How do you play Canasta?

Canasta is a card game that is played with a deck of cards and is typically played with four players in two teams of two. Canasta is a card game similar to other rummy-style games in that it involves forming melds of cards of the same rank or suit. Here are the general rules of the game:

1. The game is played with two standard decks of cards, including the jokers, for a total of 108 cards. The cards are shuffled together to form a draw pile, and a certain number of cards (usually 11) are dealt to each player. The remaining cards form the stockpile.
2. The objective of the game is to form melds, which are combinations of three or more cards of the same rank, or sequences of three or more cards of the same suit. Melds can only be formed with natural cards (cards with numerical values), not with wildcards (jokers and 2s).
3. The player to the left of the dealer starts the game by drawing a card from the top of the draw pile or the top card of the discard pile. If the drawn card is not a joker or a 2, the player must then try to form melds with it and any other cards in their hand. If the player is unable to form any melds, they must discard one card face up onto the discard pile.
4. If the drawn card is a joker or a 2, the player must keep it and draw another card. If the second card is also a joker or a 2, the player must keep that card as well and draw a third card. This process continues until the player draws a card that is not a joker or a 2.
5. If a player draws the top card of the discard pile, they must either use it to form a meld with two other natural cards of the same rank, or they must discard it.
6. A player can also add cards to their own team's melds or their opponents' melds, but they cannot add cards to an opponent's meld until their team has at least one meld on the table.
7. A player can pick up the entire discard pile, but only if the top card of the pile is a natural card and the player has at least two other natural cards of the same rank in their hand. If the player picks up the discard pile, they must also take the top card of the stockpile.
8. A player can go out (end the game) if they have at least one canasta, which is a meld of seven or more cards. A player can also go out if they have no cards left in their hand and their team has at least one canasta.
9. The game ends when one team goes out or when the stockpile is depleted and no player is able to take the top card of the discard pile. Points are scored based on the cards that each team has melded, as well as any bonuses or penalties that may be incurred. The first team to reach a predetermined number of points (usually 5,000) wins the game.

There are many additional rules and variations of Canasta, and some of these rules may vary depending on the specific version of the game being played. Canasta is a strategic and challenging card game that requires careful planning and attention to the rules in order to succeed. Copag USA’s elite cards are the perfect cards to play Canasta with.  The elite cards are unique because they have three Jokers per deck, instead of two. Grab your team, and cards, and get ready to play!