How to Play Dutch Blitz

What You Need to Start

A standard Dutch Blitz game supports 2 to 4 players with the original deck. Each player has their own color set and races to play cards in order while sharing the center play area with everyone else.

• 2 to 4 players for the original deck
• A flat surface where everyone can reach the middle
• A scorepad or scorekeeper app for tracking rounds

Dutch Blitz Setup

Each player starts with a Blitz pile and a few working piles in front of them. The shared center area is where players build stacks from 1 through 10 in matching colors.

1. Shuffle each player color deck well.
2. Deal 10 cards face up into each player's Blitz pile.
3. Place the next cards into the player’s post piles according to the game instructions.
4. Keep the remaining cards as the player’s wood pile or draw pile.
5. Leave space in the center for shared Dutch piles that will begin with a 1.

The most important setup idea is that the middle of the table belongs to everyone. No one takes turns. All players act at the same time.

How a Round Works

Once the round starts, everyone plays as fast as they can. You can place cards onto shared center piles if the color matches and the number is the next one in sequence. For example, a blue 4 can be played only on a blue 3.

• Only a 1 can start a new center pile.
• Center piles go from 1 to 10 in the same color.
• You can also move cards around within your own working area to free up useful cards.
• If you run out of immediate plays, cycle through your draw pile according to the game rules.

The round ends when one player gets rid of all the cards in their Blitz pile. That player has effectively triggered the end of the round by blitzing out.

Dutch Blitz Scoring

Dutch Blitz scoring usually rewards cards successfully played to the center and penalizes cards left in your Blitz pile at the end of the round. A very common way to score is:

• +1 point for each card you played to the center
• -2 points for each card left in your Blitz pile

Keep playing rounds and adding scores together until your group reaches the agreed winning total. Many casual groups use a target score such as 75 points.

How to Win Dutch Blitz

You win Dutch Blitz by finishing with the highest score after the final round. Speed matters, but efficiency matters too. Sometimes a player who blitzes out does not finish with the best overall score if another player played more cards and took a smaller penalty.

Beginner Tips

• Focus on clearing your Blitz pile, because leftover Blitz cards hurt your score.
• Scan the center first. Many good plays happen there before you notice them in your own area.
• Use your post piles to expose buried cards quickly.
• Do not get locked onto one stack. Keep your eyes moving across the table.
• Learn the colors and numbers visually so you spend less time reading cards.

Frequently Asked Questions About Dutch Blitz Rules