Rules for Ligretto

Ligretto is a fast-paced card game that combines elements of solitaire with competitive play. All players play at the same time, 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 rewards quick reflexes, sharp observation, and some tactical 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 with different backs so cards can be sorted after each round.

Each player needs a complete 52-card deck. Important: All decks must have different backs or markings so they can be told apart 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 35 cards face down in hand. This is the stock pile

Make sure all players have clear access to a shared central area where the foundation piles will be built.

The main goal is to be the first to empty your Ligretto pile. You do this by playing cards to:

• Foundation piles in the center: Built up from ace to king in the same suit (♠️ ace, ♠️ 2, ♠️ 3, and so on)
• 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. The overall winner is determined by points after several rounds.

One player says "Ready, set, GO!" and everyone starts playing at once. There are no turns.

Foundation piles in the center:

• Any ace can be placed in the center to start a new pile
• Cards are built upward in the same suit (♣️ 2 on ♣️ ace, ♣️ 3 on ♣️ 2, and so on)
• 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 the 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 card of the three can be played
• When the stock is empty, flip the waste pile and start again

A few rules to keep in mind:

• 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 at the same time, the one whose card ends up on the bottom of the pile loses
• You cannot take cards back from foundation piles
• You cannot touch other players' cards

If everyone is stuck and no one can play, all players may 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 a +10 bonus

It is possible to finish a round with negative points if many cards remain in the Ligretto pile.

Example: You played 15 cards to the foundations (+15) and have 4 cards left in your 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, play a fixed number of rounds (for example, 5 or 10) or until the first player reaches 50 points.

Some fun variations of Ligretto:

• Team play: With 4 or 6 players, 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
• 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

Some tips for doing well at Ligretto:

• Prioritize foundation piles: They give points, so focus on playing cards there
• Watch other players: See what cards opponents are working toward
• Be fast but precise: Mistakes cost time when cards have to be moved back
• Use your work row well: Build sequences that let you play multiple cards in quick succession
• Timing matters: Calling "Ligretto!" early isn't always right if others have played many cards
• Practice flipping 3 cards: Quick and smooth handling of the stock pile makes a real difference
• Keep track: Try to remember which cards have already been played

Ligretto rewards speed, but also some strategy. The player who calls "Ligretto!" doesn't always win the round on points.