How to Play Canasta: Card Game Rules & Interactive Tutorial

Canasta is a captivating 4-player card game played in partnerships, with teammates sitting across from each other. Points are scored through "melding" - creating sets of cards of the same rank - with the ultimate goal being to complete "canastas" (melds of seven or more cards).

Learn the complete rules by reading them below or through our interactive tutorial above. Either way, you'll be ready to start playing and enjoying this classic card game.

Once you've learned the rules, you can Play Canasta Online on World of Card Games, where you can choose between playing against bots or multiplayer with people online or your friends.

The Cards

Canasta uses two complete decks of standard playing cards plus Jokers, for a total of 108 cards. Cards have different roles and values:

Objective

The first team to reach 5,000 points wins the game. Points are earned primarily by creating melds and completing canastas, with bonus points awarded for going out and collecting red 3s.

Deal

A random player is chosen as the dealer. Each player receives 11 cards. The remaining cards form the stock pile. After dealing, one card is turned face up to start the discard pile. If this card is a wild card or red 3, additional cards are turned up until a natural card appears.

Gameplay

Players take turns clockwise around the table. On your turn, you first draw either one card from the stock pile or the entire discard pile (if you meet specific conditions). Then you may form new melds or add to existing ones. Finally, you must discard one card unless you are going out.

Melding

A meld consists of at least three cards of the same rank, such as three Kings or four 7s. Melds can include wild cards, but must always contain more natural cards than wild cards, with a maximum of three wild cards per meld.

Your team's first meld in each hand must meet a minimum point requirement based on your current score:

Canastas

A canasta is a meld of seven or more cards. There are two types of canastas: Natural canastas consist of seven or more cards of the same rank with no wild cards and score 500 points. Mixed canastas include wild cards and score 300 points. You must complete at least one canasta to go out.

The Discard Pile

The discard pile is central to strategy in Canasta. To pick it up, you must be able to use the top card in a meld - either by combining it with two matching natural cards from your hand or by adding it to an existing meld.

The discard pile can become frozen when it contains a wild card, in which case you need two matching natural cards to pick it up. It can also become blocked when topped by a black 3, preventing the next player from picking it up.

Going Out

To end a round ("go out"), your team must have completed at least one canasta, and you must play or discard all cards from your hand. While optional, it's recommended to ask for and receive permission from your partner before going out.

Score

After each round, teams score points for:

Subtract the value of any cards remaining in hand from your team's score.

Game End

The game ends immediately when one team reaches 5,000 points or more. If both teams exceed 5,000 points in the same round, the team with the higher score wins.

A team can also lose if their score falls below -5,000 points. In this case, their opponents win regardless of score.

History

Canasta originated in Uruguay in the 1940s, rapidly gaining popularity across South America and eventually becoming a global card game sensation. The word "canasta" means "basket" in Spanish, referring to the basket of cards needed to win.

Ready to play? Jump into a game and start building those canastas!