Dutch Blitz is a great family game, and almost everyone I know who’s tried it loves it!
But there are some questions that pop up the more you play, and the basic rules don’t always cover everything.
This is why I decided to search around for these common questions and offer a single place to put some definitive answers.
Let’s get playing, shall we?
Table of Contents
What Happens If No One Can Play In Dutch Blitz?
If no one can play at all in Dutch Blitz, each player may move the top card from the Wood Pile and place it on the bottom of the deck. This resets the cards and allows you to unlock more play. However, it has to be every player who’s stuck with nothing to play on the Dutch Piles or stack on the Post Piles.
This rule will rarely ever actually go into effect, so don’t count on it being used.
Most of the time, there will be one player who can play or stack something to “knock the cards loose” and allow the play to continue.
In fact, in all the time I’ve been playing Dutch Blitz, it’s never happened, though we’ve had the play slow down quite a bit at times when we seemed stuck.
One Player Can’t Play
If it’s one player who’s completely stuck, they’re out of luck.
They need to keep flipping cards from the Wood Pile and watching the other players.
At some point, something will change enough to allow them to get back in the game.
It may be quite a while, and it can be pretty frustrating.
But unfortunately, it’s a part of the luck of the game.
Everyone Can’t Play (Gridlock)
If, and only if, every single person is completely stuck, can you activate the one card rule.
The following conditions have to be met:
- No one can move a card from their Blitz Pile.
- No one can move a card from their Post Pile.
- No available cards from the Wood Pile are usable.
- There are no stacking options in the Post Piles.
- Every single player is in this same state of gridlock.
It can’t be that you’re choosing to avoid stacking on the Post Piles.
There have to be legitimately no options left.
If this happens, all players turn their Wood Piles face down, take the top card, put it on the bottom of the deck, and start playing again.
Moving the card shifts the Wood Pile and allows you access to all those cards you couldn’t play before.
This is enough to continue to play and keep the game going.
What Happens When You Run Out Of Wood Pile In Dutch Blitz?
If you run out of Wood Pile cards in Dutch Blitz, you have to play from your Post and Blitz Piles. If nothing can be played, you need to watch the other players and wait for your chance to get back into the game.
The odds of running out of your Wood Pile are slim to none unless the hand goes a long time.
Can You Choose Not To Play A Card In Dutch Blitz?
If you don’t want to play a card in Dutch Blitz, you don’t have to. But you can’t claim to be gridlocked or stuck if there’s an option available. It’s OK to wait for a better opportunity.
Some players, like my wife, hate stacking cards on the Post Pile.
They feel like it freezes up the game and makes the piles less usable.
She wins enough that I think it’s a valid strategy.
So she passes on playing cards here, and this is fine.
However, if there’s an opportunity to play in Dutch Piles, you’d do well to play it straight away.
Each card played in the center is worth a point to the good, so you don’t gain anything by holding back.
If you don’t know how to play Dutch Blitz, check out our complete guide for everything you need to know A to Z.
Do You Have To Call Blitz In Dutch Blitz?
As soon as a player empties out their Blitz Pile, they must end the game by yelling “Blitz.” They can’t wait to call it and play more cards from their Wood or Post Piles. Play is over as soon as they yell “Blitz.”
There is no good reason to wait on calling Blitz.
Sure, you could play more in the Dutch Piles and get more points, but for each card your opponents play, they also get points.
On top of this, every card they use from their Blitz Pile removes a -2.
Though you may be considering this strategy, don’t do it!
For one, it violates the spirit of the game.
For another, it’s a poor choice from a winning perspective.
Do Post Piles In Dutch Blitz Have To Be The Same Color?
Post piles may be stacked in descending order, alternating boy-girl, so they cannot be the same color. Dutch piles in the center MUST be the same color as the go in ascending order.
How Do You Keep Score In Dutch Blitz?
Keeping score in Dutch Blitz may seem tricky, but it’s really not.
Here’s a quick rundown:
- When someone yells “Blitz!” all play stops.
- Cards counted in the Blitz Pile are worth -2.
- Cards counted in the Dutch Piles are worth +1.
- Add it all together with the previous hand’s total.
- When someone gets to 75, they win!
If you want more details on scoring Dutch Blitz and a handy score sheet, head over to our detailed guide at the link.
Can You Play Dutch Blitz With A Regular Deck Of Cards?
It’s possible to play Dutch Blitz with regular cards, though the design of the cards is part of the fun.
If you don’t have them, it’s OK. Each player needs an entire deck of cards for themselves, and each deck needs a unique style on the back of the cards.
After removing the Jack, Queen, and King, you have the Ace-10 and four suits needed to play.
Read more about playing Dutch Blitz with a regular deck of cards in our guide at the link.
