canasta rules, the basics

it's not all fun and games

New to Canasta? Wow your tablemates with our handy quick-guides, like this basic rules summary! For a more thorough schooling, see our full-length manual CANASTA ESSENTIALS: Your Guide to Playing Like a Pro.

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basic rules of play

Download our Basic Rules PDF (Free)

Use this resource alongside our table rules checklist and scoring guide for reference at your table.

Opening (Initial Meld)

  1. A player must meet the minimum point count, have a clean triple, and hold at least one card after discarding.
  2. Opening with a wild card canasta? Meet the minimum count, no clean triple required.
  3. Open in error? Your team’s minimum count jumps by 10 points.
  4. Pick‑the‑pack on your Open? Have opening requirements in your hand (can't use the pack); no bonus cards for you.
  5. Bonus cards (4 for the first player, 3 for the second) are awarded up to and including the turning card. Hold any bonus card 3s until your next turn.
  6. You can’t ask your partner’s permission to open; only to go out (see below).
  7. A Splash fulfills all Initial Meld requirements.

Discards

  1. Wild cards can’t be discarded unless they’re your only option (can't meld and leave only wilds for discard)—be ready to prove it if challenged.
  2. 3s are never discarded—place them face‑up and grab a replacement card from the stockpile.
  3. Aces or 7s? No discarding into an empty tray.
  4. When you discard after drawing the last stockpile card, the next player can still pick‑the‑pack (if eligible) and continue play.

Going Out

  1. No going out (meld all but one card) unless your team has closed at least two canastas.
  2. No going out with an incomplete special canasta on your team’s board.
  3. No need to ask your partner to go out—but if you do, her answer is final.
  4. Ask your partner about going out before melding any cards on that turn.
  5. You can only ask permission to go out once per round.

Other

  1. Draw a 3 as the last card from the stockpile? The hand ends—no melding, no discarding.
  2. Got a wild card meld? You can’t add wild cards to any other melds until that canasta is complete, including during the Initial Meld.

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