What is Nertz!?

Short answer

Nertz! is a free online card game for 2 to 32 players. There are no turns: everyone plays at the same time, racing to empty their own Nertz pile while building Ace-to-King piles in the middle of the table for everybody to use.

It is the same family game known as Pounce, Nerts, Nertz or Pounce Royale. You can play alone against the computer, or open a table and play live with family and friends on their own phones.

How a table looks

• The middle: shared piles that start with an Ace and build up by suit to the King. Anyone may add to them.
• Your four piles: stack cards down in alternating red and black to free the cards you need.
• Your hand: flip three cards at a time and play the top one.
• Your Nertz pile: the stack you are racing to empty. Play your last card there and Nertz is called for you, which ends the round and adds 50 points to your score.

Three ways to start

No download is needed, and you do not need an account to play.

1. 1Open nertz.app and pick "Play the computer" to race one to 31 computer players at your own pace.
2. 2Pick "Family & friends" to open a table, then share the four-character-plus code or the invite link so others can sit down.
3. 3Tap "How to play" on the home screen for a five-step tour with the scoring table.

Do I need an account?

No. Solo games and online tables both work without signing in. An account is only needed to keep your scores: sign in and every round you finish is logged to your profile, the leaderboard and the Coach, and you can receive table invites and the weekly winners email.