A Club Pogo Members Only Game!
 

Canasta is a classic card game that was invented in South America, before becoming extremely popular in the United States in the 1950's. The object of the game is to reach 5,000 points before your opponent. Canasta can be played with 2 players or 4 players (2 teams). 4-player Team Canasta is just like regular 2-player Canasta, except that both members of the team contribute to a shared meld pile.

Throughout the game, each player in turn draws the top 2 cards of the stockpile OR picks up the entire discard pile. Then you discard one card. To win, discard all of your cards before your opponent!

Like Gin, players pick up and discard on each turn in order to form melds. Unlike Gin, suits and straights do not matter in Canasta. Melds consist of 3 or more cards of the same number. Players lay their melds face-up on the table on their turn. When melds consist of 7 or more cards of the same number, these special melds are called "canastas." Canastas are worth bonus points.

Tips and Tricks:

• Try to pick up the discard pile. Don't meld unless it helps you pick up the discard pile. The person with the most cards often wins.

• Make your opening meld as small as possible, and try to be the first to get the discard pile.

• Discard cards that are only worth 5 points (4 - 7) and collect high-scoring cards.

• Hoard special cards like Black 3's, Jokers and 2's and use them strategically to freeze the discard pile and/or increase the value of your melds.

• Don't get caught with wild cards and high-value cards in your hand when your opponent melds out - if it looks like your opponent is ready to go out, add your wild cards and high-value cards to your melds.

• Watch what your opponent melds and discards in order to avoid discarding cards that will help your opponent build canastas or pick up the discard pile.

Feel free to share your tips, strategies and accomplishments in Canasta on the Pogo Games section of our Message Boards!

Click here for a printable version

Rank	Name	Image	# of Red 3's to next rank	Badge
0	-		-
1	Coffee Cup		100
2	Lava Lamp		200
3	Pipe		300
4	TV		400
5	Telephone		500	Canasta Grove Badge
6	Bowling Pin		600
7	Martini Glass		700
8	Guitar		800
9	Drums		900
10	Sun Glasses		1,000
11	Coffee Cup		1,100
12	Lava Lamp		1,200
13	Pipe		1,300	Lost Your Marbles Badge
14	TV		1,400
15	Telephone		1,500
16	Bowling Pin		1,600
17	Martini Glass		1,700
18	Guitar		1,800
19	Drums		1,900
20	Sun Glasses		2,000
21	Coffee Cup		2,100
22	Lava Lamp		2,200
23	Pipe		2,300
24	TV		2,400
25	Telephone		2,500
26	Bowling Pin		2,600
27	Martini Glass		2,700
28	Guitar		2,800
29	Drums		2,900
30	Sun Glasses		3,000
31	Coffee Cup		3,100
32	Lava Lamp		3,200
33	Pipe		3,300	Hair Dryer Badge
34	TV		3,400
35	Telephone		3,500
36	Bowling Pin		3,600
37	Martini Glass		3,700
38	Guitar		3,800
39	Drums		3,900
40	Sun Glasses		4,000
41	Coffee Cup		4,100
42	Lava Lamp		4,200
43	Pipe		4,300	Canasta Cake Badge
44	TV		4,400
45	Telephone		4,500
46	Bowling Pin		6,000
47	Martini Glass		7,000
48	Guitar		8,000
49	Drums		9,000
50	Sun Glasses		10,000	Scooter Badge