Rules of Canasta

Canasta is a card game invented in 1939 in Montevideo, Uruguay, by the lawyer Segundo Santos and the architect Alberto Serrato. Since its creation, it has expanded rapidly throughout Latin America and the rest of the world, becoming one of the most popular games of this time.

Aim of the game

The objective of the game is to reach 5000 points (quick match) or 7000 points (standard match) through the formation of "canastas", which are melds of seven equal cards.

Number of players

The game can be played by two to four players, while the original version was intended for four. There are also 4 and 6 player variants of this game played in teams.

Deck of cards

It is played with French-suited playing cards, consisting of two decks of 52 cards plus the four jokers. In total, 108 cards are used. In the Spanish variant, it is played with four decks and two jokers per deck, adding up to a total of 216 cards.

Value of the cards

The value of the cards is as follows:

• Ace: 20 points
• 8, 9, 10, J, Q, K: 10 points
• 4, 5, 6, 7: 5 points
• Red Threes (hearts or diamonds): Are special cards that can be used during the game as a "flower". When a player gets it, they must show it on the table and replace it with a card from the deck. If the player has made at least one canasta during the hand, a red three is worth 100 points; otherwise, 100 points will be subtracted. If you get 4 red threes, the bonus will be 800 points.
• Black Threes (spades or clubs): works as a "stopper", that is, when a player places a black three on the discard pile, the next one can't take it. Each black three remaining in a player's hand subtracts 100 points.
• 2: 20 points (wild cards)
• Jokers: 50 points (wild cards)

Game Modes

In the Spanish variant, there are 3 game modes:

1. Individual: Each player plays on their own and uses only their own cards.
2. Pairs: Four players form two teams (A and B, for example), and sit alternately at the table (A, B, A, B).
3. Trios: With 6 players forming two teams. As in the pairs mode, players are distributed alternately on the table (A, B, A, B, A, B). When there are 6 or more players, 4 decks are used instead of 2, each with two jokers, giving a total of 216 cards.

Starting the game

The cards are shuffled and a player is chosen to start the game. This player will be in charge of dealing 15 cards to each participant and will give the first card to the player to their right, who will begin.

The dealer will also be responsible for "cutting" the deck. When cutting, if they do it exactly (15 cards per player), they will receive a bonus of 100 points, although these will be positive only if they make a canasta. If not, the points will be negative.

Before starting, the dealer will ask the players if they have red threes, starting with the person who received the first card. If this is the case, the players will show them and deposit them on the table, next to them, and draw from the deck as many cards as red threes they have.

Once the 15 cards have been dealt to each player, the dealer will place six stacked cards face down on the table and place one card face up on them. If this card is an Ace, a 2, a 7 or a joker, another card will be placed face down and again one face up. If a "prize" comes out again (Ace, 2, 7 or joker) the process will be repeated. These 7 or more cards make up the "initial pile".

Gameplay

If a player hits exactly, he gets 700 points, but only if they manage to make a canasta. The player who starts the game has the option to take the pot (the discard pile) on their first turn, while the other players will only be able to do so from the second turn on.

To take the pot, it is necessary to combine the top card with the cards from the hand. This combination must be exposed in the move in which the pot is taken.

The first time a player takes the pot during the course of the game, they must have at least two equal cards to the top card of the pot. That is, you cannot take the pot on the first move with a natural card and a joker. This rule does not apply after the first taking of the pot, except if the pot comes with a "prize".

To take the pot, it is necessary that at least one of the members of the team has "went out". However, both the action of taking the pot and the action of going out can be performed at the same time, using the same cards. In this case, the top card of the pot will be included in the count of the exposed cards necessary to go out.

Once the pot has been taken for the first time, in subsequent turns it can be taken again if the top card is equal to any meld or canasta of the given player or their partner.

When showing cards to draw the pot or to score points and allow the partner to draw the pot, it is necessary to have more natural cards than jokers.

Note: The black three works as a "stopper". If one player places it in the pot, the next player cannot take it, and must draw a card from the stock (initial pile) instead. A joker can also be used as a stopper. When a wild card is thrown onto the pot, it is placed crosswise, which makes the pot "crossed" or "frozen". From that moment, it will be necessary to have 3 cards of the same rank in order to take the pot.

Opening Melds

At the beginning of the game, the players have all the cards in their hand. However, as they take the pot, it will be mandatory to "open", that is, to make an initial meld and put cards on the table. In order to open, it is necessary for the meld to reach a certain number of points, which will depend on the initial score of each player or team. The requirements are detailed in the following table:

• Less than 0 points: 15 points
• From 0 to 1495 points: 50 points
• From 1500 to 2995 points: 90 points
• From 3000 to 4995 points: 120 points

When opening, the player must place their cards on the table in melds of 3 or more, with the aim of completing the 7 cards needed for a canasta. If jokers are used, it is necessary to make a meld of at least 3 cards, and it is allowed to combine two natural cards with a joker. In case of a canasta, there must be more natural cards of the same rank than jokers. Each canasta can include up to 3 wild cards, except in canastas formed by deuces, which allows you to add all the wild cards you want.

Another way to get points is through a "concealed canasta". Open cards count as positive points only after a canasta has been formed. If a player has opened, but has not formed any canastas before closing the hand, all of them will count as negative points.

In the pairs or trios mode, when one player opens, the rest of the team members can complete the melds of the first player with their own cards during their turn.

Note: It is mandatory for the player to open when the pot is taken, but it is not necessary to take the pot to open. In addition, any player can open during their turn without having taken the pot, but this only makes sense in the mode of pairs or trios.

Types of Canastas

• Pure canasta: 7 cards of equal rank without wild cards. Worth 500 points.
• Mixed canasta: 7 cards with 4, 5 or 6 cards of the same rank plus 1, 2 or 3 wild cards. Worth 300 points.
• Concealed canasta: Up to 7 cards (pure or mixed) to be played in one turn, without having revealed any cards before. Once it is placed on the table, it is marked with a crossed card to distinguish it from normal canastas. Worth 1000 points.
• Mixed wild: 7 wild cards, combining jokers with deuces. Worth 2000 points.
• Pure wild: 7 equal wild cards: i.e. 7 deuces or 7 jokers. Worth 3000 points.
• Canasta "a lo gusto": A canasta made with black threes. Wins the match.
• Earthquake: To finish a game without having placed cards on the table, that is, without having "opened". In order to do this, the player must first draw a card from the deck during their turn and, only after doing this, they will be able to end the game.

Special bonuses

Bonuses are awarded for the achievement of certain goals, such as:

• 5 canastas: 500 extra points.
• 7 canastas: 2000 extra points.
• Red Threes: 100 points for each. If you have all four, the bonus is 800 points.

End of the game

To close each "hand", it is necessary to have at least one pure and one mixed canasta, with all the cards divided into melds of 3 to 7 on the table. In addition, a leftover card must be left that will be thrown onto the pot face down. It is also possible to close the hand using all the cards from hand without leaving a leftover card. The game can be closed in the next turn following the completion of a pure canasta.

At the end of each hand, the points obtained with melds as well as the bonuses are added. Then each player takes their cards (except the red threes which are counted only once) and add the points corresponding to each. For example, a pure canasta with Q is worth 500 points, but at the end of the hand, the Q will also be counted individually (each Q is worth 10 points), adding 70 more points.

It is important to keep in mind that the meld cards on the table count as positive points, while the cards that a player has still in their hand when another player closes the game are counted negative. For example, if a player has 5 Q in their hand when another closes, they will lose 50 points. In addition, the player who closes the hand receives a bonus of 200 points.

In case that more than one player exceeds 5000 points, the player with the highest score will win. In the pairs or trios mode, the points of the entire team are added, not individually.

Are you ready for the challenge? Come and show your strategy in every move! Join the game and let the fun begin.