There's nothing quite like Nertz. Think Solitaire meets Speed, then strap in for chaotic, frenzied fun. Remember that everyone plays at once, as fast as they can! If you want to learn to play Nertz, we've got you covered.

• Players: 2-12
• Play Time: 10-20 minutes
• Ages: 8 and up

Setting Up

Give every player a deck of cards, Jokers removed. Each deck must have a unique card back design or color.

• Create a space for a Common Area accessible to all players. It should be large enough to accommodate 4 piles of cards per player.
• Each player deals their Nertz Pile. Deal 12 cards face-down, and a final 13th card face-up. Hold them in your hand, or place them face-down on the table within your reach.
• Next to the Nertz Pile, create 4 Work Piles. Deal a single card, face-up, four times.
• Your remaining cards are called your Stock pile. Leave some room next to them for your Waste Pile, which is where you'll stack cards from your stock.
  

Object

Nertz is a real-time card game. All players play simultaneously, as fast as they can, no taking turns.

The object of Nertz is simple: when the first player empties their Nertz pile and shouts, "Nertz!" you want to have the highest score.

When the game ends, you score 1 point for every card you've played onto a Foundation Pile in the common area, and you subtract 2 points for every card left in your Nertz pile. So remember, if you have more moves to make, that's more points to score, so work fast, and only shout "Nertz!" when you're ready to end the game!

Playing the Game

Basic Nertz gameplay is a lot like solitaire, just fast and hectic. To keep things fair, you may only move one card at a time, and you may not hold one card in each hand.

You have two main valid moves:

• You can move a card to a work pile
  • from your Nertz pile
  • from the top of your waste pile
  • from another work pile.
• You can move a card to a foundation pile and score a point
  • from your Nertz pile
  • from the top of your waste pile
  • from one of your work piles
    

Some fine print:

• You are never forced to play a card if it isn't in your best interest. If you have a 5 in your hand and are waiting for a player to play a 4 on the next open foundation, go for it!
• Don't touch another player's piles, and don't take cards from the common area. Cards being played onto foundations is a one-way street.
• You may move more than one card only when moving a valid sequence of cards from one work pile to another, like putting a 4-5-6 onto a 7. If you are playing cards onto a foundation, it must be one at a time.

The Work Pile

This is where the magic happens. Work piles begin with a random dealt card and then you build them solitaire-style: 1) in descending order, 2) from King to Ace, 3) using alternating colors. For example: a red 6 is played on a black 7.

To save time, you can move several cards at once between work piles, but only when the cards are a valid sequence of cards, like putting a 4-5-6 onto a 7.

You may play onto a work pile from your Nertz pile, from the top of your waste pile, or from another work pile.

If you empty a work pile, you can restart it by dealing a single card from your Nertz pile, your waste pile, or another work pile.

The Nertz Pile

The object of Nertz is to play as many cards out of your Nertz pile as possible. The face-up card from your Nertz pile can be played onto a work pile, or directly onto a foundation if you're lucky. After playing your face-up card, turn the next card on your pile over.

When your Nertz pile empties, call "Nertz!" to end the game and begin scoring. If you still have scoring moves left, you're free to delay calling "Nertz!" until you're ready.

Foundation Piles

Foundations are built in the common area shared between all players. Unlike in the work piles, foundations are built: 1) starting with an Ace, 2) in ascending order, 3) all in the same suit. For example, a 7 of Spades is played on a 6 of Spades.

When a King is played on a foundation, it can be turned over and moved out of the common area to make space for new foundations.

A new foundation can always be built if a player has an available Ace, and any player may play on any foundation. You can play onto a foundation from your Nertz pile, from the top card of your waste pile, or from an uncovered card in your work piles.

Stock & Waste Piles

If you cannot make a play from your Nertz or work piles, turn over the top three cards of your stock and create a waste pile. The top card of your waste pile can be played to either your work piles or to a foundation.

When there are less than three cards in your stock pile, place them face-up on the waste pile, then turn the whole waste pile over to start a new stock pile. Do not pick up the waste pile and place it into stock to deal three new cards.

If all players are stuck (no legal moves remaining), or no one wishes to play a card, all players place their stock piles face-up on the waste pile, then turn the whole waste pile over to start a new stock pile. Transfer the top card to the bottom of the stock pile, then deal 3 new waste cards.

Ending the Game & Scoring

The first player to empty their Nertz pile and call "Nertz!" ends the game immediately. Then, scoring begins. Separate all unique card backs from the foundation piles, and have each player count up the number of cards the played into foundation piles.

• Players score 1 point for every card played onto a foundation
• Players subtract 2 points for every card remaining in their Nertz pile

If all players become so stuck that no card in their stock is a legal move, the game ends early and is scored accordingly. Everyone subtracts 2 points for every card left in their Nertz pile.

The player with the highest score wins!

Variations

• Want a longer game? Set a target score, say 100, then play additional rounds until a player reaches it.
• Want a shorter game? Deal fewer cards into your Nertz piles.
• Want an easier game? Turn over stock cards one at a time instead of in threes.
• Want to think less? Keep the Jokers in, and allow them to substitute for any card on your work pile.
• Really like your friends? Parter up! Partners sit adjacent and function as a single player, just with four hands.