Canasta
Classic Canasta: meld sets with wild cards, build canastas and go out. Four players in partnerships, or two.
How to play
Two decks plus four jokers. Twos and jokers are wild. Red 3s are set aside automatically for bonus points (and count against you if your side never melds).
Draw from the stock or take the whole discard pile — only if its top card is not wild or a black 3, and you can meld it (join an existing meld, or make a new one with two natural cards; one natural plus a wild if the pile is not frozen). The pile is frozen after a wild is discarded and until your side has melded.
Melds are 3+ cards of one rank with at least two naturals and fewer wilds than naturals (max three). Seven cards make a canasta: 500 natural, 300 mixed. Your first meld must reach 50 points (15 if your score is negative, 90 from 1500, 120 from 3000).
Go out by emptying your hand after your side has a canasta (+100). Black 3s can only be melded when going out. Unmelded cards count against you. First side to the target score (1500, 3000 or 5000) wins.
About Canasta
Canasta is a rummy game for two or four players (in partnerships) played with two decks and four jokers. You meld sets of three or more cards of one rank, with twos and jokers wild, and the big prize is the canasta: a meld of seven or more cards worth 500 points when natural and 300 when mixed. Taking the whole discard pile is both the key weapon and the key risk.
Canasta at a glance
| Players | 2–4 players |
|---|---|
| Type | Table game: play online with friends, or with bots in any seat |
| Family | Rummy |
| Bot levels | Easy, medium and hard |
| Options | Play to: 5000 or 3000 or 1500 |
| Turn timer (online) | 60 seconds |
| Cost | Free, no download |
Tips for Canasta
- Do not grab the discard pile just because you can: a big pile is worth far more than a small one, and taking it early can strand you with an unplayable hand.
- Save wild cards for building canastas and for picking up the pile instead of spending them on small melds.
- A black 3 or a wild on top of the pile blocks the next player from taking it, so discard one when the pile is dangerous to give away.
Questions about Canasta
How many people can play Canasta?
Canasta is played by between 2 and 4 players. Real players and bots can share a table, so a game can always start even if you do not have enough people.
Can I play Canasta against the computer?
Yes. Pick easy, medium or hard bots and start straight away. Bots only use what a player in their seat could see, so they cannot peek at your cards.
Can I play Canasta online with friends?
Yes. Create a private room and share its code, or join a quick match. If someone drops out mid-game, a bot takes over their seat.
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