Dutch Blitz is a classic, fast-paced, family-friendly card game. So, you might have heard of it before. Interestingly the game has carved out a unique niche amongst some Amish and Christian communities. So, let’s take a look at how you play this exciting card game in more detail.
What is The Dutch Blitz Card Game?
Dutch Blitz is plated with its unique deck of cards. It’s similar to games like Uno and Wizard in this respect. While the game is pretty fast-paced, it’s also relatively easy to learn. It’s similar in some respects to Solitaire, although it still plays quite differently.
This game is suitable for younger children, which is one of the reasons it’s become such a popular family card game. The game aims to play all the cards from your Blitz pile to score points.
Usually, the game is played over several rounds, and the player who reaches 75 points first will win! However, shorter one-round games are also popular.
Players play their Blitz cards by placing them down on one of the other piles during the game. We’ll talk more about how these piles and the cards work in the gameplay section below. Before that, though, let’s take a look at what you need to play the Dutch Blitz card game.
What You’ll Need To Play?
To play the Dutch Blitz card game, you’ll need a card set. This card game is quite old and might not be easy to find in games/ toy shops. However, you can easily find a set online. This retro-style Dutch Blitz card set is a great choice.
Once you’ve got the set, you might be surprised by just how many cards are included. The standard Dutch Blitz card set consists of 160 cards, and they are split into four different decks called Pump, Plow, Pail, and Carriage. We’ll discuss these in greater detail in the game guide below.
Rules and Gameplay
The Aim of The Game
Dutch Blitz is a points-based card game and can be played with between 2 to 4 people. Players earn points by playing the cards in their Blitz pile. Games are usually played over several rounds, and the first player to reach the agreed-upon score (usually 75 points) will win the game.
The Set Up
The first thing to do is split the decks between your players. If only two people are playing, you only use two decks; if three people are playing, use three decks, you get the idea. Each player can choose which deck they’d like from the Pump, Plow, Pail, and Carriage.
Decks don’t give advantages; they have different designs. Each deck features 40 cards separated into four different colors: red, blue, yellow, and green. You should have ten cards of each color in each deck.
One player (usually the oldest or most experienced Dutch Blitz player) should become the scorekeeper. Once each player has their deck make sure they shuffle it well before putting down cards.
They should then place three cards down in front of them, and these cards become the Post Piles. They should then count out ten cards and place them down next to the post piles. These ten cards will be the Blitz Piles which players need to play to score points.
The remaining cards a player holds in their hand will be their Wood Pile, and the playing space in the center will be the primary playing space for the Dutch Piles. Now once all this is done, you are ready to start playing.
Playing Dutch Blitz
Players should start by placing any number one cards they have in the center to create Dutch Piles. Dutch Piles are grouped by color and ascend in number from one to ten. Cards from your Blitz Pile can be moved directly to the center if you have an opening or into one of your Post Piles.
You must have three cards in your Post Piles at all times, although these can be stacked in descending order. If you cannot play any cards in your Blitz or Post Piles, you can move cards from the Wood Pile.
To do this, take the top three cards from the pile and use these to continue play. If you’re unlucky, you might need to do this more than once before you can play a card. The round ends when one player has used all their Blitz cards and shouts out Blitz.
Then the scorekeeper will count up the scores. When counting out the score, remember that a player scores one point for each card they have discarded in a Dutch Pile, and then two points are subtracted for every card they left in their Blitz Pile.
The scores are then noted dowd, and the cards are collected and reshuffled for the next round. The game ends when one player gets to the agreed-upon score; usually, this will be 75 points, but you can set the total as anything.
Larger Group Games
Dutch Blitz is a great two-player card game that’s suitable for up to four players; however, if you want to play with up to eight people, you can! However, to do this, you will need an expansion pack.
A Dutch Blitz Expansion Pack can be found quite easily online. With the extra cards, more people can play Dutch Blitz. It follows the same rules but introduces new colors across the decks.
Dutch Blitz – Frantic, Fast-Paced Fun!
Dutch Blitz is a frantic, fast-paced card game that is ideal for groups both big and small. The game is easier to play than you might first think. Once you get used to the setup, the gameplay is quick and easy, making it an excellent choice for any game night.
