Rules
Canasta – build melds · Rules
Play with two decks and four jokers. Deal fifteen cards for two players, thirteen for three, or eleven for four; four players form opposite partnerships.
Objective
Score 5,000 points by making melds of matching ranks and completing canastas.
Deal and setup
Play with two decks and four jokers. Deal fifteen cards for two players, thirteen for three, or eleven for four; four players form opposite partnerships.
How to play — step by step
- Start the turn by drawing from the stock; in two- and three-player games you draw two cards. Taking the discard pile has special conditions.
- Select at least three cards of one rank and prepare a meld. You may prepare several groups before confirming them.
- Add matching cards to your own or your team's melds. Seven cards of the same rank make a clean or mixed canasta.
- Finish by discarding one selected card. You may go out only after completing the required canastas and initial meld.
Important rules to remember
Play example
A meld reaches seven cards of the same rank and becomes a canasta. Before going out, complete the required canastas for the chosen mode.
Key terms
- meld
- Group of cards of the same rank
- canasta
- Completed meld of seven cards
- wild card
- Joker or card substituting another rank