Nertz is a card game that anybody can learn to play. This game was passed on from generation to generation, my great grandparents to my grandparents, from my grandparents to my parents, and from my parents to my sisters and I.  It is a card game where you try and get rid of a card pile, called your Nertz pile, from either playing solitaire or laying it into the middle of the table. It is a very fun and competitive card game, but it is confusing the first time you play. I will help you learn how to play Nertz which can make for a great family game night.

Step One:

Make sure there is a deck of cards for each player. All of the players need to have a different style of deck. This is paramount because at the end of the game you have to count how many cards each person played at the center of the table. Having the same deck would make it impossible to know who played what card. Therefore, you could not count any points.

Step Two:

Prepare your deck. Yes, this probably sounds a bit weird but just listen. Go through the deck and take out all of the jokers. Some decks have two jokers and some have four. After you have taken the jokers out, you need to shuffle your cards. You do this so nobody could call you out for cheating. I would recommend shuffling your cards at least four times to prevent any beef.

Step Three:

You now can start counting your cards. For your Nertz pile, count out thirteen cards. Turn the top card face up. Put those thirteen cards to the side. Then count out four cards, face up. The cards that are left over is your Flip pile. These will be used to play cards into the field or your Solitaire pile. The cards positions should match the picture below.

Step Four:

To start the game you have to play the aces first. You would put these cards into the middle of the table. The aces hold the numerical value of one. You have to play the aces first because you have to play cards on top of each other starting with the ace, and ending with the king. The picture below shows an example.

You would play cards of the same suit and color on top of each other. Those cards have to count up numerically. For example, if you play an ace of clubs then the next card would be a two of clubs. Below, I took the two of clubs out of my Nertz pile and put it on top of the ace of clubs.   

Step Five:

You always have to have four cards next to your Nertz pile. This pile is known as your solitaire pile You need to take a card out of your Nertz pile and put it into the solitaire pile. Don’t forget to flip over the card on your Nertz pile!

If you play a card from the solitaire pile you have to take a card from the Nertz pile and put it in the solitaire pile. Within the Solitaire pile, you can play Solitaire. Solitaire is when you can play cards that go down in numerical value and alternate colors. For example, you have a jack of diamonds you can play a ten of spades. You do not get any points for playing cards into this pile, so it is just used to help get cards out of your Nertz pile.

Step Six:

One of the last things to know in Nertz is your Flipping pile. These are the cards that were left over after you counted out your nertz and Solitaire pile. These cards can be played into the middle of the table and your Solitaire pile. For these cards, you have to count out three cards before you can flip them over. The picture below shows how you use the cards left over and flip three of them over.

Step Seven:

Once somebody runs out of cards in their Nertz pile, they will yell “Nertz,” to signify the end of the game. Each player needs to count up the number of cards left over in their Nertz pile. They will then count the number of cards they played in the middle of the table. They will take the number of cards they played and subtract the number left over in their Nertz pile to determine how many points they got. The person who doesn’t have any cards in their Nertz pile will add twenty points to the number of cards they played. Keep score to see who wins after multiple rounds!

You are finally ready to play Nertz! Make sure that you have numerous friends and family playing at one time. Just remember, this game is best played with more people. Just like the old saying goes, “the more the merrier.”

Now it's time to put together all of the rules and have fun!

Good luck!