Nertz (??)

About a year ago, I had a chance to play a game that is very related to solitaire in many ways. The people I played with called it Nerts. After looking it up, I have found out that it is not a widespread game, or at least that it is known by a different name, but we all called it Nerts.

Nerts is played with multiple people. I would say that four people is about the optimum amount. It can also be played with teams of two. This allows more people to play the same game, and also speeds up the game considerably.

Every player (or partner pair) gets their own deck. The decks should have different backsides, so that they can be separated after play. The players each stack thirteen cards into a pile face-down, and then four additional cards face-up next to these 13. The top card in the 13 pile is then flipped face-up on top of the pile. To end the round, someone must get rid of all of these 13 cards. To "get rid of" these cards, players can either stack them onto the four piles (solitaire style, meaning 7-6-5-4-3 etc. alternating colors) or play them onto the field. The field (middle section) is the equivalent of the stacks on the top of a solitaire game. The first cards to be played out there are aces, and then twos of the same suit may be played on top of the aces, and so on. This is the main way to "get rid of" cards. Cards from the four piles or the card on top of the 13 pile may be played onto the field. Of course, when the top card of the 13 pile is played, the next card on the 13 pile should be flipped over, so that it can be played.

This next paragraph is about the other half of the game, which, as you can already see, gets very complicated while playing. This paragraph is about what the second partner would do, if there are partners. Otherwise, the one player will do both of these jobs. The second partner will have the remaining cards (after the 13 pile and 4 face-ups are dealt onto the table). Like in solitaire, they have the main deck, and play with them. The cards are laid down in threes, and the top card may be played either onto the field, or onto the 4 cards. Playing onto the 4 cards is rarely useful, but it can help get certain cards from the 13 deck in play, so that more can be played. Also, like solitaire, after the top (of the three) cards is played, the one under it can then be played. Also, neither can be played, and then 3 more cards may be laid down. This player is often dealing the cards very fast, and quickly scanning the card on the field, as well as on the 4 stacks. These cards may be played onto the field directly, or onto the 4 stacks, where the other partner may play them onto the field. Also, the player #2 may play cards from the 4 stacks onto the field. Much teamwork, and possibly counciling, are needed from the two partners, as games often get fierce and competitive.