canasta scoresheet & reference card

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minimum count to open

• under 3,000 — 125 points
• 3,000–4,995 — 155 points
• 5,000+ — 180 points
• add 10 points for each incorrect open
• opening with a splash (natural canasta) satisfies all initial meld conditions

calculate base score

the base score consists of:

• value of 3s
• points for canastas
• penalties
• bonus for going out

3s scoring (per color)

• 1 red or black 3 — 100 points
• 2 — 300 points
• 3 — 500 points
• 4 — 1,000 points (yes, really!)

canastas

• Mixed (black card on top) — 300 points
• Natural/Pure (red card on top) — 500 points

special canastas

• sevens — 2,500 points
• pure aces — 2,500 points
• wild cards:
  • all deuces — 3,000 points
  • 4 jokers + 3 deuces — 2,500 points
  • any other wild combo — 2,000 points

penalties

• incomplete 7s — minus 2,500 points
• incomplete pure aces — minus 2,500 points
• incomplete wilds — minus 2,000 points
• dirty with three or more 7s or aces in hand— minus 1,500 points (each)

bonus for going out

+100 points

special hands

• garbage (straight) — 3,000 points
• pungs & kongs — 2,500 points (4‑4‑3‑3, no wilds)
• zip code — 2,500 points (4‑3‑3‑2‑2, no wilds)
• pairs:
  • no wilds — 2,500 points
  • with wilds (aces + 7s required) — 2,000 points

playing for money

1. winning score minus losing score
2. round to nearest 1,000
3. divide by 1,000
4. multiply by pre‑agreed multiplier
5. optional: adjust for specials

example:

• winning team: 8,730
• losing team: 5,380 (with zip code & wild card canasta)
• difference: 3,350 → rounds to 3,000
• 3 × multiplier 2 = $6
• $6 − $2 specials = $4 owed to winning team

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