What Is Canasta?

Canasta is a classic rummy-style card game that is usually played by four players in partnerships. The game revolves around forming melds of cards of the same rank, particularly focusing on creating "canastas" — melds of seven or more cards. It’s strategic, exciting, and rich with history, making it a favorite among card game enthusiasts.

Objective of the Game

The main objective is to form melds and collect points. A team wins by reaching a predetermined point goal, typically 5,000 points.

Setup and Cards

• Players: 4 players in 2 partnerships
• Deck: Two standard 52-card decks + 4 Jokers (108 cards total)
• Card Values: Jokers = 50 points, 2s = 20 points, Aces = 20 points, 8-K = 10 points, 4-7 = 5 points, 3s = special rules

Basic Gameplay

• Each player is dealt 11 cards.
• The rest of the cards form the draw pile, with one card turned face up to start the discard pile.
• Players take turns drawing either from the draw pile or the entire discard pile (with restrictions).
• Players aim to create melds of 3 or more cards of the same rank (with or without wild cards).
• A “canasta” is a meld of 7+ cards — either natural or mixed (with wilds).

Meld Requirements

The minimum initial meld requirement depends on your partnership’s total score:

• < 1500 points: 50-point meld
• 1500–2999 points: 90-point meld
• 3000+: 120-point meld

Only natural cards count toward this minimum (no wilds).

Wild Cards and Red Threes

• Wild cards: Jokers and 2s. These can be used in melds (up to a limit).
• Red Threes: Set aside immediately when drawn. Worth 100 points each, but count against you if you don’t go out.

Going Out

A player may go out (end the round) if their team has at least one canasta and all cards are used or discarded. A bonus is awarded for going out, and additional points are tallied based on melds, cards in hand, and special bonuses.

Scoring

• Natural Canasta (no wilds): 500 points
• Mixed Canasta (with wilds): 300 points
• Each Red Three: 100 points
• Going out: 100 points bonus
• Cards remaining in hand are subtracted from your total

Winning the Game

The game ends when a team reaches or exceeds 5,000 points. The team with the highest score at that point is the winner.

Canasta Strategy Tips

• Watch opponents’ discards to avoid feeding them useful cards.
• Don’t be too quick to pick up the discard pile — it can trap you.
• Manage wild cards wisely — you’ll need them to complete canastas.
• Work with your partner and signal through safe melds/discards.