Can You Stack In Dutch Blitz? [Rule Clarification]

Dutch Blitz is a simple and fun game, but sometimes there are still aspects of the game that confuse people. 

It’s at these times you need to get these rules clarified. 

One of the biggest areas of confusion is around the question: Can you stack in Dutch Blitz?

Players may stack on both the Dutch Piles and on the Post Piles in Dutch Blitz. For Dutch Piles, players must play in ascending order, 1-10 matching colors. The Post Piles need to be stacked in descending order, alternating Boy-Girl patterns. 

Read ahead for more clarification on this rule and other questions about this fast-paced card game.  

Stacking In The Center Dutch Piles

The most common place to stack in Dutch Blitz is in the middle Dutch Piles. 

During play, all players will play on the Dutch Piles, starting with the #1 and adding cards in ascending order, matching the color of the card below. 

There may be any number of piles here; you’re only limited by how many 1 cards show up at a time. 

Once someone plays a 10 on a pile, the pile is finished. 

Players can even play on each others’ piles.

Once a card is down, it’s fair game for anyone. 

Each card stacked in the center is worth +1 point at the end of the game. 

Can You Stack On Post Piles?

Post Pile stacking is one of the areas most people seem confused by at first. 

It helps if you think about it, like when you stack your cards in Solitaire. 

In Solitaire, you stack in descending order from King down to 2. 

But you also have to alternate between black and red colors. 

Stacking on the Post Piles is similar to Dutch Blitz. 

On any of the Post Piles, you may stack down in descending order. 

And like Solitaire, you must alternate Boy-Girl as you play. 

But just because you can, does that mean you should?

The official rules even advise against overusing this style of stacking for a few key reasons: 

• Stacking on the Post Pile gains you no points. 
• It ties up cards that are buried and may make it difficult to play. 

The generally accepted strategy is only to stack on Post Piles when you’re otherwise stuck or if it lets you play or move a card off the Blitz Pile. 

Can You Move A Whole Post Pile In Dutch Blitz?

You are allowed to move a whole Post Pile of multiple cards onto another Post Pile card or stack if it follows the descending Boy-Girl rule. It’s the only instance in Dutch where you’re allowed to move multiple cards at one time. 

Odds are, if you’re doing this type of move a lot, you’re not going after the right strategies. 

Post Pile stacking isn’t going to help you win the game if overused. 

Still, if you may end up needing to make a move like this someday, it’s still good to know what’s allowed. 

How Does The Wood Pile Work In Dutch Blitz?

The Wood Pile in Dutch Blitz is used when you can’t play from your Blitz Pile and Post Piles. Flip over three cards from the Wood Pile and play the one on top if possible. You may not alter the order of the cards or shuffle them unless all players are completely stuck. 

The Wood Pile works the same as the Stock pile in other games or the Hand in Ligretto. 

Check out our detailed Dutch Blitz vs. Ligretto comparison at the link. 

Is Dutch Blitz A Mennonite Game?

Dutch Blitz was invented by a German who moved to Pennsylvania named, Werner Ernst George Muller. While modeled on Mennonite and Pennsylvania Dutch aspects, it isn’t a game originally of those cultures. It’s based on older card games similar to Nerts, Pounce, Racing Demon, etc. 

While the game doesn’t come from Amish culture, it is popular in these communities, by all accounts. 

Even if it’s not played regularly, it is well-known in the community.