It’s at these times you need to get these rules clarified. 

One of the biggest areas of confusion is around the question: Can you stack in Dutch Blitz?

Players may stack on both the Dutch Piles and on the Post Piles in Dutch Blitz. For Dutch Piles, players must play in ascending order, 1-10 matching colors. The Post Piles need to be stacked in descending order, alternating Boy-Girl patterns. 

Read ahead for more clarification on this rule and other questions about this fast-paced card game.  

Stacking In The Center Dutch Piles

The most common place to stack in Dutch Blitz is in the middle Dutch Piles. 

During play, all players will play on the Dutch Piles, starting with the #1 and adding cards in ascending order, matching the color of the card below. 

There may be any number of piles here; you’re only limited by how many 1 cards show up at a time. 

Once someone plays a 10 on a pile, the pile is finished. 

Players can even play on each others’ piles.

Once a card is down, it’s fair game for anyone. 

Each card stacked in the center is worth +1 point at the end of the game. 

Can You Stack On Post Piles?

Post Pile stacking is one of the areas most people seem confused by at first. 

It helps if you think about it, like when you stack your cards in Solitaire. 

In Solitaire, you stack in descending order from King down to 2. 

But you also have to alternate between black and red colors. 

Stacking on the Post Piles is similar to Dutch Blitz. 

On any of the Post Piles, you may stack down in descending order. 

And like Solitaire, you must alternate Boy-Girl as you play. 

But just because you can, does that mean you should?

The official rules even advise against overusing this style of stacking for a few key reasons: 

• Stacking on the Post Pile gains you no points. 
• It ties up cards that are buried and may make it difficult to play. 

The generally accepted strategy is only to stack on Post Piles when you’re otherwise stuck or if it lets you play or move a card off the Blitz Pile. 

Can You Move A Whole Post Pile In Dutch Blitz?

You are allowed to move a whole Post Pile of multiple cards onto another Post Pile card or stack if it follows the descending Boy-Girl rule. It’s the only instance in Dutch where you’re allowed to move multiple cards at one time. 

Odds are, if you’re doing this type of move a lot, you’re not going after the right strategies. 

Post Pile stacking isn’t going to help you win the game if overused. 

Still, if you may end up needing to make a move like this someday, it’s still good to know what’s allowed. 

How Does The Wood Pile Work In Dutch Blitz?

The Wood Pile in Dutch Blitz is used when you can’t play from your Blitz Pile and Post Piles. Flip over three cards from the Wood Pile and play the one on top if possible. You may not alter the order of the cards or shuffle them unless all players are completely stuck. 

The Wood Pile works the same as the Stock pile in other games or the Hand in Ligretto. 

Check out our detailed Dutch Blitz vs. Ligretto comparison at the link. 

Is Dutch Blitz A Mennonite Game?

Dutch Blitz was invented by a German who moved to Pennsylvania named, Werner Ernst George Muller. While modeled on Mennonite and Pennsylvania Dutch aspects, it isn’t a game originally of those cultures. It’s based on older card games similar to Nerts, Pounce, Racing Demon, etc. 

While the game doesn’t come from Amish culture, it is popular in these communities, by all accounts. 

Even if it’s not played regularly, it is well-known in the community.

If you don’t know how to play Dutch Blitz, check out our complete guide for everything you need to know A to Z.

Learn How To Play Dutch Blitz

The post Can You Stack In Dutch Blitz? [Rule Clarification] appeared first on Huddle Around Games.

It’s not quite as common a comparison because my area hasn’t played a lot of Ligretto. 

But when I looked into it, the similarities were shocking! 

For those who want to know how they compare and if you should get one or the other, this Dutch Blitz vs. Ligretto comparison is for you. 

Dutch Blitz and Ligretto are essentially the same game. They’re so similar; there’s no real point in getting them both unless you just want something new to look at. The main differences are in the style of cards and the terms used for the different piles. 

If you want more details beyond this, read on! 

If you don’t know how to play Dutch Blitz, check out our complete guide for everything you need to know A to Z.

Learn How To Play Dutch Blitz

Dutch Blitz And Ligretto Differences And Similarities

It’ll be easier to look at the differences between these two card games because outside of these minor differences, they are exactly the same. 

Both are based on the same core gameplay as games like Nerts or Pounce or Racing Demon, but these two are essentially the same variant, marketed and designed in different ways. 

Style Of Cards

The makeup of the packs is exactly the same: 

• 4 decks
• Each deck with its own back
• 40 cards
• 4 different colors
• Number 1-10

It’s the design and back of the cards where the two games differ. 

While Dutch Blitz plays into the Pennsylvania Dutch aspect of the game using pictures like Pail, Plow, Pump, and Carriage, Ligretto instead opts for bright colors and geometric designs. 

It’s a colorful and eye-catching way of looking at the cards. 

Terms For The Piles

These games use all the same amount of piles with the same purposes, but the terms for each of these piles are different based on the game. 

This chart does a good job of explaining the similarities. 

The rules for the games change slightly based on if there are two players.

Look at how to play Dutch Blitz for 2 players.

Stacking On The Row/Post Piles

One minor difference (depending on the version you play) is stacking in the Post or Row piles. 

Dutch Blitz allows you to stack cards on top of other Post Piles if the cards go in descending order and alternate Boy-Girl. 

According to the base game of Ligretto, stacking isn’t allowed on the Row. 

As a result, Ligretto tends to get “stuck” more often, meaning no one can play anything from their Ligretto, Row, or Hand. 

When this happens, players stop play, shuffle their Hand, and then restart from where they are. 

There is an “advanced rule” to Ligretto that allows you to stack on the Row. 

Like Dutch Blitz, you need to stack in descending order, and you may not match color from one card to the other. 

Points To Win

As another minor difference, each game plays to a different point amount. 

The first player to get to 75 points in Dutch Blitz wins. 

But the player who wants to win in Ligretto needs to go to 99 points. 

Scoring remains the same between the two games. 

At the end of each round (when someone empties out their Blitz or Ligretto pile), scoring happens in three steps: 

1. Any cards left in the Blitz/Ligretto piles count as -2 per card. 
2. Cards played in the middle (Dutch or Piles) are worth +1 each. 
3. Combine these two with any previous point total for a current score. 

Should I Get Dutch Blitz Or Ligretto?

Both games play almost the same; you should get the one you prefer the style for. 

In general, Dutch Blitz costs less, so I’d suggest it first, but if you love the look of Ligretto’s bright colors and geometric shapes, there’s not much of a difference in price at the end of the day. 

Check out both options here on Amazon at the links below: 

Click to check price

Click to check price

Commonly Asked Questions

What Does Ligretto Mean In English?

Ligretto has no meaning in any language; it’s simply the name of the game. 

The earliest form of this game came from Germany in the 1960s, a few decades after Dutch Blitz and Nerts were popular. 

In 1988, the game settled into its current form and was published by Rosegarten Spiele and designed by Michael Michaels. 

Starting in 2009, it’s been marketed more across the pond in North America. 

Ligretto fans say Dutch Blitz came first, and Dutch Blitz fans say it was the other way around. 

Since both are based on earlier games, the point is largely moot. 

Do The Amish Play Dutch Blitz?

The Dutch referred to by the game aren’t people from the Netherlands but the Pennsylvania Dutch. 

This includes people from the Mennonite and Amish communities. 

Its popularity in these communities is hard to gauge, but it’s safe to say it’s played often enough that most people in these communities have at least heard of the game (in the same way, we Michiganders all know how to play Euchre). 

How Many Dutch Piles Can You Have In Dutch Blitz?

There is no limit to how many Dutch Piles you can have in the middle of your Dutch Blitz game. As long as the pile starts with a 1 and goes in ascending order matching colors, it’s possible to have 4 piles per player all going at the same time. 

The same is true of Ligretto. Piles aren’t limited; it’s purely based on what is available as you play the game. 

Games with larger numbers of players will have more piles in the center. 

The post Dutch Blitz Vs. Ligretto [Detailed Comparison] appeared first on Huddle Around Games.

But sometimes, not everyone is in a game-playing mood (which is fine…I guess). 

Soon after we got Dutch Blitz, I wanted to play, but only my son wanted to play. 

So we played with two players, and it was terrible. 

It turns out we were doing it wrong. 

There is a right and wrong way in how to play Dutch Blitz with 2 players. 

Two-player Dutch Blitz plays the same as the regular version with two major exceptions: you need to play with 5 Post Piles instead of 3, and you need to be prepared for an overall slower game. Otherwise, the rules remain the same. 

If this is all you need to play, go for it and have fun! 

If you want some more details on the setup from start to finish, read on!

Are you looking for some new games to spice up your life without spending a ton of money?

Enter the One Deck, Endless Fun eBook.

It contains 15 of my favorite card games you can play with a single deck of cards and a brief description of how to play each one.

I also include a handy table, breaking down each game in terms of difficulty, number of players, and the time it takes to play.

Download the eBook and start playing now!

Setting Up Your Space For Dutch Blitz With 2 Players

Each player gets a 40-card deck with its own picture on the back: 

• Pail
• Pump
• Carriage
• Plow

You’ll only use two of these decks for a two-player game. 

Each player shuffles the deck and then deals themselves 10 cards face-down for their Blitz Pile. 

Then, they flip over 5 cards and place them next to each other and the Blitz Pile. 

These are your 5 Post Piles. 

This is the major difference between 2-player Dutch Blitz and any other number. 

Each player puts the remaining cards in their deck (now the Wood Pile) closer to them. 

They flip over the top card of their Blitz Pile, and when both players are ready, they begin! 

After this, the game plays the same as before. 

The goal is to get rid of your Blitz Cards by either playing them in the center Dutch Piles or moving them over to your Post Piles. 

Anyone may play cards in the center, but they can only go in ascending order and matching color. 

Cards in the Post Piles may be used in the Dutch Piles too, and you may stack on these piles in descending order and alternating Boy-Girl. 

If you’re stuck, flip over three cards and play the top card if possible. 

If you don’t know how to play Dutch Blitz, check out our complete guide for everything you need to know A to Z.

Learn How To Play Dutch Blitz

Why Does Two-Player Dutch Blitz Use Five Post Piles?

This was the big mistake my son and I played when we tried this; we only used the normal three Post Piles. 

You wouldn’t think this makes such a big difference, but it really does. 

As everyone plays in the center Dutch Piles, it creates a lot of openings for other players. 

With only two people, there aren’t nearly as many chances to play. 

This leaves you stuck more often. 

With only three Post Piles, you won’t have as many chances to play and move over Blitz cards or stack and move things around. 

To combat this, you need to make sure you use five Post Piles. 

This will keep things moving along and not make the game too slow (as it did with us!). 

Want to win more games? Check out these Dutch Blitz strategies.

Click to check price

Commonly Asked Questions

How Many Players Do You Need For Dutch Blitz?

Dutch Blitz is a game for 2-4 players typically, but if you buy the expansion pack, it’s possible to play the game with up to 8 people. Each person gets their own deck of 40 cards, with 4 colors 1-10, and a unique back to the deck. 

If you’re playing with a ton of people, expect the game to get crazy (that’s half the fun!). 

Make sure you have a space where everyone can easily reach the many Dutch Piles that will be in the middle. 

Can You Use 2 Hands In Dutch Blitz?

You’re not allowed to use two hands in Dutch Blitz. One hand must be holding or by the Wood Pile, while the other flips and plays cards. You may not use each hand to pick up a card and play it. 

Likewise, you’re not allowed to pick up more than one card at a time. 

For example, if you see a Blue 3 in the Dutch Piles and you have a Blue 4 and a Blue 5 in your Post Piles, you’d have to pick up each one at a time. 

The exception to this rule is when you’re moving a stack of cards from one Post Pile to another. 

In this case, you may pick up the whole pile to move onto the card or other pile. 

Learn more about this rule in our article on stacking in Dutch Blitz.

How Many People Can Play The Dutch Blitz Expansion Pack?

The Dutch Blitz Expansion Pack adds another 4 decks, taking the number of players from 2-4 to 2-8. The expansion deck uses the same four pictures (pail, plow, pump, carriage) but uses a different color for each of them than what it was before. 

Interestingly enough, you don’t need the base pack to play Dutch Blitz; you just need one of the packs. 

When my wife and I looked for Dutch Blitz after learning how to play it, there wasn’t a base set to be found. 

Apparently, there was a snafu with the manufacturer, and they made extra expansions. 

It didn’t bother us at all; we just played like normal. 

The post How To Play Dutch Blitz With 2 Players: Quick Setup Guide appeared first on Huddle Around Games.

If you love this game (as my family does), you probably want to look for a few more games similar to this level of fun. 

I know we did, which is why I researched and asked around to come up with this list of 9 fun card games like Dutch Blitz. 

Let’s get dealing! 

If you don’t know how to play Dutch Blitz, check out our complete guide for everything you need to know A to Z.

Learn How To Play Dutch Blitz

Nerts

Nerts and Dutch Blitz are so related they’re basically variants of one another. 

The key here is that you play with multiple decks of regular cards rather than decks of the specialized Dutch Cards. 

Nerts (also called Pounce or Racing Demon) plays exactly like Dutch Blitz, but because you’re playing with regular cards, each hand or round takes a little longer. 

It’s similar enough, it’ll only take a few seconds to learn how to play, but it’s different enough it’ll feel like a new game. 

Read more about Dutch Blitz vs. Nerts.

Uno

Uno is an iconic card game anyone would know. 

But there are enough similarities between it and Dutch Blitz; it’s worth a second look for anyone who enjoys the game. 

While there isn’t the rush of everyone playing at the same time, you still are racing to get all the cards out of your hand first. 

Plus, everyone is playing off the same middle cards, just like Dutch Blitz. 

On top of everything else, the whole Reverse, Skip, Draw 2, and Wild cards make Uno the blast it is. 

Click to check price now

Speed

All you need to play Speed is a deck of regular cards and an opponent. 

The goal of the game is to get out of the cards in your deck first. 

Both players play at the exact same and off the same cards in the middle. 

This is just like the thrill of playing Dutch Blitz. 

Most games in Speed only take a few minutes to play, and you can only play with two players at a time. 

So if you’re looking for more of a family card game night, you might want to set up a tournament and play multiple matches where to win, you need to take the best of 5 or 7 games per player. 

Skip-Bo

Skip-Bo and Dutch Blitz have quite a few similarities without being so similar you feel like you’re playing the same game. 

Both card games have everyone building piles in ascending order in the middle off of each other. 

Both games have the goal of emptying out one of their piles first to win the round and the game. 

Click to check price

But Skip-Bo tends to take longer because it uses more cards (162 to be exact) and makes players take turns. 

So if you’re looking for a game like Dutch Blitz without the fast-paced gameplay, Skip-Bo is for you. 

Check out our guide to Dutch Blitz vs. Skip-Bo. 

Perpetual Commotion

Perpetual Commotion is a more chaotic and modern version of Dutch Blitz. 

It plays exactly like Dutch Blitz with a few more rules to make the game a bit crazier.

There are added rules and bonuses for going out first, and you can’t stack down on your “Front Five” piles (similar to Post Piles).

It also features an extended hand by making people go from Start to Stop including 13 cards. 

Start cards are wild and replace the 1s. The 2s determine what color the Arena or middle cards must be in that particular pile. 

After playing 2-12, the next player stops the deck by playing a STOP card. 

In this way, it sounds like Nerts, Dutch Blitz, and Uno had a game child. 

Click to check price

Slap Jack

If one of your favorite parts of Dutch Blitz is those moments when multiple players slap down for a spot, then Slap Jack is a quick and simple game for you. 

Any number of players can play, but it works best in smaller groups of 2-5. 

Deal out an equal (or as close as possible) number of cards until the whole deck is out. 

One player at a time plays their top card in the middle. 

When a Jack pops up, players slap their hands down on it. 

The person who slapped first gets the whole pile. 

Ligretto

Ligretto is a game from Germany based on the same subset of cards as Dutch Blitz and Nerts. 

In fact, if you’ve ever played both, you’ll have noticed the games are exactly the same. 

The difference is so minor; they’re negligible. 

If you know someone who would prefer the geometric styles of Ligretto over the folksy Dutch Blitz ones, check this one out. 

Check out our guide comparing Dutch Blitz and Ligretto.

Blink

Blink is another fast-paced card game you’ll want to check out if you love the speed of Dutch Blitz. 

It’s essentially Speed with shapes and visual elements instead of a standard deck of cards. 

If you really love Speed and quick, short games, this game is for you. 

Click to check item price

Scrabble Slam

Scrabble Slam is a game I got for my 10-year-old, who loves Scrabble and Dutch Blitz. 

I was intrigued by the fast-play aspect of it on the box, and the game didn’t disappoint. 

The deck of letter cards is split between the players, and a 4-letter word (or two words) is placed in the middle. 

Once the game starts, players race to empty their hands of their letter cards by changing the word to another one letter at a time. 

It’s way more fun than it should be, and it’s amazing for helping your kids (and grownups, too) keep their minds sharp. 

Click to check price

The post 9 Fun Card Games Like Dutch Blitz appeared first on Huddle Around Games.

This reminds me of a faster version of Skip-Bo. 

I hadn’t played that game in years, so I dug it out of my closet to see how similar it was. 

While they have a good deal in common, they’re not exactly the same. 

That’s where this Dutch Bliz vs. Skip-Bo guide comes in. 

Let’s look at these two popular card games. 

If you don’t know how to play Dutch Blitz, check out our complete guide for everything you need to know A to Z.

Learn How To Play Dutch Blitz

Quick Reference Chart For Dutch Blitz Vs. Skip-Bo

How Dutch Blitz And Skip-Bo Are Different

In my opinion, the games are more different than they are similar, so let’s talk about the areas where they are different here. 

Makeup Of The Deck: Different

The decks are very different between the two games. 

In Dutch Blitz, we have one deck per person, and each deck has its own back picture, 40 cards, and 4 different colors. 

Each color has numbers from 1-10, so there are 4 sets of 1-10 in each deck. 

Skip-Bo has all players working from a single deck. 

There are 144 numbered cards and 18 Skip-Bo cards, or a total of 162 cards. 

The numbered cards go from 1 to 12, so there are 12 sets of 12 in the whole deck. 

Take Turns Vs. Everyone Play

The flow of the game is very different as well. 

This makes the games feel completely different to me, as one of the critical aspects of Dutch Blitz is how everyone races to finish at the same time. 

All players in Dutch Blitz go as fast they can to empty their Blitz Pile using the Post Piles and Wood Piles to help. 

Skip-Bo doesn’t work the same way. 

The youngest player goes first (or the person who cuts the highest card, depending on whom you ask), and then play continues in a taking-turns fashion. 

Ultimate Goal For Winning

Dutch Blitz officially plays as many rounds as is needed to get to 75 points. 

They have a Blitz Pile where if you don’t use them all in a round, each card counts as negative two (-2) points. Then, you get positive points by playing your cards in the middle. 

Most Dutch Blitz games will finish in somewhere between 5-10 hands or rounds. 

Skip-Bo has two main ways to play: 

1. Play one round, and the person who goes out playing all the cards in their Stock wins! 
2. Play multiple rounds. The person who goes out gets 25 points plus 5 for every card left in their opponents’ Stock piles. The first person to get to 500 points wins. 

Draw Decks

In Dutch Blitz, you use cards from your Wood Pile to move other cards around get your Blitz cards out. 

This Wood Pile is only accessible to you. Each person has their own. 

When you use it, you have to flip three cards over and play the top one first. 

In Skip-Bo, leftover cards go into the Draw Pile in the center. 

Everyone draws at the beginning of their turn, so they have five cards in their hand. 

They may play anything from the hand when it’s their turn, in any order. 

When the Draw Pile goes out, reshuffle any card stacks completed in the middle Building Piles and play again. 

How Dutch Blitz And Skip-Bo Are The Same

There are some key ideas between the two games which are similar to one another. 

I’m not saying the games are unrelated at all, as this section will show. 

Goal Of Emptying Out A Pile To Gain Points

In both Dutch Blitz and Skip-Bo, the goal of each hand or round is to empty out a specific pile of cards that belongs to the player. 

The faster you’re able to go out, the better overall your score will be. 

In Dutch Blitz, this is the Blitz Pile, which is a pile of 10 cards you keep near you. 

For the game of Skip-Bo, you get 30 cards in a Stock Pile you need to get rid of by playing it in the middle. 

To clarify: in a 2-4 player game, you get 30 cards. In a 5-6 player game, you get 20 cards. 

Still, the main goal of each hand remains very similar. 

Post Piles And Discard Piles Help To Get Cards Out

In front of each player, they get some spots to help them move cards around to empty out their Stock and Blitz Piles. 

In Dutch Blitz, you get three Post Piles (unless you’re playing a two-player game, in which case, you get five of them). 

These may be played on at any time with multiple cards, and the Blitz Pile cards may go directly onto them or the empty space where applicable. 

In Skip-Bo, you get four Discard Piles. These are spaces for you to play from the middle or to discard a single card from your hand. 

Cards from your stock may not be played directly into the Discard, and unlike Dutch Blitz, you may stack them in any order, one at a time. 

Middle Play And Building Cards Sequentially

In both games, there are piles in the middle for stacking and building cards. 

Dutch Blitz calls these Dutch Piles, while Skip-Bo calls them Building Piles. 

Both sets of piles are played from the hand, discard/post, or stock/blitz piles. 

They both must start at 1 (or the Skip-Bo wild in Skip-Bo’s case) and move up in order. 

Dutch Blitz must be the same color; Skip-Bo doesn’t have that requirement. 

Penalty For Not Playing Cards

In both games, there is also a penalty for not going out first. 

Dutch Blitz counts each card left in the Blitz Pile as -2 toward your score. 

In Skip-Bo, each card you don’t play counts as +5 toward the person who went out first.

Check out some other games like Dutch Blitz.

The post Dutch Blitz Vs. Skip-Bo [Detailed Comparison] appeared first on Huddle Around Games.

I’ve always described it as Solitaire meets Slap Jack, and if you know what those games are, you’ll have a head start in playing this game. 

But outside of this, there are several How To Play Dutch Blitz guides that talk about rules but aren’t really comprehensive. 

In this guide, we wanted to help get you started playing the game right away without a lot of confusion. 

Quick Dutch Blitz Breakdown

Number of Players: 2-8+ 

Time: 20-30 minutes. 

Ages: 6 years or older. 

Goal: Be the first Player to reach 75 points by playing as many cards in the middle and going out of your Blitz Pile first.

Materials: Specialize deck of 40 cards for each Player. Each deck has cards 1-10 in four different colors. The back of each deck has a different picture for each Player.  

Flow of the Game: 

• Each Player shuffles their cards and deals out 10 cards for their Blitz Pile and 1 card for 3 Post Piles. 
• They turn over the top Blitz card and begin play. 
• Cards from the Post, Blitz, and Wood Piles may be played in the middle (Dutch Piles) in ASCENDING order matching the color. 
• When a spot is made in the Post, the Blitz card may be moved over. 
• If no play can be made, the Player should turn over three cards from the Wood Pile and must play the top card before playing the ones underneath. 
• A player may stack on the Post Piles in DESCENDING order alternating Boy-Girl. 
• When a player empties their Blitz Pile, they yell, “Blitz!” Play stops, and scoring begins.

Scoring: At the end of each round, players do the following:

1. Count the cards left in their Blitz Pile and multiply by -2. 
2. Count the cards they played in the middle Dutch Piles (separated by card back). These are +1. 
3. Combine their negative, positive, and previous totals for their current score. 

Why Play Dutch Blitz?

• Fun for the whole family
• Builds coordination
• Takes up no space
• Quick to play
• Competitive play

Click to buy now!

Dutch Blitz Vocabulary

Normally, I save a vocabulary or glossary for the end of a tutorial, but in this game, you’ll want to know what each word means before looking at the directions in more detail. 

Look ahead to the next section for a description and diagram of how and where these card piles go. 

Wood Pile

The Wood Pile is made of the extra cards not used in the other ones. 

When no play can be made from the Post or Blitz Piles, players turn over three cards at a time from the Wood Pile. 

The Player must play from the top card of the three, and if they can’t, they can flip over another three cards. 

Cards in the Wood Pile must always be turned in groups of three. 

When you run out of cards in the Wood Pile, flip the whole pile back over without shuffling and start again.

Dutch Piles

The Dutch Piles start with no cards in them. 

As players get 1s, they may start as many Dutch Piles as they want. 

Any player may play on any Dutch Pile in the middle as long as they play in consecutive ASCENDING order and match the color. 

For example, even in Player 1 puts down a Blue 1, player 2 may play a Blue 2 on top of it. 

At the end of the hand, cards in these piles are worth +1.  

Post Piles

Post Piles are traditionally placed to the left of the main Blitz Pile in front of a player, though our house rules allow you to switch the pile to the right side depending on your preference. 

The Post Piles are really spots for moving around cards from the Blitz Pile or Wood Pile. 

In any game with 3+ players, there are 3 Post Piles or spaces. 

In a 2 player game, there are 5 Post Piles. 

Post Pile cards are face up. 

Players may stack on their own Post Pile, but it needs to be in DESCENDING consecutive order, alternating Boy-Girl. 

Blitz Pile

The Blitz Pile is the core of the game and each hand. 

It contains 10 cards, with the final card placed face up. 

This is the pile key towards blitzing the hand and setting the other players back. 

The goal of each hand is to empty this pile. 

When a Post Pile is empty (or by stacking on the Post Piles), a player should move the Blitz card over and then flip over the next one. 

Better yet, if the Player can put a Blitz card on one of the Dutch Piles, they should move it over. 

Once the pile is empty, they yell, “Blitz!”

Each card leftover once someone yells Blitz! is worth -2 points.

Blitz!

This is what you yell when you finish the game. 

Some people also allow you to yell, “Nerts!” which is a cousin-variant of Dutch Blitz. 

As soon as a player empties their Blitz Pile, they must say it, and then all play immediately stops. 

Dutch!

This is the phrase you yell when someone makes a mistake. 

After yelling “Dutch!” everyone needs to freeze right where they are. 

No cards can be touched or played. 

Misplayed cards are reset, and when all players are agreed that everything is fixed, play resumes. 

How To Setup The Playing Field

Here are the steps for setting up your Dutch Blitz hand. 

Reference the image above and the Vocab section as needed. 

1. Each Player shuffles their own 40 card deck. 
2. Each Player deals 10 face-down cards for their Blitz Pile in front of them (either to the left or right, depending on their preference). 
3. Next, each Player deals 3 face-up cards in line with the Blitz Pile directly in front of them for the Post Piles (5 Post Piles for two players). 
4. They place the rest of the deck face-down in front of them, closer than the Blitz and Post Piles. This is the Wood Pile. 
5. The space next to the Wood Pile is for the cards you flip over. 
6. When they’re ready, each Player flips over the top card on their Blitz pile and waits. 

Dutch Blitz Play

When all players are ready, one Player gives the signal to start (usually the scorekeeper). 

There are no turns in Dutch Blitz. 

Any 1-value card is played as the start of a pile in the middle or Dutch Piles. 

There can be as many of these as there are 1s that turn up, even if the same color has already been started. 

Players look to their Blitz, Post, and Wood Piles for cards to play on top of the Dutch Piles in ASCENDING order, matching color. 

Any player may play on top of any Dutch Pile. 

If a player uses up a Post Pile, the card on top of the Blitz Pile may be moved over to the empty spot. 

Always keep the same number of Post Piles (don’t add more). 

If the Blitz Pile and Post Piles can’t play, the Player flips over three cards from their Wood Pile. 

They play the top card if possible. If not, they flip over three more cards. 

The order of cards in the Wood Pile can’t be changed, and they must always be flipped in groups of three.

As you play, if you see a way to stack cards from the Blitz or Wood Piles onto the Post Piles, this is allowed as well. 

Remember, they must be stacked in DESCENDING order alternating Boy-Girl based on the picture on the cards.

The play continues with this flow until the Blitz pile is empty: 

1. Play Blitz card in the Dutch Pile, Post Pile, or stack on Post if possible (flip over the next card when you do). 
2. Play Post Pile cards in the Dutch Piles (or move stacks on other Post Piles to make room for Blitz cards). 
3. Flip three cards off the Wood Pile and play in the Dutch Piles or stack on the Post Piles. 

When the Blitz Pile is empty, play stops, and scoring begins. 

Scoring Dutch Blitz

Once someone yells, “Blitz!” and ends the round, all play stops, and cards are left as they are. 

Each Player counts the number of cards left in their Blitz Pile only and gives this number to the scorekeeper. 

The scorekeeper then multiplies each number by -2 and writes the negative points down. 

Whoever went out first gets a zero against them. 

After reporting their score, each Player gathers up the following and puts them off to the side: 

• Blitz
• Post
• Wood

All Dutch Piles are put together and then separated by Player. 

Remember, each Player should be assigned a backing (Pail, Plow, Pump, Carriage). 

Return the Dutch cards to the assigned Player and have them count the number of cards they played in the Dutch Piles. 

Each card played here is worth +1 point. 

The players report this number to the scorekeeper, who writes it down. 

The scorekeeper then combines the negative points, positive points, and any previous total from hands before. 

Everyone puts the Dutch cards back in their decks, shuffles, and plays again. 

In this manner, you continue until someone reaches a total of 75 or more points. 

Whoever reaches it first (or has the highest total if two people pass it at the same time) wins! 

If there is a tie, where multiple players pass 75 at the same time and end on the same value, the winner is the one who earned the most points in that hand. 

If it’s still a tie, play another round to see who wins. 

It may be helpful to check out our guide on how to score Dutch Blitz, including our FREE printable score sheet. 

Other Dutch Blitz Rules

There are a few other rules to be aware of in Dutch Blitz that don’t always come up in games. 

The ones marked with a * are part of the official rules.

The other ones are common practice. 

Of course, house rules always trump official rules, so if you want to mix it up, feel free! 

I won’t tell the Dutch Blitz police on you. 

• One hand only*: You can’t put down the Wood Pile to pick up multiple cards with two hands to play them. 
• Cards must be set down*: No throwing of cards onto the Dutch Piles is allowed. They must be put down. An exception might be made if you have a large group and they can’t reach the pile. 
• Dutch Piles always start with 1s.*
• Blitz Pile cards must be played in order*. No shuffling or mixing the Blitz Pile is allowed. 
• Wood Pile must be played in order*. Wood Pile cards must be flipped over in groups of three and played in that order. No shuffling is allowed. 
• If all players are “stuck,” move one card from the top of the Wood Pile to the bottom*. This only applies if every single Player is completely blocked from playing from the Post, Blitz, and Wood piles, AND no Post Pile stacking is an option. 
• If the total value of your Post and Blitz piles is over 30, you may reshuffle and set up again. This helps prevent people from getting too stuck in the early game. 
• Whoever completes the Dutch Pile must move it out of the way. With large groups of players, there will be a ton of Dutch Piles. When it’s complete (all the way through 10), the Player who played the 10 must move it off to the side to make room for new piles. 

Check out these other card games like Dutch Blitz.

Quick Strategies

If you want some quick strategies to up your game, check these out: 

• Get that Blitz pile down before any other pile.  
• Stacking on Post Piles is a good strategy, but not right away. Doing it early locks up cards and keeps them out of play.
• There’s no reason to hold onto Wood Pile cards. Get them out there for more points!
• Look at what card is in the middle and how far away your Post and Blitz cards are. If you see someone start playing on a pile your cards are near, get ready!
• Spy on your opponents. Do they have similar cards to you? Then watch for them to move and react.
• Don’t get hung up on getting a laid card snaked from under you. Keep going!
• Play Dutch Blitz more. With practice comes skill in seeing all the cards right away.
• High cards on the Blitz Pile are a problem. If you see one, move it off as soon as possible, even if you have to stack.
• If you have a high card on top of your Blitz Pile, do everything you can to get it out right away, including stacking on the Post Piles. 

Learn more Dutch Blitz strategies in our article at the link.

Where Can I Buy Dutch Blitz?

Dutch Blitz is available in many places and stores (as well as online).

The base game comes with enough decks for four players, but the expansion takes it up to 8 players.

When we first found the game, we only had the expansion, so you can play with just that one too.

Pretty much any board game and card games shop will have this.

It’s a very popular game, and I’ve come across many people who know it (or one of its variations).

Click the link to check it out on Amazon if you want to shop online.

Compare Amazon

The post How To Play Dutch Blitz [Complete Guide] appeared first on Huddle Around Games.

“Wait! I know this game; it’s like Nerts!”

I’d never heard of Nerts before, but it helped several people realize how to play the game faster. 

With this in mind, I decided to research and build this Dutch Blitz vs. Nerts comparison to settle the debate once and for all of how similar they are. 

If you don’t know how to play Dutch Blitz, check out our complete guide for everything you need to know A to Z.

Learn How To Play Dutch Blitz

Goal Of The Game

In Dutch Blitz and Nerts, the goal is to be the first one to reach a specific number of points. 

In Dutch Blitz, the number goal given is 75. 

Nerts doesn’t have a specific set goal, and it must be decided by the players ahead of time. 

In general, 100 points is the typical goal. 

Does this make Nerts a longer game? 

Not usually. 

Nerts uses more cards and has longer hands.

As a result, they gain points more quickly, hitting the 100-point mark in fewer hands, but overall the same amount of time. 

Required Materials

Nerts requires a single deck of 52 cards per player or team, but each deck needs to have a different back. 

This helps keep track of the cards and who they belong to. 

While Dutch Blitz can be played with regular cards, it’s best if you use the premade pack. 

Each pack comes with four different decks of 40 cards. 

Each deck contains four colors and cards from 1-10. 

The decks also have different pictures on the back for each player, similar to how Nerts needs different-backed decks. 

All in all, they’re based on the same requirements but slightly different. 

Card Game Setup

The card game setup for Dutch Blit and Nerts is almost identical, with minor differences and terms between the games. 

This chart does a good job of showing how they’re different. 

Play

The play for the two games is exactly the same. 

Your goal is to empty out the Blitz/Nerts pile first. 

You do this by playing in the middle of space and staking cards of the same suit/color in ASCENDING order starting with the 1 or Ace. 

Anyone may play on anyone’s pile in this middle Common Area/Dutch Pile. 

Post Pile/Work Piles may be played in the middle as well. 

Once a spot is opened, it’s OK to move your Blitz/Nerts card to that spot and flip over the next one. 

It’s also allowed to stack on the Post/Work Piles by playing cards that are DESCENDING and alternate either Boy-Girl (Dutch Blitz) or Red-Black (Nerts). 

If you can’t play, flip over three cards from the Wood/Stock. The top card may be used. 

If it can’t be used, flip over another three and keep going. 

Wood/Stock cards may also be played in the middle. 

When someone empties out their Blitz/Nerts pile, they yell “Blitz!” or “Nerts!”

All play stops, and the points are counted for this hand. 

Once the points have been tallied, we continue the game until someone reaches the goal set of points and wins. 

Scoring

Scoring works the exact same for both games as well. 

At the end of every round, the person who went out gets 0 points against them. 

For the other players, they count the cards left in the Blitz/Nerts pile and multiply the total by -2. 

Then, the cards in the Common Area/Dutch Piles in the middle are separated and counted. 

Each card here is worth a +1 point. 

Leftover Post/Work and Wood/Stock cards aren’t counted at this point. 

Any previous total is reconciled with the negative points and positive points to get the new total. 

Do You Have To Call Nerts/Blitz?

When you’re out of cards, there is a little discrepancy between the games. 

In Dutch Blitz, you’re supposed to call “Blitz!” as soon as it happens. 

Of course, house rules are the way to go. If you all decide to allow people to keep going, that’s fine. 

In Nerts, the common rule specifically says you don’t have to call “Nerts!” when you’re out of cards in the Nerts pile. 

Which Came First? Dutch Blitz Or Nerts?

The origins of Dutch Blitz are well known. The game was invented in 1937 by Werner Ernst George Muller when he came from Germany and settled in Pennsylvania. 

Though it has no connection to the Netherlands (think Pennsylvania Dutch, instead), it’s a popular card game for quick, competitive games.

Nerts has a less clear history. 

Fans and enthusiasts of the game trace it back to the 1930-40s, for sure, though they suspect it was played much earlier than this as a different form of Canfield and Demon Solitaire games. 

It goes by names like: 

• Hell 
• Pounce
• Peanuts
• Racing Demon
• Squinch

Most Nerts and card-game aficionados consider Dutch Blitz a retail-variant of the game Nerts. 

Its pre-packaged nature and classic design are what sets it apart from Nerts for most people. 

Whatever you call it, the core gameplay remains the same between the two games, so it’s fair to say they’re basically the same. 

The post Dutch Blitz Vs. Nerts [Detailed Comparison] appeared first on Huddle Around Games.

But it’s even sweeter when those memories are full of victories, right? 

I’ve been playing Dutch Blitz for a while now, and my wife and I tend to win a lot. 

We’ve developed some strong Dutch Blitz strategy we’d like to share with you to help you take your game to the next level. 

Let’s deal the cards! 

If you don’t know how to play Dutch Blitz, check out our complete guide for everything you need to know A to Z.

Learn How To Play Dutch Blitz

Empty That Blitz Pile First

It seems obvious, but in a game where you’re racing to get out of the Blitz Pile first, you want to play those Blitz cards every chance you get. 

I’m saying here that I see many people choose to play from the Post Piles before the Blitz. 

I don’t know if it’s to create more space in the Post or because they didn’t see the card in the first place, but you always need to keep the Blitz first in your mind. 

Remember, every card left in your Blitz Pile is worth -2 points at the end of the hand. 

So whether you go out or someone else does, it’s in your best interest to get as many cards out as possible.

Avoid Stacking On Post Piles From The Wood Pile

Stacking Post Cards in descending order is a great way to get unstuck in Dutch Blitz, but you don’t want to use it too much. 

For those who forgot or never learned, in Dutch Blitz, you’re allowed to stack in DESCENDING order on the Post Piles as long as the cards alternate boy-girl. 

Think of how we stack in Solitaire similarly. 

But unlike Solitaire, we don’t always want to stack on the Post. 

This freezes the cards above and makes it harder to clear out space to move your Blitz Card over. 

For this reason, stacking on the Post from the Wood Pile every chance you get isn’t a good idea unless you’re stuck. 

If you have nothing else to play, you should stack to unfreeze your play and access different cards. 

But outside of this, you’ll quickly find a whole bunch of cards you can’t play. 

Plus, Post cards are worth nothing in the end, to the good or the bad. 

It’s better to hold off. 

You may also want to learn what to do when no one can go in Dutch Blitz and other rare rules of the game. 

Stack Post Piles First When It’ll Help You Move A Blitz Card

All of the above being said, there is a time when you want to stack on the Post Piles right away. 

My wife doesn’t always agree with this strategy, but it works for me, and she begrudgingly acknowledges it works well for me most of the time. 

When you see the chance to “make an opening” for a Blitz card or stack a Blitz card on top of another, do it right away. 

This will essentially give you more chances to get those Blitz cards out. 

Essentially, this is a combination of the two previous tips, but following this tip will help you go out faster than your opponent. 

Going out sooner means a higher score in Dutch Blitz. 

Click to check price

Watch Out For What The Others Have

This is a high-level strategy for experienced players. 

Newer players shouldn’t attempt this, or they’ll be overwhelmed quickly. 

As you play, look at the opponents and what they have. 

Take particular note of cards they have that match your cards. 

If they have one below but close to yours in value, this is one to watch. 

When they have the chance to play this card, get ready because your chance will be coming up soon. 

Here’s an example: 

Let’s say you have a Green 5 on the top of your Blitz pile. 

As you play, you notice another player has a Green 4 in their post pile. 

You see someone else add a Green 3 onto a Green 2 in the Dutch Pile. 

You get ready to play as the other player gets their Green 4 ready. 

It saves time and allows you to steal some spots away from other players with the same card. 

Mentally Sort By Color And Range Of Number

Another high-level trick is to sort your card mentally by number and general number range. 

As Dutch Piles fill up, you’ll be able to better note when they get close to what you have, so you can adjust your attention to them when the time is right.

I like to sort mine into Low (1-4), Middle (5-7), and High (8-10) in my head and by color. 

Here’s a small example: 

My cards are: 

• Green 2
• Red 5
• Red 10
• Yellow 8 (Blitz)

If it’s early in the game, I would almost ignore then Red 10 and Yellow 8, knowing they won’t be played for a minute.

I would keep an eye on any red piles as they got close to the Red 5. 

And I’d be on a constant lookout for anyone to start a Green 1 pile, so I could jump on it right away. 

Don’t Get Caught Up In Beating (Or Losing) A Single Card

With everyone racing to play off the same cards in the middle Dutch Piles, there will be many instances where two people try to play the same card at the same time. 

Whoever gets their card down first gets it. That’s the rule. 

But it’s often heated enough that some people will slightly argue. It’s all in good fun most of the time, but it’s a great opportunity to save time too (or lose it). 

When I see people give in to the friendly trash talk, I keep playing and can often get a few cards in before they resume play. 

If you’re involved in the battle for the card spot, it’s sometimes best to quickly give it up and keep playing in other ways. 

There’s plenty to play in Dutch Blitz; you’ll make it up. 

As fun as it is to rib each other, avoid it, or you’ll waste time and cards. 

Unless you’re my wife, she has an uncanny ability to trash talk and play without missing a beat either way! 

Play Often

Seeing the colors and cards in Dutch Blitz gets easier with time, and the more you play, the more you’re able to process the game as a whole, rather than just what you have. 

If you really want to get better, it just takes time. 

If you’re looking for other games similar to this, check out Nerts.

It’s basically the same thing, with some slight differences.

Learn more in our Dutch Blitz vs. Nerts comparison.

Get High Cards Off Your Blitz Pile Right Away

High cards on your Blitz Pile are the worst. 

When you flip over a 10, you know it’s going to be a long hand. 

While you don’t want to alter your play strategy altogether, when you have a 10 or another high card on the Blitz, do everything you can to move it as soon as possible. 

If this means stacking Post Piles (even using Wood Pile cards), do it. 

It’s better to free up your Blitz Pile. 

Although, if you turn up another 10, I’m sorry. It happens to all of us sometimes! 

Play The Wood Pile As Much As Possible

A lot of folks wonder if they need to play a Wood Pile card if it can be played. 

While you don’t have to, there’s no good reason not to. 

Yes, it’s generally better to play Blitz and Post cards first; if that’s not an option, don’t avoid playing a Wood card just to wait for another opportunity. 

Each one you get into the middle Dutch Piles is still worth a positive 1 point. 

Those add up quickly and make a big difference in the game.  

The post 9 Tips For Better Dutch Blitz Strategy [Win More!] appeared first on Huddle Around Games.

But there are some questions that pop up the more you play, and the basic rules don’t always cover everything. 

This is why I decided to search around for these common questions and offer a single place to put some definitive answers. 

Let’s get playing, shall we?

What Happens If No One Can Play In Dutch Blitz?

If no one can play at all in Dutch Blitz, each player may move the top card from the Wood Pile and place it on the bottom of the deck. This resets the cards and allows you to unlock more play. However, it has to be every player who’s stuck with nothing to play on the Dutch Piles or stack on the Post Piles. 

This rule will rarely ever actually go into effect, so don’t count on it being used. 

Most of the time, there will be one player who can play or stack something to “knock the cards loose” and allow the play to continue. 

In fact, in all the time I’ve been playing Dutch Blitz, it’s never happened, though we’ve had the play slow down quite a bit at times when we seemed stuck. 

One Player Can’t Play

If it’s one player who’s completely stuck, they’re out of luck. 

They need to keep flipping cards from the Wood Pile and watching the other players. 

At some point, something will change enough to allow them to get back in the game. 

It may be quite a while, and it can be pretty frustrating. 

But unfortunately, it’s a part of the luck of the game. 

Everyone Can’t Play (Gridlock)

If, and only if, every single person is completely stuck, can you activate the one card rule. 

The following conditions have to be met: 

• No one can move a card from their Blitz Pile. 
• No one can move a card from their Post Pile. 
• No available cards from the Wood Pile are usable. 
• There are no stacking options in the Post Piles. 
• Every single player is in this same state of gridlock. 

It can’t be that you’re choosing to avoid stacking on the Post Piles. 

There have to be legitimately no options left. 

If this happens, all players turn their Wood Piles face down, take the top card, put it on the bottom of the deck, and start playing again. 

Moving the card shifts the Wood Pile and allows you access to all those cards you couldn’t play before. 

This is enough to continue to play and keep the game going. 

What Happens When You Run Out Of Wood Pile In Dutch Blitz?

If you run out of Wood Pile cards in Dutch Blitz, you have to play from your Post and Blitz Piles. If nothing can be played, you need to watch the other players and wait for your chance to get back into the game. 

The odds of running out of your Wood Pile are slim to none unless the hand goes a long time. 

Can You Choose Not To Play A Card In Dutch Blitz?

If you don’t want to play a card in Dutch Blitz, you don’t have to. But you can’t claim to be gridlocked or stuck if there’s an option available. It’s OK to wait for a better opportunity. 

Some players, like my wife, hate stacking cards on the Post Pile. 

They feel like it freezes up the game and makes the piles less usable. 

She wins enough that I think it’s a valid strategy. 

So she passes on playing cards here, and this is fine. 

However, if there’s an opportunity to play in Dutch Piles, you’d do well to play it straight away. 

Each card played in the center is worth a point to the good, so you don’t gain anything by holding back. 

If you don’t know how to play Dutch Blitz, check out our complete guide for everything you need to know A to Z.

Learn How To Play Dutch Blitz

Do You Have To Call Blitz In Dutch Blitz?

As soon as a player empties out their Blitz Pile, they must end the game by yelling “Blitz.” They can’t wait to call it and play more cards from their Wood or Post Piles. Play is over as soon as they yell “Blitz.” 

There is no good reason to wait on calling Blitz. 

Sure, you could play more in the Dutch Piles and get more points, but for each card your opponents play, they also get points. 

On top of this, every card they use from their Blitz Pile removes a -2. 

Though you may be considering this strategy, don’t do it! 

For one, it violates the spirit of the game. 

For another, it’s a poor choice from a winning perspective. 

Do Post Piles In Dutch Blitz Have To Be The Same Color?

Post piles may be stacked in descending order, alternating boy-girl, so they cannot be the same color. Dutch piles in the center MUST be the same color as the go in ascending order. 

How Do You Keep Score In Dutch Blitz?

Keeping score in Dutch Blitz may seem tricky, but it’s really not. 

Here’s a quick rundown: 

1. When someone yells “Blitz!” all play stops. 
2. Cards counted in the Blitz Pile are worth -2. 
3. Cards counted in the Dutch Piles are worth +1. 
4. Add it all together with the previous hand’s total. 
5. When someone gets to 75, they win! 

If you want more details on scoring Dutch Blitz and a handy score sheet, head over to our detailed guide at the link. 

Can You Play Dutch Blitz With A Regular Deck Of Cards?

It’s possible to play Dutch Blitz with regular cards, though the design of the cards is part of the fun. 

If you don’t have them, it’s OK. Each player needs an entire deck of cards for themselves, and each deck needs a unique style on the back of the cards. 

After removing the Jack, Queen, and King, you have the Ace-10 and four suits needed to play. 

Read more about playing Dutch Blitz with a regular deck of cards in our guide at the link. 

The post What Happens If No One Can Go In Dutch Blitz? [+FAQ] appeared first on Huddle Around Games.

Some points count against you, and some don’t. 

You use some cards to count, and others you ignore. 

This is why I wanted to write up this quick guide on how to score Dutch Blitz and a FREE printable scorecard. 

To score in Dutch Blitz, you need to track positive and negative points until one player gets to 75 and wins the game. At the end of each hand, count the cards in the Blitz Pile only where each is worth negative two points. Then, separate the cards in the Dutch Piles by card back for positive one point each. 

Look ahead for more details, answers to commonly asked questions related to scoring, and our printable score sheet for both 4 and 8 players. 

If you don’t know how to play Dutch Blitz, check out our complete guide for everything you need to know A to Z.

Learn How To Play Dutch Blitz

Printable Dutch Blitz Score Card

Click the button to download and print off our scorecard for free! 

One side of the PDF is a scorecard for 2-4 players; the other side is designed for 2-8 players. 

If you run out of space (some games go for a long time), transfer the total and use another sheet. 

Scoring Dutch Blitz: Counting The Negative Points

This step is where I see a lot of folks have questions or count wrong. 

Play of the game continues until someone has emptied their Blitz Pile and yells, “Blitz!”

At this point, everyone stops. 

The scorekeeper gets their handy dandy score sheet (or piece of paper and pencil) and writes down a 0 for the person who went out. 

Next, each player counts the number of cards left in the Blitz Pile only. 

They multiply this number by two and write it down as a negative. 

Each card left in the Blitz Pile is worth negative two (-2). 

Do we also count cards left in the Post Piles?

No, cards in the post pile don’t count against you, so if you can get cards out of the Blitz and into the Post, you should.

Though it won’t give you points, it’ll remove negative points at the end. 

Are some cards worth more or less than others?

No. In some games (like Hand and Foot), cards left unplayed are worth negative value depending on their value. 

But in Dutch Blitz, every card leftover is worth an equal -2 points, whether its a one or a ten. 

What’s a good number to have left? 

Luck plays an important role in Dutch Blitz, but speed and skill do as well. 

Most people will be able to get 5 or fewer cards leftover in their Blitz pile on average. 

Most of the time, it’ll be a little less than this, but there are still times you’ll be stuck with more. 

Score Dutch Blitz: Positive Points

After you’ve counted the negative points, it’s time to focus on the good things! 

Put your Blitz, Post, and Wood Piles into one and off to the side. 

None of these are used for counting points to the good. 

Usually, we have one person combine all Dutch Piles into a single stack and then sort them by the color and design on their back. 

In traditional Dutch Blitz, you’ll see a carriage, pump, how, and bucket. 

The Dutch Blitz expansion uses the same picture but changes the color. 

If you play Dutch Blitz with regular cards, you’ll use the same card numbers (Ace-10) with different backs. 

Once separated, each player gets their pile back. 

Don’t mix them in with the others you have! 

It never fails that someone forgets and messes up the game. 

Keep this pile separate until you count the number of cards you have. 

Each card played in the Dutch Pile is worth a positive 1 point. 

The scorekeeper should write down these points and the negatives. 

After both have been counted, the scorekeeper adds (or subtracts) everything and combines it with your total. 

The game continues until someone gets to 75 points.

As the regular scorekeeper in my family and friend group, I always have three rows. 

The first is the total from the previous round, the second is the negative points, and the third is the positive points. 

I first reconcile the negative and positive points. Then, I add or subtract this sum from the total. 

This is how I structured the Dutch Blitz score sheet above, but if you have a different method you prefer, go for it! 

What Do I Do With The Wood Pile? Post Pile?

A lot of folks get hung up on the Wood Pile and Post Piles. 

What do they do after the hand is over?

Nothing! 

Post Piles serve the main purpose of helping get cards out of the Blitz Pile. 

Wood Pile cards help add points by playing them in the Dutch Pile and moving things around for the Blitz Pile. 

Once the hand is over, we typically combine these two in a single pile and set it off to the side, so we don’t count them as extra positive or negative points. 

How To Win At Dutch Blitz

To win at Dutch Blitz, you need to be the first person to score 75 points. 

You increase your score in two ways: 

1. Be rid of your Blitz Pile first (avoiding as many negative points as possible). 
2. Playing more cards in the Dutch Piles. 

As simple as this sounds, there is some strategy to the game. 

My wife and I play a lot, and though we both play with different strategies, she tends to beat me more often. 

The main reason for this is that she plays cards fast and sees what she needs quicker. 

I’ll be honest: a quicker hand and even faster eye are needed to win this game a lot. 

All this being said, there are a few general tips to follow to help you win more games: 

• Take care of Blitz cards first. 
• Don’t stack on your Post Piles unless you have no other choice. These lock-up cards slow down your Blitz Pile. 
• Play Wood Pile cards whenever you see them. Don’t hesitate. 
• Anticipate how far away your Post and Blitz pile cards are from being played. Keep an eye on when others play in the same color Dutch Pile. 
• Take a look at what your opponents have. If they’re similar to yours, be ready to sneak your card in before or after theirs where appropriate. 
• If someone cuts you off before playing, or you get flustered, keep going. Don’t let it get to you. Something else will come up. 
• Play often. Once you’re more used to the fast-paced style, you’ll see combinations of cards much better. 
• If you have a high card on top of your Blitz Pile, do everything you can to get it out right away, including stacking on the Post Piles. 

Check out more details in our article on Dutch Blitz strategies.

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