Nertz Rules

Objective

Become the first player to clear your 13 card Nertz pile by slamming cards into the shared foundation piles as fast as your hands can move. The whole game feels like a race where everyone plays at once, and every second counts. You score by adding cards to the center and lose points for anything still stuck in your Nertz pile when the round stops.

Material

Each player needs a personal 52 card deck (with a unique back so you can tell them apart later):

A♠ 2♠ 3♠ 4♠ 5♠ 6♠ 7♠ 8♠ 9♠ 10♠ J♠ Q♠ K♠

Color code your deck if you can. You’ll thank yourself when you sort everything after the chaos of a round.

Player Layout

[Nertz Pile] (13 cards) ↓ [Work Piles] × 4 (spread cards)

[Hand/Stock] → [Waste]

CENTER [Foundation Aces] (shared area)

Material

One standard 52 card deck per player (everyone uses their own complete deck)

For example:

• 2 players: 2 complete decks
• 4 players: 4 complete decks
• 6 players: 6 complete decks

Important: Use different back colors or patterns so sorting doesn’t become an hour long chore.

Card Backs Example

Player 1: Red backs Player 2: Blue backs Player 3: Green backs Player 4: Black backs

Setup

Each player prepares their personal play zone, just like setting up a little Solitaire battlefield.

Personal Layout

1. Nertz Pile (13 cards):

• Deal 13 cards face down in a single pile
• Flip the top card face up
• This pile is your main target to empty as quickly as possible

2. Work Piles (4 piles):

• Deal 1 card face up to each of the 4 spots
• These act as your building piles, similar to Klondike Solitaire
• You’ll use them constantly to uncover more moves

3. Hand (Stock):

• Hold the rest of your deck in a face down stack
• You’ll draw from here at high speed during play

Setup Diagram

[Hand/Stock: 35 cards]

[Nertz Pile: 13 cards] ← Empty this pile to win the round ↓ [Top Card]

[Work 1] [Work 2] [Work 3] [Work 4] (1♠) (K♥) (7♦) (Q♣)

Example Starting Position

Your Nertz pile shows:

6♥

Your work piles show:

K♠ 3♦ Q♥ 8♣

Right from the start, you can slide that 6♥ onto one of your work piles and open the next Nertz card. Early momentum matters a lot in this game.

How to Play

Simultaneous Play

Everyone plays at the same time. No turns, no pauses, no waiting politely. The table explodes into motion the moment someone says go, and you just try to keep up. Your hands will do half the thinking for you once you find your rhythm.

Center Foundation Piles (Shared)

All players build the shared foundation piles that sit in the center of the table.

Foundation Rules:

• Start piles with Aces (A♠, A♥, A♦, A♣)
• Build UP by suit (A→2→3→4…→K)
• Anyone can play on any pile
• It’s a pure race, so don’t hesitate

Foundation Building Example

Center shows:

A♥ 2♥ 3♥

You hold:

4♥

No need to think twice. Drop the 4♥ on the foundation the moment you see it.

Work Pile Building (Personal)

Your work piles are your personal playground, similar to a fast paced version of Klondike Solitaire.

Work Pile Rules:

• Build DOWN by alternating colors
• Red goes on Black, Black goes on Red
• You can move cards freely between your own piles
• You can move entire sequences when they follow the alternating pattern

Work Pile Example

Your pile shows:

9♠

You can place:

8♥

or

8♦

Either red 8 works. Quick reactions matter far more than perfect planning.

Playing from Nertz Pile

This is the heart of the game.

Your first priority: dump cards from your Nertz pile.

You can play your Nertz card:

• To the center foundations (ideal)
• To any of your four work piles (if it fits the pattern)

Each time you play the top card:

• Flip the next card immediately
• Keep the chain going as long as possible

A long streak from the Nertz pile feels incredibly satisfying.

Playing from Hand (Stock)

You flip 3 cards at a time (or 1 card in an easier variant):

1. Turn over the top 3 cards into your waste pile
2. You may play only the top visible card
3. If you play it, the card below becomes usable
4. When you reach the end, cycle the stack again

This part usually feels like drumming your fingers through the deck until you hit something useful.

Calling "Nertz!"

When you finally clear the last card of your Nertz pile:

1. Shout "Nertz!" loud and clear
2. Everyone stops instantly
3. You move straight to scoring

A round often ends in a burst of chaos, someone shouting triumphantly while the others groan and laugh.

Scoring

Point System

| Source | Points | Explanation | |--------|--------|-------------| | Cards in center | +2 points each | Each foundation card you contributed | | Cards left in your Nertz pile | -2 points each | Penalty for not clearing them | | Winner bonus | Varies | Some groups add +10 for the “Nertz!” caller |

Scoring Example 1: Winner

You called “Nertz!” and finished with:

• 15 cards in the foundations
• 0 cards in your Nertz pile

Your score: (15 × 2) - (0 × 2) = +30 points

Scoring Example 2: Other Player

The second player has:

• 12 cards in foundations
• 5 cards still in Nertz

Their score: (12 × 2) - (5 × 2) = +24 - 10 = +14 points

Scoring Example 3: Slow Player

Another player ends up with:

• 6 cards in foundations
• 10 cards left in Nertz

Their score: (6 × 2) - (10 × 2) = +12 - 20 = -8 points

Separating Decks After Round

Those different card backs finally pay off.

1. Sort the center piles by card back
2. Return each deck to its owner
3. Shuffle your own deck
4. Get ready for the next round

The clean up feels almost peaceful after the frenzy of the round.

Strategy Tips

Speed is Key

In Nertz, speed usually beats flawless logic. You often play on instinct.

Play foundations first:

A♠ 2♠ 3♠

Any time you can push a card to the center, do it. Foundations open room in your work piles and clear your hand faster.

Don’t overthink:

• Quick moves beat clever ones
• Make choices in a blink
• Speed grows naturally as you play more

Nertz Pile Management

Your Nertz pile drives everything. The faster you flip through it, the better your round goes.

If your Nertz card shows:

7♦

And a work pile shows:

8♣

You don’t even pause. Slide that 7♦ onto the 8♣ and turn the next Nertz card. This steady drip of new cards keeps your engine running.

Work Pile Strategy

Create empty spaces:

• An empty work pile is gold because you can place a King there
• Kings act like jump starters for new sequences
• Shifting cards to open a space is often worth the effort

Move groups efficiently:

9♠ 8♥ 7♠

You can move this whole train onto any red 10. Group mobility lets you reorganize quickly and uncover more moves.

Hand Management

Your hand (stock) can help you surge or stall, depending on how you use it.

Cycle quickly:

• Don’t stare at the card on top
• Flip at a steady rhythm
• Keep an eye out for Aces, twos, and low cards that push foundations

Memorize upcoming cards:

• You’ll often remember which useful cards are buried a few flips away
• Anticipating them helps you prep your work piles
• With practice, cycling becomes surprisingly intuitive

Center Foundation Racing

The center often feels like a battleground where everyone tries to slam a card first.

Watch opponents:

• See what they’re reaching for
• If you notice someone aiming for a foundation card you also need, getting there first can shift momentum
• It’s friendly competition, but it still feels great to beat them to it

Prioritize sequences:

5♠ 6♠ 7♠

If you can shoot a whole sequence into the center at once, do it. Those moments often decide the round.

Ending the Game

Single Round

A round ends the instant someone clears their Nertz pile and yells “Nertz!”.

Match Play

You can string rounds together in different ways:

• First to 100 points wins
• First to 150 points if you want a long, dramatic game
• Best score after 10 rounds when you’re watching the clock

Tournament Format

| Format | Duration | Winner | |--------|----------|--------| | Sprint | 3 rounds | Highest total | | Marathon | First to 200 | Points race | | Timed | 15 minutes | Most points |

Variants

Pounce

Same game, different name. You’ll see this version mostly in parts of New England. The rules match Nertz, but players sometimes bring their own traditions or pacing.

Racing Demon

Across the Atlantic, players call the game Racing Demon. It’s essentially Nertz with a British accent. The gameplay feels just as frantic and addictive.

Nerts (Spelling Variation)

Some groups prefer spelling it “Nerts” instead of “Nertz.” Nothing else changes. Same piles, same chaos, same rush.

Dutch Blitz

This commercial variant uses a themed custom deck and a few tweaks to the cards, but the spirit of the game stays the same. If you enjoy high energy play, Dutch Blitz scratches the same itch.

Slow Play Nertz

• No simultaneous play
• Players take turns clockwise
• Less chaos, more thinking
• Great for teaching newcomers without overwhelming them

Double Deck Nertz

Each player brings two full decks (104 cards total):

• Nertz pile grows to 26 cards
• You manage 8 work piles
• Rounds last longer and strategy matters even more

Team Nertz

Partners share the center foundations and work together:

• Teams of 2 or 3
• Combine your scores
• Coordinate plays to keep foundation piles flowing

Scoring System

| Achievement | Points | Calculation | |-------------|--------|-------------| | Cards in foundations | +1 each | Every card you contributed to the center | | Cards in Nertz pile | -2 each | Penalty for anything you didn’t clear | | Empty Nertz pile | +10 bonus | Reward for being the first to shout “Nertz!” |

Example Scoring

Player A:

• 23 cards in foundations: +23
• 0 cards in Nertz: -0
• Called Nertz: +10
• Total: +33 points

Player B:

• 18 cards in foundations: +18
• 5 cards in Nertz: -10
• No Nertz bonus
• Total: +8 points

Speed Tips

Maximize cards per minute:

1. Use both hands. One manages the stock while the other places cards.
2. Keep your eyes dancing across the center foundations.
3. Don’t get stuck staring at one pile.
4. Try to see two or three plays ahead so you can chain moves quickly.

A smooth, fast rhythm often matters more than perfect choices. Once you get it, the game becomes a thrilling blur of cards flying, foundations climbing, and players laughing (or shouting) as the race heats up.