IanCanasta
July 12th 2010 02:26
Canasta (Spanish for "basket") is a card game originating in Uruguay but popularized in Argentina (hence the alternate name Argentine Rummy), in which players attempt to make melds of 7 cards of the same rank, and "go out" by playing all cards in their hand and discarding. It is a variant of Rummy and 500 Rum. It is commonly played by four players in two partnerships with two standard decks of cards, but many variations exist for 2-3 and 6-player games or teams.
The game is for two to six players, either each player for themselves or in teams of two (only for four or six player games). If partners are chosen they must sit opposite each other. Canasta uses two complete decks of 52 playing cards (French Deck) plus the four Jokers. All the Jokers and deuces (twos) are wild cards.
Each player/team keeps separate melds of the various ranks of cards. A player may never play to an opponent's meld. A legal meld consists of at least three cards of the same rank. Suits are irrelevant except that black threes are treated differently from red threes. Wild cards can be used as any rank except for threes. Threes may never be melded.
A meld must consist of at least two natural cards, and can never have more wild cards than natural cards (and therefore more than three wild cards). Examples: 5-5-2 and 9-9-9-2-2-Joker are legal melds. 5-2-2 is not a legal meld as it contains only one natural card. 9-9-2-2-2-Joker is not legal as it contains more wild cards than natural cards.
A canasta is a meld of at least seven cards, whether natural or mixed. A natural canasta is one which comprises only natural cards. A mixed canasta (or dirty canasta) is one which comprises both natural and wild cards.
The best way to learn Canasta is start playing! Online play is an excellent way to learn the game. SpecialKSoftware has a easy-to-use and free version available here.
I hope you enjoy this fantastic game as much as I do!
*This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia page for Canasta.
The game is for two to six players, either each player for themselves or in teams of two (only for four or six player games). If partners are chosen they must sit opposite each other. Canasta uses two complete decks of 52 playing cards (French Deck) plus the four Jokers. All the Jokers and deuces (twos) are wild cards.
Each player/team keeps separate melds of the various ranks of cards. A player may never play to an opponent's meld. A legal meld consists of at least three cards of the same rank. Suits are irrelevant except that black threes are treated differently from red threes. Wild cards can be used as any rank except for threes. Threes may never be melded.
A meld must consist of at least two natural cards, and can never have more wild cards than natural cards (and therefore more than three wild cards). Examples: 5-5-2 and 9-9-9-2-2-Joker are legal melds. 5-2-2 is not a legal meld as it contains only one natural card. 9-9-2-2-2-Joker is not legal as it contains more wild cards than natural cards.
A canasta is a meld of at least seven cards, whether natural or mixed. A natural canasta is one which comprises only natural cards. A mixed canasta (or dirty canasta) is one which comprises both natural and wild cards.
The best way to learn Canasta is start playing! Online play is an excellent way to learn the game. SpecialKSoftware has a easy-to-use and free version available here.
I hope you enjoy this fantastic game as much as I do!
*This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia page for Canasta.
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