Hearts needed a late Steven Pressley penalty to ensure they got their new campaign off to a winning start at Dundee.
Dark Blues boss Jim Duffy handed Bobby Mann and John Sutton home debuts, while visiting boss Craig Levein handing a debut to new signing Ramon Pereira with on-loan Manchester United played Michael Stewart starting on the bench.
Hearts almost went ahead with just nine minutes played when a pass from Paul Hartley found Graham Weir but his low effort from 12 yards was well blocked by Derek Soutar.
A stunning volley by Pereira on 17 minutes came crashing back of the crossbar after great play by Joe Hamill, before Sutton fired high over the target as Dundee struggled to trouble the Hearts defence.
Pereira then hit a similar shot high over the Dundee bar on the half-hour mark and Weir had another good chance for the visitors on the stroke of half-time, but with Brent Sancho breathing down his neck the little striker fired past the post.
Neil Jablonski forced Craig Gordon into an early second-half save, when he fired a low shot goalwards from wide on the right just seconds after the restart.
Both teams had loud claims for penalties waved away by referee Craig Thompson, both instances happened within 30 seconds of each other with Steve Lovell and then Pereira both tumbling in the box under pressure from defenders.
A slip by Sancho left Pereira with plenty of space down the left and he ran to the byline before picking out Phil Stamp inside the danger area. His first time shot was aiming towards the top corner but Dundee keeper Derek Soutar was well positioned and made a good stop.
Another save by Soutar on 62 minutes saw him tip a long-range effort by Alan Maybury over the crossbar for the visitors' first corner of the match.
Hearts continued to dominate their hosts and Andy Webster should have done better when he got his head to Hartley's corner, but the defender only succeeded in heading the ball onto the top of the net from six yards.
The Jambos were then awarded a penalty kick six minutes from time when Soutar was adjudged to have brought down Pereira when he dived full length at player's feet.
Captain Pressley stepped up to take the penalty and despite the Dundee keeper diving the correct way he couldn't reach the well stuck kick.
Hearts were awarded a free-kick just outside the Dundee box in the final minute and with three players standing over the ball it was Hartley who fired goalwards, only for Soutar to collect comfortably.
It didn't matter however for the visitors as the full-time whistle sounded moments later and they had collected all three points.