Rules
Two-Player Canasta · Rules
Each player receives fifteen cards from two decks with four jokers. Two cards are drawn each turn.
Objective
Reach 5,000 points against one computer opponent in the two-player Canasta variant.
Deal and setup
Each player receives fifteen cards from two decks with four jokers. Two cards are drawn each turn.
How to play — step by step
- Draw two cards at the start of a turn, or take the discard pile when the special conditions are met.
- Meld groups of at least three equal ranks, then add more matching cards and build seven-card canastas.
- Complete two canastas before going out, and satisfy any minimum requirement for the first meld.
- A turn normally ends with one discard unless you legally go out. The first player to reach 5,000 wins under the club scoring rules.
Important rules to remember
Play example
In two-player Canasta you draw two cards at the start of a normal turn and must complete two canastas before you may go out.
Key terms
- meld
- Group of cards of the same rank
- canasta
- Completed meld of seven cards
- wild card
- Joker or card substituting another rank