Both goals were well-worked, but neither side appeared to have the belief at this early stage of the campaign and the game was littered with errors throughout.
Hearts started the match well, enjoying most of the possession without creating any real scoring chances.
The only goal attempt in the opening 15 minutes fell to Aberdeen's Barry Nicholson but his 20-yard drive was fired straight at Steve Banks.
The game then burst into life in the 19th minute when Aberdeen went ahead and once again it was midfielder Nicholson who was on hand to inflict the damage.
The goal was created on the right when Jamie Smith first beat Lee Wallace. When Eggert Jonsson then tried to usher the ball out of play, Smith dispossessed him on the byline and cut the ball back to Nicholson on the penalty spot.
The ex-Dunfermline man had his first shot blocked by Marius Zaliukas but was quick to react and fired the loose ball past Banks.
Aberdeen grew in confidence and took control of the game as Hearts appeared to run out of ideas.
Zaliukas was lucky to escape any punishment after aiming a kick at Chris Clark, but fortunately for the defender none of the officials spotted the incident.
With Aberdeen looking comfortable and the game moving into first-half stoppage time, Hearts grabbed an equaliser with a sensational shot from Michael Stewart.
There was a mix-up in the Dons defence and, when the ball fell to Stewart on the edge of the box, he hit a sweet effort into the top corner.
Hearts started the second half well and looked the likelier side to score. Andrius Velicka always looked dangerous and the Dons' Richard Foster, who had replaced Lee Mair at left-back, looked nervous.
The Hearts striker steered an effort over the bar early in the half and Aberdeen then had Zander Diamond to thank when he blocked an effort from the Tynecastle hit-man.
Hearts were physical throughout, collecting five cautions, and they may well need to utilise their large squad as cautions could well catch up with them.
Aberdeen did rally near the end and their best move of the game came in the 85th minute when their two substitutes, Chris Maguire and Craig Brewster, combined well.
Maguire powered down the left and found the veteran striker in the middle but Brewster couldn't get enough purchase on his shot and Banks gathered easily.