The Play
After the set up forming the TEAM PLAY AREA and THE NERTZ PILE, the dealer holds the DEALER STACK (remaining 35 cards) face down. With a nod of the head or “Ready,” playing begins. Any available plays in the TEAM PLAY AREA are played either on another card in the TEAM PLAY AREA or any available number 1 cards are played to start forming the COMMON SCORE AREA. The top card on the NERTZ PILE may be played either in the TEAM PLAY AREA or THE COMMON SCORE AREA. At any time there is an open space in the TEAM PLAY AREA it is filled with a card from the NERTZ PILE.
The dealer begins by counting off the top three cards from the DEALER STACK and turning them face up. Available plays may be played in either TEAM PLAY AREA or COMMON SCORE AREA. There are no “turns” in NERTZ. All playing is done simultaneously. The dealer keeps turning over three cards, until all cards in the DEALER STACK are face up. Without shuffling, turn cards over and repeat process.
