National Nertz Association The Official Blog

Nertz Link Directory

2012-08-22T23:43:00.012-05:00

The following is a list of Nertz links provided by playnertz.com used to educate and unify Nertz players from all over the globe. When new Nertz links are found they are posted here. The links can range from articles, products, blogs, videos, photos, and just about anything Nertz-related. If you have a Nertz link that you think should be posted just leave a comment below with the web address.

Nertz Supplies
Nertz Apparel and Supplies
Custom Nertz Playing Cards
Custom Trophies for Nertz Events
Design Your Own Nertz Playing Card Deck
Cool Playing Card Decks
Nertz Tables and Chairs for Large Events

Featured Links:
Nertz Royalty Products
Nertz Board - Keeps your game organized

Electronic Nertz Games

For PCs and MACs:
Solitaire Race by Games.com - Free/Play Online/4-Player; 3 Human or Computer Opponents
Solitaire Showdown by Joshua Howard at Carbonated Games - Free/Play Online(Windows Messenger)/2-Player; Heads Up Human Play
Nerts High Speed Card Game by John Ronnander at Ronnander Games - $9.95/Software/6-Player; Up to 5 Computer or Human(with Network Client) Opponents
eNerts by John Drake - Free/Software/4-Player; 3 Computer Opponents Only

Nertz Apps:
Nerts iphone/itouch/ipad App by Jeremy Dittmer, Kevin Heap, Spencer Smith, Jonathan Lund, Joe Wilson at Garafa, LLC - Free(Upgrade Extra)/6-Player; 5 Computer or 4 Human(via Bluetooth) Opponents
- Nerts Extreme - $2.99/6-Player; 5 Computer or 4 Human(via Bluetooth) Opponents
Pounce iphone/itouch/ipad App by David Levi at Double Apps Inc. - $1.99/5-Player; 4 Computer or 4 Human(via Bluetooth) Opponents *Also 2 human players playing heads up with 2 additional computer players on one device.
- Pounce Lite - Free/2 Computer Opponents Only
- PounceHD(ipad) - $2.99/7-Player; 6 Computer Opponents or 6 Human Opponents(via Bluetooth) *Also 2 human players playing heads up with 4 additional computer players on one device.
- PounceHD Lite(ipad) - Free/7-Player; 6 Computer Opponents Only
Pounce Android App by John Leo - Free/4-Player; 3 Computer Opponents Only
Nertz card game for Windows Phone 7 by James Dickinson - Free/4-Player; 3 Computer or Human(via WiFi) Opponents
gNerts iphone/itouch/ipad App by Chris Sterritt - $0.99/4-Player; 3 Computer Opponents Onlyhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif
- gNerts Lite - Free/2-Player; 1 Computer Opponent Only
iLigretto iphone/itouch/ipad App by Domas Labokas, Saulius Ališauskas, Inesa Dūdėnaitė, Donatas Gvildys at SwampyFoot - $1.99/4-Player; 3 Computer Opponents or 1 Human and 2 Computer Opponents
Blitz - Ligretto (Lite) - Android App by JeCo Team - Free/4-player; 3 Computer Opponents or Human Opponents via Bluetooth(Human Multi-play is not yet operational)
Nerts Mania - iphone/itouch/ipad App by Brett Bartlett - (Coming Soon!)

Nertz-style Electronic Games with Specialized Decks:
Nertz Solitaire by Vishal Vohra, Alok Narula, Joseph Rex, Mark Brashear at Freeze Tag associated with Mike and Lynn Howard at NERTZ LLC. - $9.99(seen as low as $4.99)/Software/4-Player; 3 Computer Opponents Only
Ligretto by BrettspielWelt - Free/Play Online/4-Player; 3 Human Opponents Only

Similar Electronic Solitaire-based Games:
Grump by Russell Scott at Grump Ventures, Llc
Double Solitaire by Solitaire.com
Canfield by Robert Schultz
Solitaire Rush by WorldWinner

Nertz Game Sets
Nertz, Llc
Dutch Blitz
Solitaire Frenzy
Ligretto
Wackee Six
Perpetual Commotion
Nurtz
NayJay!

Informative Nertz Sites
Nertz at Pagat
Nertz at Wikipedia
Nertz at eHow
Nertz at BoardGameGeek
Nertz at The Game Cabinet
Nertz at Party Game Central
Nertz at DirectSource
Nertz at BabyGorilla
Nertz at Askville
Nertz at Sharb Online
Nertz at Mike jr.
Nertz at Information Delight
Nertz at How Stuff Works
Nertz at NertsOlympics
Nertz at SannaSK
Nertz at everything2
Nertz at Corriespondent
Nertz at JohnLyons
Nertz at Urban Dictionary
Nertz at Open Directory
Nertz at factiodz
Nertz at Heart of the Matter

Fun Related Links
Nertz Products at idakoos
Nertz on Twitter
Nertz Bestuff
Make $ discussing Nertz
Nerts Fan Page
Nertz at Flickr
Nertz at Webshots
Nertz at Photobucket
Nertz at Wandro
Nertz at Forumakers
Original NNA Facebook Group (Last member count: 1,191 Members, Years active: 2007 - 2011)
NNA at Yahoo!
NNA at Google
NNA at Xanga
NNA at MySpace
NNA at Blogspot

Nertz References, Articles, and Information
Nertz League at Southwestern University (2006)
enerts.com Website Information
Nertz.com's old Website Information (1997-2000)
Nertz Royalty Products at Zazzle
Nertz at fastmovinggames.com
Create a Nertz description at Wikia
Nertz at AllExperts
Nertz definition at Dictionary.com
Nertz at Freebase
Nertz Music
Nertz at ehow (Margo Dill)
Nertz at ehow (Chris Moore)
Nerts at ehow (Jesse Fredrick)
Nertz.org's Weblog at Wordpress (The International Nertz Foundation)
PlayNertz.com Website Info at AboutUs Wiki
Nertz by Uncle Orson
Nertzaz at Twitter
Nertz Tournaments
Scrunch Rules at Creative Organizing
Nertz at Scribd
Nertz at Helium
NNA at Groupsplus on Facebook
enerts.com years ago
NNA Business Card
We Love Nerts Blog
Klondike at World of Solitaire

Nertz Videos and Pictures (Note: not all content is suitable for all ages)
Nertz in Xmas 2008 (Video)
Nertz by Smashy2010 (Video)
Nerts Wars (Video)
Nertz by Raymond (Video)
Nertz at beenUp2 (Video)
Nertz at Waffle House on Facebook (Video)
Nertz by Christopher (Video)
A Game of Nerts (Video)
NertsZers (Video)
Card and the thrill of Victory
(Video)
hands and cards (Video)
Nertz Game [Slideshow] (Video)

Play Nertz!

2012-01-28T16:42:00.005-06:00

Welcome!

Currently, Playnertz.com is down but will be back up and running soon. In the meantime you can still browse the links listed here on the NNA's Official Blog. The only links that are not active are the "PlayNertz Home Page" link and the "Contact Us" link.

Nertz Strategy

2011-10-03T15:22:00.007-05:00

Article on Nertz Strategy
Nerts - Pounce Strategy

There is a common misconception that Nertz is a game in which the outcome for a player is determined by pure luck. As in most card games, Nertz, is a game that uses the randomization using a process called shuffling. Though it may seem the process of shuffling can give a greater advantage to players at certain times, if everybody between every hand shuffles correctly, then it subjects all players to the same system. Assuming nobody is cheating or not properly shuffling a deck, then the advantages receiving “good” hands should remain fairly equal over the duration of a game or series of games.

With the exception of cheating, there is no full-proof strategy to win every hand and game of Nertz. There are, however, many strategies you can use that will give you a greater winning percentage in Nertz.

Nertz is a very unique card game and skill is definitely a major factor. Though strategy is involved, obtaining victory in Nertz is not solely dependent upon it. Skills such as card recognition, anticipation, hand eye-coordination and the speed at which these skills are applied are all major keys that winning Nertz players tend to develop. To develop these skills a great deal of practice is required. Players are not born with these skills. Nertz skills are learned and repeated to perfection through practice. The amount of practice a Nertz player has had should have a direct impact to how successful that player is...up to a certain point. After that point, success comes down to the amount and type of Nertz strategy one applies. In small, easy-going Nertz games, generally, it is your experience that dictates how well you do. You could win almost every hand playing against less experienced or lesser skilled players. However, for the larger and more challenging Nertz matches you may find it more difficult to achieve victory, and this is where strategy comes in. You do not have to be a Nertz expert to read and utilize the following, as these strategies are applicable to those who are just looking for some quick hints, tips, and suggestions. However, you may find them difficult to understand if you are inexperienced.

Broad Strategy

I have noticed a few areas in which various strategies may be applied in a game of Nertz. Broad Strategy is any strategy that is used while looking at the game as a whole. When planning or applying a Broad Strategy one might not start out using it. It may be injected into your game plan after seeing your competition and observing the direction a Nertz game is headed. Broad Strategy should be used in conjunction with hand strategies. Experience tells us that any player can be set back on any hand in a Nertz game. Thus, observing the success of the teams around you as a game progresses gives you a better idea of how you should plan your Broad Strategy.

Longevity Strategy:
Most of the time in hardcore games when I find myself down in the score column, I tend to make a plan based on longevity. If some of the hands haven't gone my way, which results in me being down, I will try to make the game take as long as possible because I know overtime, if you play enough hands, the shuffles will come back around to favor you. Conversely, if you are winning at a certain point in a game, you should want to make the game as short as possible. Easier said than done, right? Well, if you are conscious about what direction the game is going you can instinctively adapt your play to counter or aid the momentum that is affecting you. When utilizing the Longevity Broad Strategy, just knowing the direction of where the game is going and what needs to be done puts you in better positions than most.

Consistency Strategy:
If you find yourself in tight matches or if your hand shuffles are continually impeding your speed, your focus should shift to consistency. The sways or ups and downs of Nertz is how most players become casualties after the cards settle. In a groups of veteran players, it is the most consistent that see the most success over time. You goal is to try to limit your losses. Though you may not be winning every hand, you should have a steady increase while preventing large sways in points. When utilizing the Consistency Strategy, recognizing crucial game moments become very important. Effectively doing so will reduce the chances of you getting surprised by another team's quick Nertz call. Broad Strategy should be practiced repeatedly for more effective outcomes but just having a simple Consistency Broad Strategy can give you an advantage at the Nertz table.

Quick-Strike Strategy:
This strategy has a direct relationship with hand strategy. If you commit to Quick-Striking, your goal is to pull-fast Nertz' and set-back opponents every hand. This sounds like what everyone wants to do in a Nertz game, right? Often if you focus on quickly Nerting then you tend to play a minimal amount of Lake cards which can result in small Nertz hand scores but can create large hand point differentials if you put opponents in the negative. Specifically utilizing River Building and Go-with-the-Flow hand strategies (listed below) while disregarding other strategies, the main objective when using a Quick-Strike strategy is to set the table so badly in just a few hands that opponent confidence levels drop drastically. After a few sets, if you haven't won the game, but have a cushioned lead, you should consider changing to a Consistency strategy to sure up the win. Staying with the Quick-Strike may be risky because the more hands you play in a game the more a chance that the hand quality gets equally distributed.

Hand Strategies

Bookmarking Cards:
Bookmarking is making a quick mental note in your mind about cards in your that you would like to play or you think could be useful in the near future. The decision to bookmark is key to the success of utilizing the bookmark. Don't bookmark cards that are unnecessary. Playing cards into the Lake that do not effect the flow of a Nertz pile is simply a waste of time unless you are trying to “point”. Furthermore, this action can often stagnate a Nertz pile if you played a card into the Lake that could have been built upon with Nertz cards in your River. In team games, you need to be communicating constantly with your partner in regards to plays and bookmarks. If your teammate does not know what you are bookmarking then he/she may ruin the progress of what you are trying to do by simply playing a card. Often there may be one card on your Nertz pile that is difficult to get rid of and sometimes your River builds are the best option to get that Nertz pile flowing.

River Building:
Focusing on building your columns in the River is the most underestimated strategy in Nertz. Many less experienced players focus intensely on the Lake action. Though playing in the Lake has its benefits, River building can make you increase your hand scores on a more consistent basis. Instead of relying mostly on others to play cards into the Lake for you, you should build and make your own plays in your River... and the more cards you play in the River, the better. Some players are scared to build big River columns because they think it will block certain cards from being played into the Lake or block spots for future Nertz cards. Although this does happen, the positives of doing so far outweigh the negatives. Not only does column building give players a better inventory of what and where their cards are, it also allows players more opportunities for SRPs and multiple card Lake plays. SRPs or Strategic River Plays are plays that involve column moving to free cards or spots within the River. Just like in solitaire, you can grab partial or full cascaded-columns and move them to an open space or another column which can free cards to aid in getting rid of your Nertz pile. Recognizing when you can and should column move during the hectic atmosphere of a Nertz hand is crucial. Especially if you can do it over and over again. Many players write off certain cards in the River when they play more cards on top them in River piles. However, continuing to build River columns can become more freeing than inhibiting when you learn to use SRPs. Instead of having cards blocked in your Stream or Nertz piles, it is better to have them in your River and even if they are unavailable in your River, they can still be of use. You are better off with those cards in your River because they change the order of cards in your Stream when you played them. Also, you have instant visual confirmation of where that card is, which saves time by eliminating a step in your thought process as you don't have to try to remember or search for a certain card. If you hadn't played it, then it would still be congested in your Stream pile and covered for most of the game. Remember that good Nertz players utilize Stream cards whenever possible to help their River builds which in turn can help their Nertz pile flow.

Strategy of Stream Memorization:
Memorization is achieved through repetition. Since you don't have much time to memorize in a hand of Nertz. Focus on short term memory tactics. Specifically employing those tactics on your Stream cards. If you can quickly cycle your Stream and have a good idea of what is in it or at least know some notable cards and their location within the Stream, then you will have a huge advantage on your opponents. Most players just concentrate on a specific card that is currently available to them. Good players multitask their actions and thoughts when looking at a single card. Looking at one card should spawn multiple thoughts. In an instant the player should now where it can be played, what piles it affects, if opponents need it, if you have other cards that can you can play with it, and what cards are freed if you play it. If you can note which cards are blocked while having a good idea of where they will be as you continue to cycle through your Stream and can master the instant thought checklist just before you play a card, then you will no doubt become a pro. Mastering these tactics takes a lot practice but can be done and can save you the time and hassle of searching for the same cards over and over again. In addition, they will also help you have a better idea of what cards you have in your Nertz pile when you really get good at it. You should also have a clear understanding what happens to the “order of cards” when you play from your Stream. Getting familiar with this concept can make you eager to cycle through your Stream to find certain cards, that were previously blocked, after playing a card that changed the Stream order. Doing this in conjunction with using Stream memorization can make tasks that you thought took too long in Nertz become quick and easy.

Go-with-the-Flow Strategy:
If you realize a hand is being played very at a fast or overwhelming pace, sometimes River building is not the best strategy. Though I consider River Building the best strategy for overall consistency, there are times when adaptability trumps consistency. When you have a great Nertz pile that is flowing right along, you should quickly realize it and adapt your strategy, which may mean that you should stop your other mental procedures and just play that Nertz pile. Many times players can over think hands when they just need the adaptability to recognize what will work that particular hand and apply it. If that means you don't even touch your Stream then so be it. We have all seen those amazingly quick and effortless hands but failure to recognize them when they come can be the difference in winning or losing. Most of the time those hands don't come. So for the times between those effortless hands, when you are faced with many tough and experienced opponents, use the strategies that consistently put you in good hand and game positions. You may see now how your Broad Strategy could be adapted just as your hand strategies can and should be adapted.

Veteran Bird-dog Strategy
If all of your opponents are so good that they all employ the strategies mentioned here and are just as fast as you, then there is a counter strategy I have seen work, and that you could consider using. It is very risky but if you can tweak it, you may punish those for working so hard at the table. Generally, when faced with more than 4 great opponents the Lake piles build fast. Sometimes fast enough to play whatever available cards you have within 10 seconds. The strategy is simple... just play your River and Nertz cards into the Lake or in an open River slot. Don't River build columns with your Stream and don't cycle your Stream. Devote all your attention to the current Nertz and River cards for Lake and River play. These fast paced games may be the only situations in which a player should devote all of his/her attention on just his starting River and Nertz cards. Usually, I do not recommend this at any time but I have seen it work consistently in some hardcore games. It is like playing hyper-aggressive internet poker. Sometimes we don't know why it works but it does. Here is the catch. Good players can counter-act this strategy by employing it themselves but this creates a problem for both players using the strategy. When two or more teams are using this strategy, the advantage goes back to the team or teams that are employing other proven strategies. For the Veteran Bird-dog Strategy to work, you have to realize that only one team at the table can attempt it to be successful. If others catch on, it is doomed to fail especially if there is another team willing to sacrifice victory to see your strategy fail. This strategy is often used with little success by inexperienced players, so if you are a veteran and do decide to use this strategy be careful not to get embarrassed. When inexperienced players Bird-dog, they end up getting set frequently and in large quantities which is why veterans should be wary to use this strategy.

Tips and Tricks

Anticipating the Lake Plays:
Cards continually get played into the Lake. So during a hand, after some observation you should quickly determine which piles are in high demand and what piles that you need to get built. Anticipating plays into the Lake requires peripheral vision, logic, and speed. The combination of these skills almost creates a sixth sense when playing Nertz. When you anticipate an opponent playing a card that you need, your skills combine at that moment to where you can sense it. Simultaneously, you are taking the necessary steps to be the next in line to play on top of the card they are about to play. If you master anticipation in Nertz, the game will begin to slow down for you and you'll then begin to make multi-tasked anticipations which will put you on an entirely different level than most players.

Method River Transfers:
A MRT is just a simple time saver. When a River slot(a column that doesn't have any cards in it) becomes available and you have a card that you can play in which you can move another River column on top of, instead of placing that single card in the River slot and moving the other column on top of it, the single card is just placed behind the other River column(that would have been moved over) keeping that space open and saving time. This is legal although the method looks like an illegal slide under. Most of the time all four River columns have cards in them and when they are filled you can not slide cards behind them. If you only have three columns filled then it is legal to slide cards behind River columns. This is a simple time saver and is permitted because it prevents players from fumbling large River columns while attempting to move them. To prevent others from calling you a cheater just call out “MRT” when making the transfer. Using the MRT is a huge time saver.

Passing Up Cards:
When you realize that you have passed up a card in your Stream that could have been played, it is illegal to retract the Stream cards you placed on top. You must start the pile over again to find it. To do this you can either cycle through the remainder of the Stream or you can save time and put the rest of the Stream pile on top all at once to start the pile over. Only do this if there is a card you really need and you know the order of cards hasn't change resulting in the availability of the card when you return to it. Otherwise, you may pass up other Stream cards that you need by not finishing the cycle, while at the same time, not being able to get to the card you originally wanted because the order of cards was changed.

Getting Beat and Missing Plays:
Instead of getting flustered or mad when you miss or get beat on a play. Stay calm then quickly regroup and remain focused. Though you may be feeling like the pace of play is too fast, losing your consistency and composure is far more damaging than missing one play over the course of a game.

Break the Shuffling Blocks:
If think you are continually getting bad hands there could be a possibility that you are not as skilled as you would like to be or you are experiencing some sort of mental block. You can't blame the cards all the time but if they are that bad, spice up your shuffling procedure. Use different methods to shuffle and don't forget to cut. Mini-multiple cuts and a couple of big cuts can help change the order. Shuffle an odd number of times and shuffle more times than necessary if the cards are really getting to you. Otherwise, remember to stay calm, positive, and focused. Don't let the game master you as your goal is to master the game.

Gamesmanship:
Gamesmanship can be considered both a game and hand strategy. Emotional and psychological talk or tactics can often fluster an opponent. Sometimes opponents are resistant to gamesmanship and others are motivated by it. But for those that it does work on... it is fair game. The illusion of playing faster than the speed that you are really playing at can easily make opponents lose their concentration. Never underestimate the power of good trash talk. If you want to win you should be employing any and every effective strategy that you have. Test the waters for those weaker players that are subject to these tactics. Also, don't use these tactics if they effect your own play in a negative fashion. Gamesmanship is an art form in itself and can't just be learned by playing Nertz. However, if you are skilled in the art of gamesmanship keep in mind that it can be very useful in games in which you are trying to prolong. You must also keep in mind not to get carried away as doing so may bring the game to an abrupt and unwanted ending. Lastly, if it is allowed, stand up at the table. Doing so gives you a greater range to play Lake cards. Slight advantages can quickly build up in a game of Nertz. “Every little bit helps” definitely applies to this game.

Adaptability:
Understanding standing all of these strategies and styles is part of a strategy itself. The strategy of game and hand adaptability. If you not only recognize the game direction and opponent skill but your opponents game strategy and style, you can therefor adapt your strategies and styles as well. Adapt and you will stay a step ahead of the competition.

Don't write off a strategy if it doesn't work on the first try. Nertz is a game of failure. You will lose at times. You should be able to judge the effectiveness of a strategy over time. If you see that you are no longer finishing games in the negative...that's a start. If you find yourself finishing games close to the first place finisher consistently then the strategy is probably working. A few tweaks in your strategy and you should be winning more times than not. But here is the real key to Nertz and mastering these Nertz strategies. Play a lot. Practice. Adapt. You may not have understood some of the strategies mentioned but after while I'm sure they will become clearer to you. Just like everything else in life, it is the practice you put in that yields positive results.

To find out what is legal in Nertz use the Official Nertz Rulebook.
To help you better understand some of the terms in this article go to the Nertz Terminology page.

If you have a question, comment, or would like to tell us about other Nertz strategies just use the comment box below.

Nertz Playing Card Decks

2011-09-06T17:25:00.025-05:00

COMING SOON!!!
The NNA will soon be offering custom Nertz playing cards. Play Nertz with your own customized deck. The decks we will be offering will have standard playing card faces which are ideal for Nertz. The playing card backs are customized with our own Nertz designs.

- Choose from casino-quality paper or plastic.
- Jumbo and multi-color playing card face options available.
- Mini decks available.
- Personalization will be available on certain decks like adding your name to a design.
- Discounts for large orders.

You will be able to order your Nertz decks starting at $29.99 per deck plus s&h via ebay. We will have links to the ebay listings here in each product description.

Just post a comment below if you are eager to get your Nertz deck.

Here are some designs that will be available:

My Nertz Deck(Pink)

- $29.99

- Standard/Jumbo/Multi-Color faces available

- Casino quality paper or plastic(add $3.00)

- Official Poker Size - 2.5 x 3.5 inches(Bridge size not available)

BUY ON eBay NOW

My Nertz Deck(Blue)

- $29.99

- Standard/Jumbo/Multi-Color faces available

- Casino quality paper or plastic(add $3.00)

- Official Poker Size - 2.5 x 3.5 inches(Bridge size not available)

BUY ON eBay NOW

Nertz Champion Deck

- $29.99

- Standard/Jumbo/Multi-Color faces available

- Casino quality paper or plastic(add $3.00)

- Official Poker Size - 2.5 x 3.5 inches(Bridge size not available)

BUY ON eBay NOW

Nertz Beast Deck

- $29.99

- Standard/Jumbo/Multi-Color faces available

- Casino quality paper or plastic(add $3.00)

- Official Poker Size - 2.5 x 3.5 inches(Bridge size not available)

BUY ON eBay NOW

NNA Deck

- $29.99

- Standard/Jumbo/Multi-Color faces available

- Casino quality paper or plastic(add $3.00)

- Official Poker Size - 2.5 x 3.5 inches(Bridge size not available)

BUY ON eBay NOW

#1 Player Deck

- $29.99

- Standard/Jumbo/Multi-Color faces available

- Casino quality paper or plastic(add $3.00)

- Official Poker Size - 2.5 x 3.5 inches(Bridge size not available)

BUY ON eBay NOW

Nertz Videos!

2011-08-15T23:19:00.004-05:00

Nertz Videos from around the web.

The NNA is currently looking into setting up a channel to webcast live and recorded Nertz events. We are interested in shooting both recreational and hardcore Nertz games. If we do so, you will be able to watch quality, commentated, Nertz action here at playnertz.com! For now please enjoy these Nertz videos from around the web.

Watch videos at Vodpod and more of my videos

Chat about Nertz!

2010-12-18T01:24:00.000-06:00

Nertz card game related questions, comments, and stories are welcome here. Chat with other Nertz players from all over the world.

Nertz History

2010-12-18T01:06:00.008-06:00

Nertz is an enigma in the world of card games. The most fascinating aspect of this game is how it has remained an underground cult-like classic since the early 1940's. The National Nertz Association's research of the game of Nertz has found that the people who play this game have a lot of pride in the way that they play it. Depending largely on the region, the Nertz game rules, terms, and even the name of the game itself, all vary. This makes it difficult to determine an original variation and just as difficult to find credible pioneers. As of now we have yet to find a single known inventor or place of origin for Nertz. If you were to take a poll, it would be accurate to say that the majority of the polled general public would not have a clue of what Nertz is. Amazingly despite the scattered and random way in which it has been spread, Nertz players can be found from the UK to Mexico, Pennsylvania to California, Texas to Utah, Russia to Brazil, Canada to Germany and almost everywhere in between. We do have some ancestry of Nertz. We can conclude that it is a direct descendant of the Solitaire family of card games. Unlike the typical card games that can be found in this family, Nertz is fast, competitive, and played with more than two people. Within the last 30 years the game Speed (also known as Double Solitaire or Spit) has crossed into mainstream America. This is the only other real-time card game that we are aware of. Still, this game is only played by two people and one deck of cards. So, it is doubtful that the game Speed was the inspiration for Nertz, since we have known about Nertz for at least 70 years. There is evidence to suggest the Nertz may have drawn inspiration from single player card games like Canfield and Demon Solitaire because of a close relation in the games' setup. Nertz has been passed through families and friends for generations all the while being modified to suit the preferences of the various groups that have learned it. The slight modifications these groups of people have made over the years has spawned countless variations of Nertz. Since all of these variations have rules so similar to one another we can only assume that all these variations had to have come from an original version. Sadly many proud Nertz players claim they play the original version but have little evidence to support them. The truth is we probably will never know what the original version was. In addition, there is a good chance that the original version may not have had a set of rules as complete as the variations of Nertz we play today. Taking all that we know of this game into account, you may see why Nertz has eluded mainstream society for so long. Yet, Nertz has survived over the years because it is a "One-of-a-Kind" card game. This card game is the only multi-player, multi-deck, real-time card game in existence. These qualities mixed with the speed, strategy, and skill required to play this game creates the perfect recipe for addiction. One thing that we do know for sure about the game of Nertz is that it continues to grow in popularity. It may not be long until it crosses into mainstream society with the aid of the many enthusiastic Nertz players all across the globe.

ABOUT NERTZ: Nertz is commonly known to others as Hell, Nerts, Pounce, Peanuts, Racing Demon, and Squinch.

The following is a list of the alternate names that have been submitted by smaller groups of players: Ace Out, Coot, Crunch, Drats, Flip Flip, Gluck, Grouch, Hallelujah, Hoorah, Hurtigkabal("Quick Solitaire" in Dutch), Knertz, Lucky Thirty, Maxcards, Mertz, Moofles, Nerds, Nerdz, Nerf, Nerks, Nirche, Nirts, Nirtz, Nurts, Nurtz, Nuts, Nutsy, Nutz, Popeye, Race Horse Rummy, Scrimble Scramble, Scooge, Scrooge, Scrub, Snerds, Squeak, Squeal, Squid, Stop, Swish, and The Race Game.

Solitaire Frenzy, Ligretto, and Dutch Blitz are well known retail game sets inspired by the free version of Nertz. Perpetual Commotion, Wackee Six, and NayJay! are also Nertz inspired game sets that have been more recently developed. Though not related to Nertz, Rook playing card decks are often used in certain religious sects of Nertz players. Nertz Solitaire, Solitaire Race(free), eNerts(trial), and Nerts High Speed Card Game are some of the Nertz-inspired computer games available online. Ligretto also has a free computer version available. There are also a few Nerts and Pounce apps available for the iPhone, iPad, iTouch, Andriod, and Windows 7 phone platforms. Take a look at some Nertz Products of the Past.

THE NATIONAL NERTZ ASSOCIATION: The National Nertz Association (NNA) is an organization committed to the growth and welfare of the game of Nertz. The NNA is the national governing body for the game of Nertz and the recognized leader in promoting and developing the game's growth in the United States. We strive to grow Nertz at every level with a goal of making it accessible to everyone. We make an effort to support various events so that the public has more opportunities to learn and play the game. The NNA was officially formed in 2004 following the publication of the first Official Nertz Rulebook. Prior to that, the NNA had unofficially convened since the 90's. After some serious deliberations, the NNA went online in January 2007 opening PLAYNERTZ.com and the NNA up to the public.

OUR GOALS: To continually spread the game of Nertz until it is nationally recognized as a common household game. To protect the integrity of Nertz, ensuring that it is kept fun and pure. To make sure our members are happy with the services and information we provide.

HOW YOU CAN HELP: Play Nertz as much as possible. Teach the game to as many people as you can. Refer your friends to our site. Ask people if they have heard of Nertz and enlighten them if they haven't.

NERTZ VARIATIONS: The NNA has discovered many fun and exciting ways to play Nertz. Since there are absolutely no other card games that come close to being compared with it, Nertz seems to be a category of it's own. Within this Nertz category though, many variations can be found. Take a look at some different ways to spice up a Nertz game that have been provided by our growing member base.

VARIATIONS CAN DIFFER BY :
- Name
- The terminology used
- How many River columns it's played with
- How many cards are put in the Nertz pile
- Whether the Nertz pile is dealt facing up or down
- How many Stream cards are flipped at a time
- Giving certain cards the power to change the numerical direction in which the Lake piles are played
- The value of a called "Nertz", Nertz cards, and Lake cards
- Whether or not the hand score is kept track of or if the "games won" count determines a winner
- Whether players are allowed to play with both hands at a time or just one hand
- Choosing to play Singles, Doubles(or both), Mandatory Mixed Gender Doubles, or Rotating Partner Games
- The way partners are chosen and how the winners are determined in rotating partner games
- Whether you are allowed to play from both ends of your piles
- Choosing to handicap a certain team or player
- How penalties are enforced for breaking the rules
- Whether or not talking is allowed during play
- Giving certain cards more or less value when played into the Lake or not played from a Nertz pile
- Whether or not it is legal to look at blocked cards in the Nertz pile
- Whether or not "Stacking" is allowed

PLAYNERTZ.COM: From learning the history of Nertz to discovering the many ways to play, playnertz.com provides the most information about Nertz on the web making it your Nertz information headquarters.

Nertz Products of the Past

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Here are some of the first commercial products and design concepts for Nertz ever discovered:

Take a look back at the past Playnertz.com Home Pages:
2011-2012

2009-2010

2008

Prizes and Champions

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Prize Drawing
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Get information on our Prize Drawings!

Currently, we have no prize drawings scheduled.

If you are not yet a member, JOIN NOW for you chance to win cool Nertz products in the future.

Past Winners:
Deanna Johnson - Official Nertz Scoring Pad (Pink)
Megan Dalgren - "I just nerted" T-shirt
Shelly Tilton - Women's "Nertz Pro" T-shirt.

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Online Nertz Tournament
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Current Tournament ID: NNA008 (Postponed Until Further Notice)
The First Official Tournament of 2010!
View the current bracket>>>

NNA008 Event Page

Aaron Whitcomb was our most recent Online Nertz Champion! Congratulations again, Aaron! In this last tournament Aaron won a Nertz Scoring Pad, the title of "Online Nertz Champion", and an invitation to the "Tournament of Champions"! A special "Thanks" goes out to all of our tournament participants of 2009.
Read more here!
If you think you can take on Nertz champions...register for the next one and let's see what you got.

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List of NNA Tournament Champions
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NNA001 - Sara Paseka
NNA002 - Sara Paseka
NNA003 - Jill Younker-Sny (Summer Classic Online)
NNA004 - Meg Holko
NNA005 - Katie McClain (MEGA-Nertz Open)
NNA006 - Aaron Whitcomb

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NNA GOALS
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1ST GOAL: 100 members. Reached Jan. 29th 2008!
2ND GOAL: 200 members. Reached Sept. 12th 2008!
3RD GOAL: 300 members. Reached Nov. 15th 2008!
4TH GOAL: 400 members. Reached Jan. 14th 2009!
5TH GOAL: 500 members. Reached Feb. 28th 2009!
6TH GOAL: 750 members. Reached Jul. 28th 2009!
7TH GOAL: 1000 members. Reached Feb. 9th 2010!

OUR CURRENT GOAL:
1500 members.

SOMEDAY IN THE FUTURE:
Host a Giant Live National Nertz Tournament

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INVITE
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Invite all of your friends on facebook!
Everyone should be able to enjoy Nertz!

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BE HEARD
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Post your comments and thoughts.
Go to our Nertz Chat Room here.
Send us links to your Nertz pictures and videos!

NNA Online Tournament Procedure

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Tournament Players are to read the following:

To register for a Tournament you must use Facebook. The National Nertz Association fan page will post tournament registration information periodically. To receive this information just become a fan on the NNA fan page using this link: http://www.facebook.com/pages/National-Nertz-Association/6535396364?v=wall. When prompted, the first people to leave a comment stating that they wish to play in the tournament will be registered. A tournament director will contact you via Facebook message to confirm your registration and to give you additional tournament information. The number of players that can register will be posted initially and may vary from tournament to tournament. Even if there are more comments posted than spots available, you may still post a comment to be a reserve in case a player or multiple players back out.

The tournament director will keep a tournament player updated with information on tournament and match procedure as well as bracket information and game times. The director will instruct you to get familiar with Solitaire Race before you play a tournament match. Use this link to play the game: http://www.protopage.com/playnertz. You must log in in order to chat and play with others. If you log in as a "Guest" you will not be able to chat and play with others. We recommend that you log in with your Facebook account so that your tournament director and your opponents can easily identify you upon match time. If you choose not to log in with your Facebook account make sure you let the tournament director know what your screen name is before match time.

Current Tournament Summary:

A tournament starts when all brackets are filled. Tournaments are single elimination. Matches played to 100. A player plays in 1 match per round. Matches consist of 4-player tables. The top two scores in a match advance. There are no Bonuses for calling "Nertz" in a match, which is not our decision as that is how Solitaire Race is played. A game will start no later than 10 minutes after the specified time. If a player misses the start of the game they may come in late. If a player does not show at all, then the computer will play in his/her place and the computer's score will be used as that player's score. The computer's game stats will not count as the player's stats in the event that they do not show at all. However, if a player plays in a game, no matter how brief the appearance, then all of the game stats from both the computer and player portions of the match will be included in that player's tournament statistics. Seeding is determined by a combination of a players' NNA tournament experience, the order of registration, and/or player availability. Player scores will be posted here: http://nnagames.blogspot.com/. Players may check the tournament brackets here: http://nertzbrackets.blogspot.com/. Players will be notified after each round of their tournament status. If you advance you will receive addition game time information at a later date via Facebook message.

Match Procedure

Please Note: This online game may not be exactly the same style of Nertz you are used to playing at home. However, it should be similar. (Not to mention FREE) Thus, AOL, Games.com, Pogo.com, Java, and any other parties involved with the Solitaire Race are not responsible for this NNA tournament or any issues regarding tournament game play if there should be any.

1. Upon game time go to this page: http://www.protopage.com/playnertz. Log in with your facebook account and skip the tutorial if it is prompted.

2. After log in, you will be directed to the “NNA Members Lobby”. Remain in the lobby and do not sit at a table right away. Once in the lobby, you should be able to see other players there. Use the chat box to communicate with the director or other players. Make sure you are able to chat in the lobby. Sometimes a person logs in and the chat portion fails to load. If this happens, Log out, and log back in. Doing so usually corrects the problem. If you are unable to chat, use Facebook to communicate with the tournament director. Currently, the tournament director is NNA Rep. Don Jose Villareal.

4. While in the NNA Members Lobby the director will confirm your presence via the chat box. If your AOL account and your Facebook accounts have different screen names then be sure to let the director know ahead of time so that they may be able to identify you.

5. Next the director will designate one player to open a private table by clicking on the “Private” button in the blank table at the top left corner of the room. This player will then have to create a password, at which point he/she will simply type in “nna”, and then press “ok” to enter the room. Public tables may also be used if the director prefers to use one.

6. IMPORTANT: After a player sits at a table, he/she is not to click the start button which reads “I’m Ready Now”. That player is to wait until everyone else is seated and then let the game timer automatically start the game. This will ensure that all players get a fair start. If the game starts before everyone is seated, the director will instruct all players to exit to the lobby using the “Exit to the Lobby” link at the bottom of the table, and try again.

7. After the designated player creates this table, the remaining players will then locate the private table in the game lobby and join it. You will have to enter the password which will be “nna” to enter. Be prepared for the start of the game shortly after you enter the room, as mentioned before with the player that creates the table, wait until the timer starts the game and do not press the start button.

8. If any player encounters a connection problem, we will not be stopping the game. Unfortunately, the cost of playing Nertz online is that you can only be as good as your connection or computer allows. If you do experience connection problems, sometimes exiting out and restarting your browser can help you salvage the rest of your game. Once the game has begun, you are free to come in and out of the room to try a remedy any connection problems you may be experiencing. The game will not stop, but a computer is designed to play for you in the case you should lose a connection.

9. The director will attempt to be taking screen shots of the scores after every hand. So, do not click the “Continue” button right away. Give it a couple seconds in between hands so that everyone can get a chance to see their scores.

10. Lastly, if no player makes it to 100 points by the 20th hand, the game ends. This is not our decision, but that is how Solitaire Race is set up. So, if that happens, it will still be the players with the two highest scores that advance even without making it to 100. This does happen, but not often.

The NNA would like to thank its members for their participation in these tournaments and they look forward to hosting more for all the Nertz players out there! If you have any additional questions or need some clarification on this information, let us know. Good Luck!

Nertz Terminology

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The following is a list of terms that Nertz players use when playing.

A

Anti-Stacker - One who believes the method of stacking in Nertz is wrong, because it spawns a neutral zone, denying other teams opportunities for rightful plays. Anti-Stackers also claim that stacking denies other players a chance to use their speed and skill in card placement and feel that stacking has no place in the game.

Audit - An inspection of a team's deal, deck, or piles by a referee or opponents. This usually happens when a team is accused of cheating. A table vote or referee decision will green light an audit if the suspicion of cheating or Shady Play is warranted. Audits must be called before a hand begins and are most frequently called when someone suspects that a team has put less than the required amount of cards in the Nertz pile. The only time an audit can be called during play is if a team has mysterious piles. It can be called by any team, though the referee or table (majority vote) has the right to decline the audit if they detect an unreasonable accusation has been made.

Available Cards - Any cards that are not blocked by other cards and are open for play or movement.

B

Blanket Apology - An apology offered by a player to the entire table for any offenses made to others before, during, or after a game of Nertz. This is due to the decreased levels of self control that Nertz usually causes.

Blocked Cards (Unavailable Cards) - Cards in the Stream, Nertz pile, and River that can not be played or played on because there are cards on top of them. It is illegal to pull blocked cards from underneath the cards blocking them.

Bone Pile - (See Nertz Pile)

Build Pile - Another name for Lake pile.

Burn - (1) To "burn a card" or to "make a burn" is the procedure used to change the order of the stream or Nertz pile cards whenever there is an Idled Game. (2) To "burn someone" or to "get burned" by someone means that a player has been beaten by an opponent to a pile that they both were in route to.

C

Column Moving - The transferring of two or more cards in the River onto another available River card or an open River space.

Common Area - (See Lake)

D

Dead Pile - Piles in the Lake that have been completed and have been indicated so, by turning the final card, which is a King, faced down on the top of the pile. This limits Lake confusion, by showing that the pile cannot be used anymore. Some players turn the entire pile over while others go a step further by completely removing it from the Lake area.

Deal - (Dealing, Dealt) The act of setting up your cards for play. (See Starting Hand)

Deduction - The act of taking away points from a team typically due to enforcement of a penalty.

Double Fisting/ Pumping - (See Stacking)

E

End Slot Rule - A rule variation that states that at the end of a hand, if a team has a slot in the River open, they may fill it with a Nertz card. The Last Card In Hand Rule is used in Official Play which negates the End Slot Rule as being the standard for ending hands.

F

False Call - A call or accusation made by a team or player that can clearly be proven false. False Calls are occasionally made on plays such as a Premature Nertz, Method River Transfers, or Slide Unders. A false call results in no punishment or point deduction unless they become excessive.

False Nertz - The calling or speaking of the word "Nertz" without completely getting rid of your Nertz pile. A False Nertz may hinder another team's momentum in acquiring more points or a possible Nertz. Just saying "Nertz" during play is not a false Nertz, if only, for example, you are using it in conversational sentences or when aiding your partner. "There is a two on top of your Nertz pile", is not illegal to say. However, calling "Nertz" by itself during play is illegal. That is why "Nertz" should be yelled or called at a level above the general table roar.

False Timeout - A "Timeout" called that is unjustifiable by not having a reason that is listed in the definition of "Timeout". This stops or effects play which in turn disturbs the "Flow of the Game". A False Timeout is illegal in regulation games and results in a deduction of ten points. Strategic uses of Timeouts are prohibited.

Flow of the Game - The steady pace of the game. A majority of players feel that plays should always be available because Nertz is a game of speed and quickness, thus rules are set that limit interrupting the flow of the game. The Flow of the Game is a Nertz priority. There are many ways to interrupt the Flow of the Game: Holding a Nertz card, calling a false or premature "Nertz", and calling a false "timeout". If through no fault of any team, there is a stopped moment in a game then card burning may be initiated.

Foundations/ Foundation Piles - (See Lake/ Lake Piles)

G

Game - A completed series of Nertz Hands

H

Hand - (1)The set up and order of a deck of cards in Nertz. (2)One of many matches in a game of Nertz that all teams try to win by playing all of their Nertz cards and calling "Nertz".

Hell - Another name for Nertz, possibly an original. Many older generations point out that Nertz used to called Hell but was changed to a more family friendly name.

Holding a Card - Strategically not playing a card, whether it be to deny someone else a play or to wait for a different play that you feel will benefit you more. It is illegal to hold Nertz pile cards. The purpose for this is because of the fact that the card you may be waiting on for personal use could be blocked in your Nertz pile and therefore it affects the "Flow of the Game", especially if this action prevents all other teams from making any plays resulting in an idled game.

I

Idled Game - A point in the game where play has stopped. Play only stops, without a timeout, when all teams have cycled through their Stream pile at least two times after any order of cards has changed without making a play. If others are still playing and your team can not, then you can not individually burn a card. You have to wait until all teams are stuck. Then, if no team has any plays, all teams agree and simultaneously burn a Stream card. This changes the order of cards and can produce plays. If still after three complete cycles after a burn on the Stream pile there are no plays made from anyone, each team will burn a Nertz card. If any play has been made after a Stream burn then teams will continue to burn the Stream pile as needed, until three consecutive burns with no plays from any team has been made. Only then can the table resort to burning a Nertz card.

J

Joker - A wild card or added card included in a standard decks of cards. Jokers are typically not used in Nertz with the exception of certain variations.

K

L

Lake - The community area in the center of the Nertz table. Lake piles have to be suited and be stacked in this order with no doubles: A,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,J,Q,K. The first cards put in, that start lake piles, must be aces.

Last Card Rule - The rule that states that at the moment "Nertz" is called, the last card in a players hand can be played, only if that player has already spotted his card's proper destination and that player has begun moving to the destination.

M

Meaningless Nertz - A Nertz call that ends the game but doesn't give the player or team that called the Nertz the victory because another team finished the game with a greater number of points.

Mega Stack - A stack that has four to five cards in it.

Method River Transfers - A time saver in which a card is slid under a River card or card group instead of placing that card in an available slot and having to move an entire River column over on top of it. This easily looks like an illegal slide under but is backed by the available River slot.

Missed Plays - An opportunity to play a card that is no longer possible because either another team beat you to a card, you were not paying attention, or you passed a card up while in a hurry.

Multi-Tasking - A level of play in which you are focusing and acting on more than one play at a time.

Multi-Dimensional - An expert level of play using two hands. It is seeing, anticipating, and knowing what cards are about to be played, while having the speed and quickness to match.

Mysterious Piles - Illegal piles that are created from sloppiness, ignorance, or confusion during play. If a pile is determined a mysterious pile, then the referee or table will vote using the same options given for the punishment of cheating.

N

Nertz - (1)The name of a fast-paced card game in which more than one deck of cards is used. The game is best described as a cross between the card games Speed and Solitaire. (2)The word said to end play in a hand of Nertz. Usually the team that calls "Nertz" receives the most points and the team with the most points is deemed the winner of the hand. Nertz is typically played in teams of two people, in which one player tries to get rid of the Nertz pile and the other concentrates on the continual 3-card flipping and playing of the Stream pile. In official Tournament play, the control of each pile is switched back and forth every hand between partners. Standard Nertz games are played to 150 points. Therefore, the teams play as many hands as needed to reach 150 points and win the game.

Nertz Pile - The thirteen card pile that every team tries to get rid of, by playing them one at a time into the Lake or River. The person in charge of the Nertz pile at that time is labeled the exterminator. All the Nertz pile cards must be faced down at all times during the game, except the one at the top which is available to play. Once played, the next top card can flipped over for play. It is illegal to look at or use the blocked Nertz cards. Holding the Nertz pile is allowed but it must remain in the vision of all players. Keep in mind that it helps your teammate to see the Nertz card you need to play. For "Flow of Game" purposes, available Nertz pile cards can not be held from the Lake unless a team can immediately play it in the river. Unlike the River and Stream cards which can be held for strategic play. Getting rid of your entire Nertz pile and calling "Nertz" first means your team gets to add ten points to the amount of Lake cards that you played. If "Nertz" is called by two or more teams around the same time, then the Referee or a table vote will decide who called it first. If it is decided that they were called at the exact same time, both of the teams split the ten points, which only gives each team that nerted five points.

Neutral Zone - According to the stacking theory - (every card has a place on the table); it is the imaginary zone created to have a place to stack the group of cards about to be played. Anti-Stackers feel creating this zone or plane is wrong. This zone is usually created off of the table by grouping available cards together within a players hand and then playing that group in the Lake.

O

One-Tracking - A level of play in which all focus is devoted to making one play at a time, even if you miss other important plays. This also can be called Bird-Dogging.

Open Slot Rule - (See End Slot Rule)

Optimum Play - The desired amount of space, people, and comfort for the “Flow of the
Game“.

Order of Cards - The set card order achieved after the final cut and shuffle of a team’s deck. After the proper shuffle and cut by the team to your left, the order of cards is not to be tampered with. Dealing and the Order of Cards go hand in hand. To enforce the order of cards, strict rules are set. The first cards dealt are the river cards, which are all dealt faced-up, side by side. There are four of these dealt from the top of the deck. Immediately after the River is dealt, the thirteen card Nertz pile is then dealt. When dealing these cards they must be individually taken off the top of the deck and placed one by one, on the table, and must be dealt on top of the card before it. The first twelve cards are dealt facing down and the thirteenth is dealt on top of those facing up. The remaining cards are used as the Stream pile and cannot be tampered with. The showing of blocked, Nertz pile and Stream pile cards to any player, including yourself is prohibited.

P

Personal Area - (See River)

Pile - Specific card locations or groupings on the table.

Point Hoarding - Strategically waiting to call Nertz just to try and gain more points. This usually occurs in games with less than four decks. This tactic is legal but may not be wise, because you risk the chance of another team calling “Nertz” and your team not getting an additional ten points. Thus, it is not mandatory to call “Nertz” when you have gotten rid of your entire Nertz pile cards.

Pounce Pile - (See Nertz Pile)

Premature Nertz - The calling of “Nertz” before the final Nertz card has been laid. This is illegal and results in a deduction of ten points in official games.

Q

Quick Nertz - A fast Nertz that usually sets back all of the other teams playing that hand. Also known as "Pulling a fast one".

R

Referee - An official that regulates a game of nertz. Used in Official play.

River - The four cards set in row in which each individual team has their own to play on. A team can only play a card on a River card that is one number lower and the opposite color of that River card. For Example: If there is a single black 9 in one of the four slots in the River, the only card you can play on it would be a red 8. You can build a River column all the way down to a 2, as long as it follows the red, black, red, black scheme and the numbers count down. You can play a river card in the Lake as well as play a River column on another River column. Doing this creates an available River slot in which you are free to put down a Nertz card to aid in getting rid of your Nertz pile. It is not mandatory to play a Nertz card in these available slots. You can play available Stream cards to fill slots, for strategic purposes, as well. Though, this may not be wise. A team may not use another teams River to make a play.

Round Robin Shuffling - A required method of shuffling for official Nertz play in which the team to your left shuffles at least five times and cuts your deck at least once. After the cards are given back the order of cards is not to be tampered with.

S

Set/ Set back - A hand that resulted in a loss of points for a team or multiple teams.

Shady Play - Suspicious behavior or actions in a Nertz game. Play such as consecutive, multiple, Quick Nertz' from a team in a game, or the act of shielding certain piles and plays, are generally deemed shady.

Slide Under - A form of cheating in which a card is slid behind a River card without an available River slot open.

Sloppy Nertz - A playing style that looks scattered and unorganized.

Slot - An open space in your River.

Sorting - The process that occurs after every hand to return the cards back to the proper team's deck.

Stack of the Century - A 6 card Stack.

Stacker - One who believes in stacking cards, because the control of the card being played is ultimately that team’s and gives them the right add to any cards for their play. A stacker groups all of his/her available cards that he wishes to play in a Lake pile in one hand and places them in the Lake in a single play. In the NNA stacking is accepted. * When Stacking Becomes Illegal. A stack cannot be made if, for example, a card that is being played from your Stream has a card under it that can be stacked on top of it. This would be compared to a slide under, which is considered cheating. The Neutral zone can only be created for current available cards. At any given time during a Nertz game a team only has six current available cards to play. The top Nertz card, the current Stream card, and the four top River cards. Therefore, the largest stack that can be played, can only consist of six cards. That is known as a "Stack of the Century". Mega Stacks are stacks that have at least four to five cards in them.

Stacking - The controversial method or strategy of placing more than one card into the
Lake at a time by taking the card you are about to play and stacking the next card or cards (that you might have available) on top of that one. Then, placing the group of cards in its appropriate Lake pile. This may prevent or deny other teams from making plays off the single card that you may have played, if you did not have the following card or cards available.

Starter Card - Aces in the common play area; anything can be a starter card in the
personal play area.

Starting Hand - Before the start of hand, it is the set up of cards achieved after a proper deal. Dealing your Nertz pile, River, and Stream in accordance with the rules you are playing by.

Stock Pile - (See Stream)

Strategic River Play - Moving not just one, but columns of cards back and forth through the River columns/piles/tableaus to free a slot, or card you can play immediately or play in the near future.

Stream/ Stream Pile - The faced-down, 35 card pile that plays a supporting role to help get rid of your team’s Nertz pile. It also aids in scoring points, by playing the stream cards into the Lake. When the game starts, the stream pile can be started into play. A team can only play the third card flipped over on the table in the three-card group. These cards are the first three cards from the top of the pile. When a three card group is set and stacked on the table, there will always be two blocked cards underneath the available third card. It is illegal to grabbed the blocked cards or retract a three card group that has cover a possible card you could have played. The two cards that are under the available card in each flip can not be played, unless the available card is played into the River or Lake, that frees the previously blocked card underneath it. It is very important that the order of cards
is not broken when the Runner is going through the Stream. All of the groups flipped must be placed on top of the last group when looking for cards that can be played from the stream. When the pile has been gone through, it is then picked up, keeping the cards in the same order, and turned over to flip through again. It is easy to cheat and not know it, when the Stream order is broken.

Supernatural - Perfect Nertz playing. A flawless, unbeatable, and Zen-like state.

T

Table Vote - Any voting decisions made by the table for regulation purposes or extenuating circumstances. In regulation games the referee will make all decisions covered in the Nertz Glossary and Rule book. If the rules do not cover a specific instance, then it is acceptable for the referee or table to vote on the matter, in which case a simple verbal majority vote will decide the outcome. The referee will help on the voting options through the regulations and rules. If a team or teams are directly involved in the issue that requires a decision, they may not take part in the vote.

Tapper - One who constantly taps on the table to show his or her partner certain plays, or to make them pick up the pace.

Turn Deck - (See Stream)

U

V

W

Warm-Up Hand - A mandatory hand played before the start of the official Nertz game/ tournament to get a feel for the game and to get into a Nertz playing mode.

Waste Pile - The faced-up pile that appears when playing within your Stream.

White Horse - A hand set before play begins, in which every card is used in play. There are different Degrees of White horses. For example, if you had a red ten, black nine, red eight, black seven in your River to begin a hand with a red six at the top of your Nertz pile, that would be considered a White Horse. That would only clear 3 spots in the River because obviously the ten is still going to be there. Now, if you had four aces in the River and a two in the your Nertz pile it would clear all four River spaces. That is known as a Perfect White Horse. Indirect White Horses are starting hands that can be cleared immediately with the use of another teams starting hand.

Work Piles - (See River)

X, Y, Z

Also See:

The "History of Nertz" page for a list of alternate names and variations for Nertz.

To learn about Nertz Strategies use this link:
http://national-nertz-association.blogspot.com/2011/10/nertz-strategy.html

There is more Nertz slang and variations in the Nertz forums here:
http://nertz.forumakers.com/forum.htm

An informative list of Solitaire-related terminology can be found at this link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solitaire_terminology

Nertz Apps, Software, and Game Sites

2010-12-14T12:59:00.008-06:00

Nertz for the computer and other devices.
Play Nertz Online! There are many ways you can sharpen your Nertz skills online. See the best Nertz-style games the web has to offer.

Electronic Nertz Games

For PCs and MACs:
Solitaire Race - Free/Play Online/4-Player; 3 Human or Computer Opponents
Solitaire Showdown by Joshua Howard at Carbonated Games - Free/Play Online(Windows Messenger)/2-Player; Heads Up Human Play
Nerts High Speed Card Game by John Ronnander - $9.95/Software/6-Player; Up to 5 Computer or Human(with Network Client) Opponents
eNerts by John Drake - Free/Software/4-Player; 3 Computer Opponents Only

Nertz Apps:
Nerts iphone/itouch/ipad App by Jeremy Dittmer, Kevin Heap, Spencer Smith, Jonathan Lund, Joe Wilson at Garafa, LLC - Free(Upgrade Extra)/6-Player; 5 Computer or 4 Human(via Bluetooth) Opponents
- Nerts Extreme - $2.99/6-Player; 5 Computer or 4 Human(via Bluetooth) Opponents
Pounce iphone/itouch/ipad App by David Levi - $1.99/5-Player; 4 Computer or 4 Human(via Bluetooth) Opponents *Also 2 human players playing heads up with 2 additional computer players on one device.
- Pounce Lite - Free/2 Computer Opponents Only
- PounceHD(iPad) - $2.99/7-Player; 6 Computer Opponents or 6 Human Opponents(via Bluetooth) *Also 2 human players playing heads up with 4 additional computer players on one device.
- PounceHD Lite(iPad) - Free/7-Player; 6 Computer Opponents Only
Pounce Android App by John Leo - Free/4-Player; 3 Computer Opponents Only
Nertz card game for Windows Phone 7 by James Dickinson - Free/4-Player; 3 Computer or Human(via WiFi) Opponents
gNerts iphone/itouch/ipad App by Chris Sterritt - $0.99/4-Player; 3 Computer Opponents Only
- gNerts Lite - Free/2-Player; 1 Computer Opponent Only
iLigretto iphone/itouch/ipad App by Domas Labokas, Saulius Ališauskas, Inesa Dūdėnaitė, Donatas Gvildys at SwampyFoot - $1.99/4-Player; 3 Computer Opponents or 1 Human and 2 Computer Opponents
Blitz - Ligretto (Lite) - Android App by JeCo Team - Free/4-player; 3 Computer Opponents or Human Opponents via Bluetooth(Human Multi-play is not yet operational)
Nerts Mania - iphone/itouch/ipad App by Brett Bartlett - (Coming Soon!)

Nertz-style Electronic Games with Specialized Decks:
Nertz Solitaire - $9.99(seen as low as $4.99)/Software/4-Player; 3 Computer Opponents Only
Ligretto Free/Play Online/4-Player; 3 Human Opponents Only

Similar Electronic Solitaire-based Games:
Grump
Double Solitaire
Canfield by Robert Schultz
Solitaire Rush

Previous Reviews:

The Tournament of Champions

2009-08-24T18:07:00.000-05:00

Information on the NNA's Nertz Online Tournament of Champions.

ToC 2009

Date: TBA

Invitees: 2-Time Champ Sara Paseka, Summer Classic Champ Jill Younker-Sny, NNA Champ Meg Holko, MEGA-Nertz Open Champ Katie McClain, and NNA006 Champ Aaron Whitcomb.

More information will be posted soon.

Another way to indentify the NNA!

2009-07-27T13:56:00.000-05:00

The NNA and playnertz.com are recognized by a couple of different logos. Here is the latest NNA logo recently forged:

PlayNertz.com Support Buttons!

2009-01-12T22:55:00.000-06:00

It seems everyone enjoys playing Nertz.

2007-05-07T21:18:00.000-05:00

As you may already know I am a huge Nertz advocate. I used to think that Nertz was the best kept secret in amongst the other card games. Recently, I have come to find that Nertz is becoming extremely popular. I find someone or something new about this game online every time I search for it. My point is.... It's about time. I just couldn't see how this game is not well known yet. A game that has been around for more than 70 years. A game that everyone seems to enjoy. Everyone I know who plays Nertz, loves Nertz. And everyone I meet that already knows how to play it also loves it. It seems that this game has always had the right ingredients to grow exponentially in popularity, and now I think we are finally starting to see that exponential growth. Thanks to the Internet, blogs, messaging, and e-mails we now have the means to properly help this game become wildly popular.
It also seems that everyone who plays Nertz also feels it is their duty to spread the word about it. They know just like I know that it would be easier to satisfy their Nertz cravings if their were more people to play with. My guess is that if you have ever played this game, at some point, you probably had to teach some else how to play to satisfy your Nertz cravings.
So here is the deal...We all know Nertz is a great game, we all would love to play more often, we all would love to see this game become incredibly popular and say that we knew how to play before the Nertz explosion. So here is what you can to do help the cause......

Play Nertz often
Teach Nertz to others
Talk about Nertz with others who love to play games
Join the National Nertz Association, an organization that promotes Nertz and is free to join
Visit the NNA site often as well as its sister sites across the web
Share your Nertz knowledge and experiences on those same sites and comment as often as possible
Start your own Nertz tournaments or leagues
Constantly search for and visit any Nertz related sites to stay current with what's new in Nertz