OBJECTIVE OF DUTCH BLITZ: Deplete your Blitz card pile before all other players!
NUMBER OF PLAYERS: 2 to 4 players
MATERIALS: Four decks of 40 Dutch Blitz cards
TYPE OF GAME: Card game
AUDIENCE: All ages
OVERVIEW OF DUTCH BLITZ
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- Contents include 160 cards and rules
- Fast moving game for up to 4 people
- Quick to learn and hard to master
Dutch Blitz is an extremely fast-paced and competitive card game that was created by a German immigrant in Pennsylvania. This speedy card game was originally created as a color and number matching challenge for children, but today, the game is enjoyed by all age groups!
While not an overly complex game, Dutch Blitz has a bit of a learning curve, especially when it comes to getting everything set up. In this article, we will dive into all the Dutch Blitz rules and strategies you need to know. So, if you have never played the game before or simply need a refresher, this article is for you!
SET UP OF DUTCH BLITZ
The Dutch Blitz setup is unique, as you’ll need to make several different piles of cards before starting the game.
WHAT’S IN THE BOX?
A Dutch Blitz game has four distinct decks with different symbols. Each individual card deck contains 40 cards, making for 160 cards in total.
At the start of the game, give each player one of the four decks. You will exclusively use your designated deck for the game.
SETTING UP YOUR PILES
You’ll need to make several different piles when setting up your Dutch Blitz cards. To set up your pile, you’ll first place 3 cards face up in front of you. These are your “Post” piles. Then you’ll deal out 9 cards face down in a pile adjacent to the post piles and a tenth card face up. This is your “Blitz” pile.
If the four face-up cards in your Post and Blitz piles add up to more than 30, you must reshuffle and redeal the cards.
The rest of the cards make up your hand that you will flip through throughout the game.
HOW TO PLAY DUTCH BLITZ
Phew! Now that you have set up the game, it is time to play! There is no turn order in Dutch Blitz. You and all other players will race simultaneously to play as many cards as possible. The goal of Dutch Blitz is to be the first player to empty their Blitz pile. This game is very similar to Nerts, a game played with a standard deck of cards.
BUILD DUTCH PILES
“Dutch” piles are shared card piles that are formed throughout the game. At the start of the game, if there are any 1s face-up, the player must move them to create a new Dutch pile.
Dutch piles are shared with all players. So, anyone can build on them in ascending numerical order throughout the game. If you place the 10 card on a Dutch pile, place it face down, finishing off that pile.
It will happen often that two players attempt to stack on a Dutch pile at the same time. The general rule for this is the first player to place the card gets to keep their card there.
WOOD PILES
If you cannot play from your Blitz or Post piles, you’ll flip through your hand until you land on a card you can play. You will keep your hand face down throughout the game and flip over 3 cards at a time. This forms your face-up “Wood” pile. If you cannot play the top card, you must continue flipping over 3 cards until you can play the top card. After playing the top card from the Wood pile you can then attempt to play the card beneath it.
This part of the game is similar to Solitaire.
PLAYING FROM YOUR BLITZ PILE
Your Blitz pile is the most important part of a Dutch Blitz game. This is because the game ends when one player depletes their entire Blitz stockpile! Each time you play a card from your Post pile, you’ll move the face-up card in your Blitz pile to the empty space, and then you can flip over the top card in your Blitz pile.
Additionally, if you play the top card from your Blitz pile, flip the next card over. You continue playing like this until you have completely depleted your Blitz pile. When one player has played all cards in their Blitz pile, they will yell out “Blitz!” and the game ends.
ADVANCED RULE: POST PILES STACKING
One of the more complex aspects of Dutch Blitz is Post pile stacking. Most novice Dutch Blitz players won’t even use this part of the game, but it can really make a difference.
This rule allows you to stack cards onto your Post piles from your Blitz pile or other Post piles. Unlike in the Dutch piles, these cards must be stacked in descending order and alternate between “girl” and “boy” cards. The red and blue cards are “boys,” and the yellow and green cards are “girls”.
For example, if you have a red 8 in your Post pile and a green 7 in your Blitz pile, you can move the green 7 under the red 8 and flip over the next card in your Blitz pile.
This aspect of the game can be a lifesaver if you are struggling to get rid of the cards in your Blitz pile. That said, keep in mind that you cannot access the bottom card in the stack until you play the top one.
SCORING
The first player to get rid of their Blitz pile (the pile of 10 cards in the beginning) and yell “Blitz!” wins the round. Then, points are scored in the following manner:
- Every player counts the number of cards remaining in their Blitz pile and multiplies it by two to create a negative score. So, for example, if a player had 6 cards remaining, their score is -12. The player that won the round would have 0 negative points.
- Then, gather all the cards in the middle piles and divide them by symbol (carriage, bucket, plow, water pump). Players will then add the number of cards to their score. So, if a player had -12 points to begin with but played 14 cards, their final score would be 2 points.
Tally up these points on a sheet of paper and deal out the next round.
END OF GAME
Officially, the first player to score 75 points wins the Dutch Blitz game. That said, this is flexible. Before starting the game, you can either determine a goal point total or a set number of rounds to play.
DUTCH BLITZ STRATEGIES
This card game is a harmonious blend of luck and skill. While it doesn’t feel too randomized, the way the cards fall definitely plays a major part in the outcome. However, Dutch Blitz is a strategic game; the more you play, the more you realize this. Here are some top tips for improving your Dutch Blitz game.
PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR BLITZ PILE
This may seem like an obvious one, but you’d be surprised at how easy it is to get sucked into playing from your Wood pile and overlook your Blitz pile. Get in the habit of always checking your Blitz and Post piles and always prioritizing these cards before playing from your Wood pile.
Remember, any cards left in your Blitz pile are worth negative points, so it is important to get rid of as many as possible!
ONLY STACK ON YOUR POST PILE FROM YOUR BLITZ PILE
Post pile stacking is a difficult strategy to get used to, but one of the most fundamental rules of thumb is to NEVER stack from your Wood pile onto the Post pile. This is counterintuitive and will likely impede your play. Instead, only stack on your Post pile from your Blitz pile or other post piles.
PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR OPPONENTS
Knowing that your opponent is about to call Blitz can give you the heads up you need to get rid of some cards from your Blitz pile quickly. If you notice that an opponent only has a couple of cards left in their Blitz pile, you can attempt to stack some cards in your Post pile or quickly play Blitz cards to lessen your negative point total.
GET RID OF HIGH CARDS
Another seemingly obvious strategy is to get rid of the high cards in your Blitz or Post piles as soon as possible. For example, if at the start of the game, you have several high cards (8s, 9s, 10s) face up, you should attempt to flip more Blitz cards over by stacking in your Post pile.
HOW TO PLAY DUTCH BLITZ WITH MORE THAN 4 PLAYERS
- Can be played just with this deck or combined with other decks
- 4 new card colors
- Allows up to 8 players when combined with original Dutch Blitz
While this funny card game is designed for 4 players, there is an expansion pack that allows you to play with up to 8 people! So, purchase the expansion if you are looking to play a chaotic version of Dutch Blitz with more players.
FAQ
Can You Play Dutch Blitz with 2 Players?
Dutch Blitz is best with 4 players, but you can play this card game with 2 players as well!
Is Dutch Blitz a Kids Game?
While there is definitely a bit of a learning curve, Dutch Blitz is still an excellent card game for kids, rated for ages 8 and up.
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