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Dutch Blitz vs Nertz is the question every fast-card-game family eventually asks. Both are frantic, real-time races where everyone plays at once onto shared piles in the middle of the table, and both reward quick eyes more than careful planning. The difference is the deck. Dutch Blitz is a boxed game with its own illustrated cards, while Nertz (also called Nerts or Pounce) is played with ordinary playing cards, one deck per player. Here is how they compare when you are choosing one for holiday game nights.
Our pick for most families: Dutch Blitz
For mixed ages, Dutch Blitz is easier to learn, cheaper to buy and gentler on younger players, while keeping the same frantic shared-pile chaos. It costs about $9.
Price band: Under $10 (about $9) · Check today’s price on Amazon
Dutch Blitz vs Nertz at a glance
Two speed card games, one shared table.
- Best family speed game: Dutch Blitz — the classic boxed race with four illustrated decks (about $9)
- Best for bigger, competitive groups: Bicycle Nertz Card Game — a set of separate jumbo-index decks with different backs so up to eight people can race (about $27)
How Dutch Blitz plays
Each player takes a 40-card deck with its own picture on the back. The cards run from 1 to 10 in four colors, and each card also shows a boy or a girl figure. You deal yourself a Blitz pile of 10 cards and a row of face-up Post piles, and the rest of your deck becomes your Wood pile, which you flip through three cards at a time.
Everyone plays simultaneously. Any player can start a Dutch pile in the middle with a 1, and anyone can add the next number of the same color. On your own Post piles you build downward, alternating boys and girls. The round ends the moment someone empties their Blitz pile and shouts Blitz. You score one point for each card you placed in the middle and lose two for each card left in your Blitz pile. For the full scoring walkthrough, see our how to play Dutch Blitz guide.
How Nertz plays
In Nertz every player needs a standard 52-card deck with a distinct back. You deal a Nertz pile of 13 cards with the top card face up, plus four face-up work piles. The rest is your stock, which you also flip in threes. Aces start shared foundation piles in the middle, and anyone can build them upward in suit. On your own work piles you build down in alternating colors, much like solitaire.
A hand ends when one player clears their Nertz pile. Everyone scores one point per card in the foundations and loses two per card still in their Nertz pile, and many groups play to 100. Our how to play Nertz guide covers variations and table etiquette.
Dutch Blitz vs Nertz: side-by-side table
| Feature | Dutch Blitz | Nertz |
|---|---|---|
| What you need | One boxed game (four decks) | One 52-card deck per player, each with a different back |
| Players in one box | 2 to 4 (expansion adds more) | Up to 8 with the Bicycle Nertz set |
| Card logic | Numbers 1 to 10 in four colors, plus boy/girl figures | Standard suits and ranks, alternating colors |
| Personal race pile | 10-card Blitz pile | 13-card Nertz pile |
| Learning curve | Easy for ages 8 and up | Easy for anyone who knows solitaire |
| Price on Amazon | About $9 | About $27 |
Which is better for kids and grandparents
Dutch Blitz is friendlier for kids because the colors and numbers are bigger and simpler than suits and ranks, and the 10-card Blitz pile ends rounds quickly. Grandparents who grew up on Solitaire often prefer Nertz because the rules feel instantly familiar. If you have both groups at the same table, Dutch Blitz is the easier common ground.
Which is better for a big group
Nertz scales better. Because each player just needs their own deck, a big family can keep adding seats, and the Bicycle Nertz set exists for exactly that reason, with separate jumbo-index decks so cards are easy to sort after each hand. A single Dutch Blitz box covers four players, and you need the expansion pack to go beyond that.
Sorting cards between rounds
Both games end with a mess of mixed cards in the middle of the table. In Dutch Blitz, the picture on each deck’s back (a pump, a bucket, a carriage and a plow) makes sorting quick. In Nertz, the backs must be clearly different, which is the main reason to buy a dedicated set instead of grabbing random decks from a drawer.
Our verdict on Dutch Blitz vs Nertz
- Choose Dutch Blitz for families with kids, a four-player table and the lowest price.
- Choose Nertz for competitive adults, larger groups and anyone who loves solitaire.
- Want more fast card games? Browse our easy-to-learn card games for everyone.
Dutch Blitz vs Nertz FAQ
Is Dutch Blitz the same as Nertz?
No, but they are closely related. Both are real-time games with shared center piles. Dutch Blitz uses its own numbered, colored deck, while Nertz uses standard playing cards.
How many people can play Dutch Blitz?
The base game plays 2 to 4. An expansion pack adds decks for more players.
Can you play Nertz with regular cards?
Yes. Each player needs a full 52-card deck with a different back design so you can sort them after each hand.
Which is cheaper, Dutch Blitz or Nertz?
At today’s Amazon prices, Dutch Blitz is about $9 and the Bicycle Nertz set is about $27.
