Canasta Rummy

Canasta Rummy was customized in the late 1940’s Canasta is played with two regular 52 card packs including four jokers (two from each pack), making 108 cards in all.

 

The values of each joker is 50 points, that of Aces and 2s are 20 points each, K,Q, J,10, 9, 8….10 points each and 7, 6, 5, 4 are 5 points each. The threes have particular functions and values. The cards A, K, Q, J, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4 are known as natural cards. All of the deuces (twos) and jokers are wild cards. With some limitations, wild cards can be used as substitutes for a natural card of any rank.

 

Each player is dealt a hand of cards, and in the middle of the table is a face-down pile of cards or stock and a face-up pile of cards or discard pile. The player to the left of the dealer plays first, and then passes clockwise. A turn consists of drawing the top card of the stock and discarding one card from your hand face up on top of the discard pile.

 

The play ends when a player goes out, i.e. disposes of all the cards in his hand. He can go out by melding all but one of the cards in his hand. A valid meld has three or more cards of the same natural rank, and a group such as three kings, six fives, etc. Also, the game ends if the stock pile has no cards to draw. A meld of seven cards is called as Canasta.