Canasta is a card game for two to six players, played with two standard decks of cards plus four jokers — 108 cards in total. The goal is to score points by forming melds (sets of matching cards) and completing canastas (melds of seven cards).
It sounds like a lot at first. But once you understand the basic structure of a turn, everything else slots into place.
This page covers the complete rules for Classic Canasta — the standard four-player partnership version.
What You Need to Play
- Players: 4 (in two partnerships of two) — see also 2-player Canasta and 3-player Canasta
- Cards: Two standard 52-card decks plus four jokers (108 cards total)
- Partners: Sit opposite each other
- Goal: Be the first partnership to reach 5,000 points across multiple rounds
The Deal
One player deals 11 cards to each player (in a 4-player game). The remaining cards form the draw pile, placed face down in the centre. The top card is flipped face up beside it to start the discard pile.
If the first face-up card is a red three, a wild card, or a joker, keep flipping until a regular card appears.
Red Threes — Place Them Immediately
Before play begins, any player holding a red three must place it face up on the table and draw a replacement card. Red threes score bonus points at the end of the round — but only if your partnership has made at least one meld.
👉 Full details: Canasta Red Threes Explained
What Is a Meld?
A meld is a set of three or more cards of the same rank, placed face up on the table in front of your partnership.
Rules for melds:
- Minimum of three cards to start a meld
- Maximum of seven cards (at which point it becomes a canasta)
- A meld can contain wild cards (twos and jokers), but no more than three — and never more wild cards than natural cards
- Aces and twos can be melded, but with restrictions (see below)
- Black threes cannot be melded (they can only be used as a discard to block the pile)
Wild Cards
Twos and jokers are wild cards — they can substitute for any natural card in a meld.
Key rules:
- A meld must always have more natural cards than wild cards
- You can never have more than three wild cards in a single meld
- Wild cards cannot be used to start a meld of wild cards on their own
👉 Full details: Wild Cards & Jokers in Canasta
Initial Meld Requirement
Your partnership cannot lay down its first meld until the combined point value of that meld meets a minimum threshold — based on your current score.
| Your current score | Minimum initial meld value |
|---|---|
| Negative | 15 points |
| 0 to 1,495 | 50 points |
| 1,500 to 2,995 | 90 points |
| 3,000 or more | 120 points |
This applies to the first time your partnership melds in each round. After that, you can add to existing melds freely.
How a Turn Works
On your turn you must do exactly two things — draw, then discard:
1. Draw Either take the top two cards from the draw pile, or pick up the entire discard pile (if you are allowed to — see below).
2. Meld (optional) Lay down new melds or add cards to your partnership’s existing melds. You are never forced to meld.
3. Discard End your turn by placing one card face up on top of the discard pile.
The Discard Pile
Taking the discard pile is one of the most powerful moves in Canasta — and one of the most misunderstood rules.
To take the discard pile you must:
- Hold at least two natural cards in your hand that match the top card of the discard pile
- Use those cards plus the top card to form a new meld (or add to an existing one)
- Have already made your partnership’s initial meld (unless the top card completes your initial meld requirement)
You cannot take the discard pile if the top card is a wild card, a black three, or if the pile is frozen.
👉 Full details: The Discard Pile in Canasta
What Is a Canasta?
A canasta is a completed meld of exactly seven cards. This is the heart of the game — you need at least one canasta to go out.
Natural canasta: Seven natural cards (no wild cards) — worth 500 points
Mixed canasta: Contains one to three wild cards — worth 300 points
Once a canasta is complete, square the pile and place a red card on top (natural) or a black card on top (mixed) to mark it.
How to Go Out
To end the round, one player goes out by playing their last card — either as a meld or as a discard. To go out, your partnership must have:
- At least one completed canasta
- Met the initial meld requirement
You may ask your partner “May I go out?” before going out. Your partner must answer honestly — yes or no — and you are bound by their answer.
Going out bonus: 100 points
Going out concealed: If you go out without having melded anything previously in the round, and you do so in a single turn, you score a bonus of 200 points instead of 100.
Canasta Scoring
Scoring happens at the end of each round. Points come from four sources:
Canasta bonuses
- Natural canasta: 500 points
- Mixed canasta: 300 points
Red threes
- Each red three: 100 points
- All four red threes: 800 points (doubled bonus)
- If your partnership has no meld, red threes count against you
Going out bonus
- Standard: 100 points
- Concealed: 200 points
Card values (cards in completed melds)
| Card | Points |
|---|---|
| Joker | 50 |
| Two (wild) | 20 |
| Ace | 20 |
| K, Q, J, 10, 9, 8 | 10 |
| 7, 6, 5, 4, and black 3 | 5 |
| Red three | 100 (scored separately) |
Cards left in your hand at the end of the round are subtracted from your score.
👉 Full details: Canasta Scoring Explained
Winning the Game
The game continues over multiple rounds until one partnership reaches 5,000 points. The partnership with the highest score at that point wins.
Quick Reference — Turn Sequence
- Draw two cards from the pile (or take the discard pile if allowed)
- Place any red threes face up and draw replacements
- Meld cards if you choose to (and meet the initial meld requirement)
- Add cards to existing melds if you choose to
- Discard one card to end your turn
Related Guides
- How to Play Canasta — Step-by-Step Walkthrough
- Canasta Scoring Explained
- Wild Cards & Jokers in Canasta
- The Discard Pile in Canasta
- Canasta Red Threes Explained
- 2-Player Canasta Rules
Written by Carol Vance — Last updated 2026