Rules for Ligretto

Ligretto is a lightning-fast card game that combines elements of solitaire and competitive play. All players play simultaneously, racing to get rid of the cards in their Ligretto pile as quickly as possible. The game is known by many names including Racing Demon, Nerts, and Pounce, and requires quick reflexes, sharp observation, and strategic thinking.

The game is suitable for 2-6 players (best with 3-4) and typically takes 20-30 minutes. Each player needs their own deck of cards with different backs for easy sorting after each round.

Each player needs a complete 52-card deck. Important: All decks must have different backs or markings so they can be distinguished during scoring.

Each player:

• Shuffles their deck thoroughly
• Deals 13 cards face down in a pile - this is the Ligretto pile
• Turns the top card of the Ligretto pile face up
• Deals 4 cards face up in a row next to the Ligretto pile - this is the work row
• Holds the remaining cards (35 cards) face down in hand - this is the stock pile

Ensure all players have good access to a shared central area where foundation piles will be built.

The main goal is to be the first to get rid of all cards in your Ligretto pile. This is done by playing cards to:

• Foundation piles in the center: Built up from ace to king in the same suit (♠️ ace, ♠️ 2, ♠️ 3, etc.)
• Work row: Built down in alternating colors (red-black-red-black)

The player who first empties their Ligretto pile calls 'Ligretto!' and ends the round. But the winner of the game is whoever has the most points after several rounds!

One player says 'Ready, set, GO!' and everyone begins playing simultaneously - there are no turns!

Foundation piles in the center:

• Any ace can be placed directly in the center to start a new pile
• Cards are built upward in the same suit (♣️ 2 on ♣️ ace, ♣️ 3 on ♣️ 2, etc.)
• All players can play on all piles - be quick!
• When a pile reaches king, it's set aside

Work row (your 4 cards):

• Build downward in alternating colors (red 9 on black 10, black 8 on red 9)
• You can move cards between your own rows
• The top card of each row can be played to foundation piles
• When you play a card from the work row, fill the empty space with the top card from your Ligretto pile

Stock pile:

• When you can't play any cards, turn 3 cards at a time from the stock
• Only the top of the 3 cards can be played
• When the stock is empty, flip the waste pile and start again

There are some important rules to remember:

• You can only use one hand to move cards (the other can hold the stock)
• Move only one card at a time (except when moving an entire sequence in your work area)
• If two players try to play the same card simultaneously, the one on the bottom of the pile wins
• You cannot take cards back from foundation piles
• You cannot touch other players' cards

If all players are stuck and no one can play, everyone can turn just 1 card at a time from their stock until someone can play again.

When a player calls 'Ligretto!' the round ends immediately:

• Sort all cards in the foundation piles by their backs
• Each player gets +1 point for each card they played to the foundations
• Each player gets -2 points for each card remaining in their Ligretto pile
• The player who called 'Ligretto!' gets +10 bonus points

It's possible to get negative points in a round if you have many cards left in your Ligretto pile!

Example: You played 15 cards to foundations (+15), have 4 cards left in Ligretto pile (-8), total = 7 points

The game continues over several rounds. After each round:

• Record the points for each player
• Everyone takes back their cards and shuffles them
• A new round starts with a fresh setup

The game ends when a player reaches 100 points (or another agreed target). The player with the highest score wins!

For shorter games, you can play a fixed number of rounds (e.g., 5 or 10) or until the first player reaches 50 points.

There are several fun variations of Ligretto:

• Team play: With 4 or 6 players, you can play in teams of two. Teammates sit next to each other and share a deck
• Speed round: Use only 10 cards in the Ligretto pile for faster games
• Double penalty: -3 points for cards remaining in the Ligretto pile for added tension
• No bonus: No 10-point bonus for calling 'Ligretto!' - focus on playing the most cards
• Joker variant: Add 2 jokers per deck that can be used as any card

Here are some tips to become a Ligretto master:

• Prioritize foundation piles: They give points, so focus on playing cards there
• Watch other players: See what cards opponents need and try to block them
• Be fast but precise: Mistakes cost time when cards must be returned
• Use your work row smartly: Build sequences that let you play multiple cards quickly
• Timing matters: Don't call 'Ligretto!' too early if others have played many cards
• Practice flipping 3 cards: Quick and efficient handling of the stock is crucial
• Keep track: Try to remember which cards have already been played

Remember: Ligretto is about speed, but also about strategy. The player who calls 'Ligretto!' doesn't always win the round on points!