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Canasta is a fun card game that is a cross between rummy and poker that can be a tough mental strategy game and can pass endless hours with enjoyment.
Two players are needed for the game as well as two full decks of cards with the jokers included.
First of all knowing what all the cards are worth will help you out. 2's are wildcards that are worth 20 points each. All jokers are worth 50 points and are also wildcards. Red 3's are worth 100 points each and are treated separately. A person can not finish their hand out until all four red 3's are out. When a Red 3 is dealt to you or picked up you must lay it down immediately and take another card. Black 3's are worth 5 points and stop the other person from picking up the pile of discards when played.
All the other single digit cards are worth 5 points, all the cards from 10-K are worth 10 points. Aces are worth 20 points.
Start by shuffling both deck together and dealing out 15 cards to each player. Any red 3's must be laid down in your space and a replacement card taken.
The goal of the game is to get as many points as possible by making Canasta's and then get rid of all your cards and go out. When you go out, the other person must deduct all the points still in their hand from the points they have earned laid down.
Making Canasta's are done 2 ways. Seven cards of the same number (7 - Queens) make a Red Canasta worth 500 points. Seven cards made up of at least 4 of the same card and the rest wildcards is a black Canasta worth 300 points. You can have 6 cards and 1 wildcard and it is still a black Canasta.
To start after dealing, each person takes 2 cards from the deck of remaining cards. Then they discard one in the discard pile which is faceup. The next person goes, takes 2 cards and then discards one in the pile on top of the other ones in the pile hiding everything below it.
While playing, you may lay down cards in front of you when you get at least 3 of the same card type (3- seven's). You can hold them in your hand if you like until later, but when you get 7 of the same card, make sure to lay them down and make your Canasta.
You can put wildcards on any of the ones you have laid down. Once you have them laid down on a certain type of card you can not move them even if you get 7 of that card.
The discard pile is the key to the game. You may pick up the entire discard pike instead of drawing two cards. You must have at least 2 cards of the type of the card on top of the pile. Then you must lay down at least those 3 cards in your area. You may put all the rest of the cards in your hand or lay down other matches. By picking up the pile you get a lot of cards and can make more Canasta's and thus get more points. But, don't get stuck with the pile in your hand if the other person goes out.
Trying to keep the other person from picking up the pike is a HUGE part of the game. Playing cards in the discard pile that you don't need that you know they don't have 2 of is key. The black 3's force the other person to draw. So do wildcards that are discarded but they are valuable to waste if you don't end up picking up the pile.
Enjoying the game can be done for a long time. Different rules are set for when someone wins. Many people play to 5000 points, others play to 10K, while others play to 50K. Depends how long you want it to last.
ENJOY THE GAME AND HAVE FUN!!!
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