Meld sets of cards and go out first in this classic rummy game
You reached 5000 first!
Canasta is a classic rummy-type card game that became the biggest card game fad of the 1950s, outselling every other card game in America for several consecutive years. Originating in Uruguay and Argentina in the 1940s, it quickly spread worldwide. The game uses two standard decks with jokers (108 cards total) and challenges players to form melds — groups of three or more cards of the same rank — with the ultimate goal of building canastas (melds of seven or more cards).
This free online version lets you play classic two-player Canasta against an AI opponent at three difficulty levels. The game faithfully implements all standard rules including wild cards, frozen discard piles, initial meld requirements, and scoring to 5000 points.
Each round begins with 11 cards dealt to each player. On your turn, draw two cards from the stock pile (or pick up the entire discard pile if you can immediately meld its top card). Then form or add to melds on the table using groups of 3+ cards of the same rank. Wild cards (2s and Jokers) can substitute for natural cards, but each meld must have at least 2 natural cards. End your turn by discarding one card.
The round ends when a player "goes out" by melding or discarding all remaining cards — but only after forming at least one canasta. Points are tallied from card values, canasta bonuses, and a going-out bonus. The first player to reach 5000 points across multiple rounds wins the game.
A canasta is a meld containing 7 or more cards of the same rank. A "natural" canasta (containing no wild cards) earns 500 bonus points and glows gold on the table. A "mixed" canasta (containing wild cards) earns 300 bonus points and glows red. You must complete at least one canasta before you can go out and end the round.
Twos and Jokers are wild cards that can represent any rank in a meld. However, every meld must contain at least 2 natural (non-wild) cards — you can never have more wild cards than natural cards in a meld. Discarding a wild card "freezes" the discard pile, making it harder for your opponent to pick it up. Jokers are worth 50 points and 2s are worth 20 points each.
The discard pile can be extremely valuable when it's large and contains cards you need. Take it when you can immediately meld the top card and the pile contains useful cards for building canastas. Be cautious when the pile is frozen (marked with ice crystals) — you'll need a natural pair matching the top card to pick it up. Sometimes it's better to draw from stock and keep building your hand strategically.