The game consists of four decks of 40 cards each, and can be played by two, three or four persons. Each of the four decks has a different design: pump, carriage, pail and plow. Each player chooses one of these deck designs and keeps it for the duration of the game, regardless of the number of hands played. The faces of these decorative cards are printed in red, blue, yellow and green. The red and blue cards carry a Pennsylvania Dutch Boy illustration. The yellow and green cards carry a Pennsylvania Dutch girl illustration. Each player builds three basic groups of cards in front of him from which he will play the game. The groups of cards placed in position are referred to as the Post, Blitz and Wood Piles (Fig.A). Prime object of the game is to build as many cards in sequence - 1 through 10 - in the same respective colors in the center Dutch Piles, for points toward game, using as many cards from the Blitz Pile as possible. The first player to exhaust his Blitz Pile has "Blitzed" his opponents and ended the hand. Cards for placement in the Dutch Piles can also be drawn from a player's Post and Wood Piles. Several hands, or rounds, must be played until a total of 75 points is accumulated by any one player who then wins the game (See scoring Section). Speed is essential in winning since everyone plays at the same time! Dutch Blitz is a fast-moving, exciting game for everyone.
Wood Pile: Stack of cards built to the right of a player, from cards held in that player's hand.
Dutch Piles: Stacks of cards in each of the four colors - 1 through 10 an ASCENDING sequence - placed in the center of the table and played upon by all players. Each player accumulates scoring points here.
Post Piles: Groups of cards placed to the left of both the Blitz and Wood piles in DESCENDING sequence For each player, the Post Piles serve as a "trading" or replacement area during the game.
Blitz Pile: This pile of 10 cards is the most important pile of cards to each player since it is the key towards "Blitzing" the other players when all cards have been used up. If the player is left-handed, the pile can be placed to his left for easier handling of the cards.
Each player thoroughly shuffles his deck of 40 cards face down. He then places the top three cards in his deck face up in front of him. These are the Post Piles (Fig B).
Each player then counts the next 10 cards and places them in a pile face up to his right. This is the Blitz Pile. This pile should be in line with the Post Piles (Fig C).
