Quick Rules
This is classic partnership Canasta. You and your partner (North, across the table) play against West and East with two decks and four jokers. Everyone gets 11 cards, and one card is turned up to start the discard pile.
- Your turn. Draw one card from the stock, or take the whole discard pile. Meld if you like, then discard one card.
- Melds. Three or more cards of the same rank. Jokers and 2s are wild; a meld needs at least two natural cards and no more than three wild cards.
- Canastas. A meld of seven or more cards. Natural canasta (no wild cards): 500 bonus. Mixed canasta: 300.
- First meld. Your team's first meld must reach a minimum based on your score: 50 points to start, rising to 90 and 120 as your score grows.
- The discard pile. To take it, use the top card in a meld right away. When the pile is frozen, you need a natural pair that matches the top card.
- Threes. Red 3s are laid aside for 100 points each. A discarded black 3 blocks the next player from taking the pile.
- Going out. Your team needs at least one canasta. Then meld all your cards, or all but one and discard it.
- Winning. The first team to reach 5,000 points wins.
Playing here: tap cards to select them, then press Make a new meld or tap one of your team's melds to add to it. Use Draw or Discard Pile to start your turn. Your hand is sorted by rank with the wild cards at the end, and the current meld minimum is shown on screen.
Tips for Winning
- The discard pile wins games. A big pile can hand your team two or three canastas in one turn. Hold natural pairs so you're ready to take it.
- Freeze the pile when you're behind. Discarding a wild card makes the pile much harder for your opponents to take.
- Feed your partner, not your opponents. Discard cards that match your opponents' finished canastas or that they've passed on before.
- Don't meld too much too early. Every card on the table is a card you can't use to take the pile.
- Go out when you're ahead. If your team has its canasta and the other side has a lot on the table, ending the hand quickly can save you points.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this Canasta game free?
Yes. You can play as many games as you like for free, with no account, no sign-up and no download.
Does the computer cheat?
No. The computer players only see their own cards and what is on the table and in the discard pile, the same as you. They never see your cards or the order of the stock. At the end of every hand you can press Show All Hands to see every hand and the cards left in the stock. Every deal has a number, such as Deal #48213, and Replay This Deal replays the exact same shuffle. You can also tap Why? next to a computer move to see the reason for it.
Can I play with my family's rules?
Yes. Open Settings and choose House Rules. You can require two canastas to go out, keep the discard pile frozen all the time, make players ask their partner before going out, or play a shorter game to 3,000. Each option is explained on our Rule Variations page.
Why can't I pick up the discard pile?
You can't take the pile when its top card is a wild card or a black 3. When the pile is frozen, you need a natural pair in your hand that matches the top card. The pile is frozen for everyone once a wild card has been discarded into it, and it is always frozen for a team that has not melded yet. Your first meld must also reach the minimum for your team's score.
What is a frozen pile?
A frozen pile can only be taken with a natural pair matching the top card. Taking the pile unfreezes it.
What is the difference between a natural and a mixed canasta?
A canasta is a meld of seven or more cards. A natural canasta has no wild cards and earns a 500-point bonus. A mixed canasta has one to three wild cards and earns 300.
What do Easy, Normal and Hard do?
Easy computer players make simpler choices and sometimes miss good plays. Normal players play a steady, sensible game. Hard players remember what has been discarded and picked up, are more careful with their discards, and push harder for the canasta they need to go out. Every level follows the same rules and sees only what you could see in its seat.
Does the game save my progress?
Yes. Your game is saved in your browser after every move. Close the page and come back later, and you can pick up where you left off on the same device.
More help: the full Canasta rules, the rule variations behind each House Rules option, and our free Hand and Foot game, the big-family cousin of Canasta.
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