Canasta

Variant played: Simplified CardVerse variant · teams · seven-card canasta · Version 1.0.0

The essentials to get started

Build canastas and lay down melds from two decks.

Draw at the start of your turn

At the start of your turn, draw a card, or take the discard when the conditions on its top card are met.

Make a same-rank set

A group contains at least three cards of the same rank, with different suits. Here, three 8s: spades, hearts, and diamonds.

Take all of the discard pile

To take the discard pile, its top card must not be a blocking special card. You must have two natural cards of the same rank in hand, or one plus a meld of that rank already laid by your team.

Complete the team meld

Add cards to one of your team's groups, not to the opponents' group. The group must keep a single natural rank; jokers may be used as substitutes.

Reach seven cards

A group of seven cards or more makes a canasta in this simplified variant. The example combines four natural 8s and three jokers; it does not claim to apply every tournament-rule restriction.

End by discarding

After drawing and making all allowed melds, choose a card to discard to end your turn. Check the conditions for going out before discarding your last card.

Check the conditions for going out

Your team must have at least one canasta before emptying your hand. Simply laying down several groups of three is not enough.

The table guides you through each turn and suggests the legal moves. This guide presents the basic rules; regional variants may differ.