Canasta Card Game

Canasta is the classic partnership rummy game played with two decks and four jokers. Meld cards of the same rank, use twos and jokers as wild cards, and build canastas of seven cards for big bonuses. You and your computer partner play against two computer opponents.

How to play Canasta Card Game

• Cards: two standard decks plus four jokers (108 cards). Four players in two partnerships; your partner sits opposite. Each player gets 11 cards, the rest form the stock and one card starts the discard pile.
• Wild cards: jokers and twos can stand for any rank in a meld. Red threes are bonus cards: they are laid down at once and replaced from the stock. Black threes are stoppers.
• Your turn: draw the top card of the stock, or take the whole discard pile (see below). Then meld if you want, and end by discarding one card.
• Melds are 3 or more cards of the same rank. A meld needs at least two natural cards and may hold no more than three wild cards. Your team shares its melds, and each rank can be melded only once per team; add more cards to it later.
• First meld: your team's first meld of each hand must be worth a minimum count: 50 points (15 when your team is below zero, 90 from 1500, 120 from 3000). Card values: joker 50, ace and two 20, K to 8 10, 7 to 4 and black three 5.
• Taking the pile: meld the top card at once with two matching cards from your hand (one natural plus a wild card is fine), or add it to one of your team's melds, then take the rest of the pile into your hand. A wild card or black three on top blocks this.
• Frozen pile: once a wild card is discarded the pile is frozen (it is also frozen for a team that has not melded yet). To take a frozen pile you need a natural pair matching the top card.
• Canasta: a meld of 7 or more cards. A natural canasta (no wild cards) scores a 500 bonus, a mixed canasta 300.
• Going out: your team needs at least one canasta. Go out by melding or discarding your last card: 100 bonus, or 200 if you meld your whole hand in one turn without having melded before (going out concealed).
• Scoring: each team scores its melded cards plus bonuses (canastas, 100 per red three or 800 for all four, going out), minus the cards left in both partners' hands. Red threes count against a team that has not melded. First team to 5000 wins.

Controls

• Tap cards to select them. Tap the stock (or press S) to draw. Select the matching cards and tap the discard pile (or press P) to take it.
• Press Meld (M) to lay down the selected cards, or tap one of your team's glowing melds to add the selection to it.
• Before your team has melded, Stage meld collects groups until they reach the minimum count, then Lay down plays them together. Staged groups also count when you take the pile.
• Select one card and press Discard (D) to end your turn. Scores shows the running score sheet.

Tips

• The discard pile is the big prize. Keeping natural pairs in your hand lets you take the pile even when it is frozen.
• Freezing the pile with a wild card is a strong defensive move when the opponents are close to taking a big pile.
• Never discard a card that matches an opponent's meld while the pile is not frozen: they can add it and take everything.
• Save your wild cards to finish canastas. A meld of five or six plus one or two wild cards becomes a 300-point canasta.
• Black threes are the safest discards: the next player cannot take the pile on top of them.

FAQ

How do you play Canasta?

Four players in two teams draw and discard, melding cards of the same rank. Jokers and twos are wild. Build canastas of seven cards, take the discard pile when you can, and go out once your team has a canasta. The first team to 5000 points wins.

How many points do you need for your first meld in Canasta?

It depends on your team's score: 15 points below zero, 50 points from 0 to 1495, 90 points from 1500 to 2995 and 120 points from 3000 up.

What is a frozen pile in Canasta?

When a wild card is discarded, the pile becomes frozen. You can then take it only by melding the top card with a natural pair of the same rank from your hand. The pile is also frozen for a team that has not made its first meld.

How is Canasta scored?

Add the value of all melded cards, 500 for each natural canasta, 300 for each mixed canasta, 100 for each red three (800 for all four) and 100 for going out (200 concealed), then subtract the value of the cards left in your team's hands.

Can I play a shorter game?

Yes. Pick 1500 or 3000 points from the toolbar for a quicker game. The first-meld minimum still rises with your score.