Canasta is a popular card game played with a deck of 108 cards. The game is known for its unique scoring and melding system. As a beginner, it might seem overwhelming, but the rules are easy to grasp.
Canasta Set-Up
To set up the game, combine two standard decks of cards and add four jokers. This creates a deck of 108 cards. Shuffle the cards well, and then have each player draw a card. The player who draws the highest card becomes the dealer and shuffles the deck.
The Objective
The objective of the game is to score points by forming melds, which are comprised of three or more cards of the same rank, and by scoring for special cards, such as wilds and canastas.
The Deal
The dealer deals 11 cards to each player, one at a time. The remaining cards are placed in a draw pile, and the top card is turned over and placed face-up in the discard pile. This card starts the game.
The Play
The player to the left of the dealer starts the game by either drawing from the draw pile or picking up the top card from the discard pile. If the player chooses to draw from the draw pile, they may keep the card if it is a playable card and meld it. If it is not playable, then the player must discard one card from their hand and place it on the discard pile.
The play proceeds clockwise with each player either drawing from the draw pile or picking up the top card from the discard pile. Play continues until one player goes out by playing all of their cards or until the draw pile runs out. At this point, all play stops, and scoring begins.
The Meld
The meld is the foundation of the game of Canasta. A meld is a set of three or more cards of the same rank. A meld can be made up of natural cards, which are cards from ace to king, or of wild cards, which are jokers or twos. Once a meld is formed, it must be placed face-up on the table.
The Canasta
A canasta is a meld of seven cards of the same rank. It must be made up of natural cards only, and once a canasta is formed, it must be placed face-up. A player must have at least two canastas in order to go out. A canasta is worth 500 points.
Wild Cards
Wild cards are jokers and twos. Jokers are wild cards and can be used to represent any card the player chooses. Twos are also wild cards, but they have a special scoring value. A red two is worth 100 points, while a black two is worth 200 points. If a player has a red two in their hand at the end of the game, they must deduct the value from their score. If they have a black two, they must add the value to their score.
The Bonus Card
The bonus card is the first card drawn from the draw pile at the beginning of the game. This card can only be melded if the player has a natural pair of the same rank in their hand.
Going Out
When a player goes out, they must have at least one canasta in their melds. They may go out by melding all of their cards or by melding all but one card and then discarding it. Going out ends the game.
Scoring
Scoring in Canasta can be a bit confusing, but once you get the hang of it, it’s quite simple. The game is divided into hands, and at the end of each hand, players score points for melds, canastas, and special cards. They also receive a bonus for going out.
A meld is worth points based on the rank of the cards. A meld of aces is worth 20 points, while a meld of kings is worth 10 points. A meld of sevens through tens is worth 10 points, and a meld of jacks through queens is worth 10 points. If a meld contains wild cards, it is worth fewer points. A meld of wild cards is worth 50 points, but a meld with one wild card and two natural cards is only worth 30 points.
Canastas are worth 500 points each, and players receive a bonus of 100 points for each canasta over two.
Special cards, such as the bonus card and twos, are worth points as well. The bonus card is worth 100 points, while red twos are worth 100 points, and black twos are worth 200 points.
Finally, players receive a bonus for going out. If a player goes out, they receive a bonus of 100 points. If they go out concealed, which means they melded all of their cards at once, they receive a bonus of 200 points.
Conclusion
Canasta is a fun and challenging card game that requires strategic thinking and a bit of luck. The melding system and unique scoring rules make it a favorite among experienced players. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced player, Canasta is a game that is sure to provide hours of entertainment and excitement.
