Canasta Rules
A simple Canasta rules guide for learning the basics, checking card values, understanding bonuses, and scoring each round.
Quick refresher first. Full rules and scoring details below.
Score more points than the other team by making melds, building canastas, and earning bonuses.
A meld is 3 or more cards of the same rank. It must include at least 2 natural cards.
The game usually ends at 5,000 points, or at the custom end-game score chosen during setup.
How a Turn Works
On each turn, a player usually does three things:
- Draws a card from the stock or takes the discard pile.
- Lays down melds, if able or desired.
- Discards one card to end the turn.
Melds
A meld is a group of 3 or more cards of the same rank. Runs or sequences do not count in Canasta.
- A meld must have at least 3 total cards.
- A meld must have at least 2 natural cards.
- A meld can use up to 3 wild cards.
- You can add cards to your team’s melds later.
- Your team cannot have 2 separate melds of the same rank.
Black 3s can only be melded as a set of 3 or 4, without wild cards, when going out.
Canastas
A canasta is a meld of 7 or more cards of the same rank. Your team needs at least 1 canasta to go out.
A natural canasta has no wild cards. A mixed canasta includes wild cards. If you add a wild card to a natural canasta, it becomes mixed.
Wild Cards
Jokers and 2s are wild cards.
- Wild cards can stand in for other cards.
- They must be played with natural cards.
- A meld must always have at least 2 natural cards.
- A meld can have no more than 3 wild cards.
Red Threes
If you have a red 3 in your hand, place it on the table on your first turn and draw a replacement card. If you draw a red 3 from the stock, place it down right away and draw a replacement.
Red 3s count for your team only if your team has made a meld. If your team has no meld, they count against your team.
Taking the Discard Pile
You can take the discard pile only if you can immediately use the top card in a meld.
When the pile is not frozen, you may take it with:
- A natural pair of the same rank.
- One matching natural card and one wild card.
- A matching meld already on your side.
You can never take the pile if the top card is a wild card, red 3, or black 3.
Frozen Discard Pile
The discard pile is frozen against your team before your team makes its initial meld. It is also frozen if a wild card, black 3, or red 3 is on top.
To take a frozen pile, you need a natural pair in your hand matching the top card. A wild card cannot help you take a frozen pile.
Minimum Initial Meld
Your team’s first meld must meet a minimum point requirement based on your team’s current score.
| Team Score | Minimum Meld |
|---|---|
| Below 0 | 15 |
| 0 to 1,495 | 50 |
| 1,500 to 2,995 | 90 |
| 3,000+ | 120 |
Canasta bonuses and red 3 bonuses do not count toward this minimum.
Going Out
A player goes out when they get rid of their last card by discarding it or melding it.
- Your team must already have at least 1 canasta.
- Or your team must complete a canasta while going out.
- Going out is worth +100 bonus points.
Concealed Hand
Concealed hand means you go out in one turn without making any earlier melds and without previously adding to your partner’s melds.
Permission to Go Out
Before going out, you may ask your partner, “May I go out?” Your partner must answer yes or no, and that answer is binding.
When the Stock Runs Out
If the last stock card is a red 3, reveal it and play ends right away. Otherwise, play continues only if each player can and does take the discard pile when allowed.
The round ends when a player cannot or does not legally take the discard pile.
Card Values
Scoring a Deal
Your final score for the round is:
Common bonuses
Advanced tournament scoring
Some tournament games use additional bonuses and penalties for wild card canastas, aces, and 7s. Use these only if your table or tournament rules include them.
What the App Fields Mean
Positive Points
Total value of cards your team has laid down.
Negative Points
Total value of cards left in your hand at the end of the round.
Went Out
Your team ended the round by getting rid of all remaining cards.
Concealed Hand
You went out in one turn without laying down cards earlier and without previously adding to your partner’s melds.
Natural Canastas
A 7-card canasta with no wild cards.
Mixed Canastas
A 7-card canasta with 1 to 3 wild cards.
Photo Scan Tip
When using the Canasta Score scanner, take a clear bird’s-eye photo from directly above the table.
- Make sure every card is fully visible.
- Keep the upper-left rank labels clear.
- Avoid glare, blur, shadows, and messy overlapping piles.
- Use clean horizontal or vertical stacks when possible.
Winning the Game
Once a team reaches the end-game score, the game can end. The team with the higher total score wins.
Launch Canasta Score