Canasta is a member of the Rummy family of card games. It was developed in Argentina and Uruguay in the 1940's, exploded onto the public consciousness in the 1950's, and has remained a popular game ever since. The object of the game is to score points by making melds, which is a set of three or more cards of the same rank, regardless of suit. The game uses 108 cards - two 52-card decks plus four jokers. Canasta is usually played as two-on-two partnerships.
Canasta Links
- Rummy-Games: Canasta
Rummy-Games.com offers a comprehensive collection of rules and resources for rummy games, including Canasta, Canasta For Two, Canasta For Three, Canasta For Five, Canasta For Six, and the related games of Bolivia, Hand and Foot, Pennies From Heaven, and Samba. - Pagat Canasta
John McLeod's Canasta page, with rules, strategies and links. - Small Canasta Strategy Guide
A small Canasta strategy guide, based on the author's experiences with the game. Excellent description of the game's terminology, different styles of play, melding, and more. [ Archive Copy ] - The Canasta Story
"Fifty years ago, an epidemic swept across this nation affecting millions of people and lasting for many years. No corner of the country was safe; it reached into homes in every city and every country town. Fortunately, the epidemic was not fatal. In fact, people felt better because of it. The epidemic was called Canasta." - Wikipedia Canasta
An article on Canasta from the free online encyclopedia. Includes history, rules, and variations.
