I love playing card games with my family, and Dutch Blitz is one of our favorites.
But sometimes, not everyone is in a game-playing mood (which is fine…I guess).
Soon after we got Dutch Blitz, I wanted to play, but only my son wanted to play.
So we played with two players, and it was terrible.
It turns out we were doing it wrong.
There is a right and wrong way in how to play Dutch Blitz with 2 players.
Two-player Dutch Blitz plays the same as the regular version with two major exceptions: you need to play with 5 Post Piles instead of 3, and you need to be prepared for an overall slower game. Otherwise, the rules remain the same.
If this is all you need to play, go for it and have fun!
If you want some more details on the setup from start to finish, read on!
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Table of Contents
Setting Up Your Space For Dutch Blitz With 2 Players
Each player gets a 40-card deck with its own picture on the back:
- Pail
- Pump
- Carriage
- Plow
You’ll only use two of these decks for a two-player game.
Each player shuffles the deck and then deals themselves 10 cards face-down for their Blitz Pile.
Then, they flip over 5 cards and place them next to each other and the Blitz Pile.
These are your 5 Post Piles.
This is the major difference between 2-player Dutch Blitz and any other number.
Each player puts the remaining cards in their deck (now the Wood Pile) closer to them.
They flip over the top card of their Blitz Pile, and when both players are ready, they begin!
After this, the game plays the same as before.
The goal is to get rid of your Blitz Cards by either playing them in the center Dutch Piles or moving them over to your Post Piles.
Anyone may play cards in the center, but they can only go in ascending order and matching color.
Cards in the Post Piles may be used in the Dutch Piles too, and you may stack on these piles in descending order and alternating Boy-Girl.
If you’re stuck, flip over three cards and play the top card if possible.
If you don’t know how to play Dutch Blitz, check out our complete guide for everything you need to know A to Z.
Why Does Two-Player Dutch Blitz Use Five Post Piles?
This was the big mistake my son and I played when we tried this; we only used the normal three Post Piles.
You wouldn’t think this makes such a big difference, but it really does.
As everyone plays in the center Dutch Piles, it creates a lot of openings for other players.
With only two people, there aren’t nearly as many chances to play.
This leaves you stuck more often.
With only three Post Piles, you won’t have as many chances to play and move over Blitz cards or stack and move things around.
To combat this, you need to make sure you use five Post Piles.
This will keep things moving along and not make the game too slow (as it did with us!).
Want to win more games? Check out these Dutch Blitz strategies.
Commonly Asked Questions
How Many Players Do You Need For Dutch Blitz?
Dutch Blitz is a game for 2-4 players typically, but if you buy the expansion pack, it’s possible to play the game with up to 8 people. Each person gets their own deck of 40 cards, with 4 colors 1-10, and a unique back to the deck.
If you’re playing with a ton of people, expect the game to get crazy (that’s half the fun!).
Make sure you have a space where everyone can easily reach the many Dutch Piles that will be in the middle.
Can You Use 2 Hands In Dutch Blitz?
You’re not allowed to use two hands in Dutch Blitz. One hand must be holding or by the Wood Pile, while the other flips and plays cards. You may not use each hand to pick up a card and play it.
Likewise, you’re not allowed to pick up more than one card at a time.
For example, if you see a Blue 3 in the Dutch Piles and you have a Blue 4 and a Blue 5 in your Post Piles, you’d have to pick up each one at a time.
The exception to this rule is when you’re moving a stack of cards from one Post Pile to another.
In this case, you may pick up the whole pile to move onto the card or other pile.
Learn more about this rule in our article on stacking in Dutch Blitz.
How Many People Can Play The Dutch Blitz Expansion Pack?
The Dutch Blitz Expansion Pack adds another 4 decks, taking the number of players from 2-4 to 2-8. The expansion deck uses the same four pictures (pail, plow, pump, carriage) but uses a different color for each of them than what it was before.
Interestingly enough, you don’t need the base pack to play Dutch Blitz; you just need one of the packs.
When my wife and I looked for Dutch Blitz after learning how to play it, there wasn’t a base set to be found.
Apparently, there was a snafu with the manufacturer, and they made extra expansions.
It didn’t bother us at all; we just played like normal.
