Overview
Canasta is a rummy-type card game that uses two decks of standard cards plus four jokers (108 cards in all). The game can be played by two to six players.
Objective
The main objective of Canasta is to be the first player or team to reach 5,000 points, which is achieved by melding cards into sets and sequences.
Basic Setup
- Each player is dealt 11 cards at the start of the game
- The remaining cards form a draw pile
- The top card of the draw pile is turned face up to start a discard pile
Melds
Players must form melds of three or more cards of the same rank or sequences of three or more cards in the same suit. Melds must follow these rules:
- A meld must have a minimum of three cards
- Jokers and 2s act as wild cards
- A canasta is a meld of seven or more cards of the same rank
Gameplay
- Players take turns in clockwise order
- On each turn, a player must draw one card (either from the draw pile or discard pile)
- The player can then lay down melds or add to existing melds
- The player must end their turn by discarding one card face-up on the discard pile
Scoring
- Natural cards: Face value for 2-9, 10 points for 10-K, 20 points for A
- Wild cards (Joker and 2s): 50 points each
- Bonus for melding all cards in hand: 100 points
- Bonus for a natural canasta: 500 points
- Bonus for a mixed canasta: 300 points
Going Out
A player "goes out" when they have melded all their cards. If a player goes out without discarding, it is called "going out concealed." This earns an extra bonus.