Canasta

Stack same-rank cards into seven-card canastas, grab the discard pile, and outscore your rival to 5000.

How to play

Each turn you draw from the stock or take the discard pile, then lay down melds of three or more cards of the same rank. A meld of seven cards is a canasta, and you need one before you can go out.

• Melds need at least two natural cards and no more than three wilds
• A pure canasta scores 500, a mixed canasta 300
• Red threes are laid aside for bonus points
• Empty your hand after a canasta to end the round

Controls

• Desktop: click cards and buttons to draw, meld, discard and go out
• Phone & tablet: tap cards and on-screen buttons

Game modes

• Daily and Practice rounds against the computer
• Online: one-on-one matches against another player

Tips & strategy

• Hold wild cards to complete a meld that is close to a canasta rather than scattering them
• Watch the discard pile grow and time a freeze or grab when the pot is fat
• You cannot go out without a finished canasta, so secure one early

About Canasta

Canasta is an original free implementation of the classic meld-building card game in the rummy family. Play in your browser with no install required.

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