricks being declared the winner.