Canasta Glossary

Canasta Terms & Definitions

Black Threes

Black Threes are special cards that can temporarily prevent the next player from picking up the discard pile.

In Traditional Canasta, they generally cannot be melded except under specific conditions when going out.

Canasta

A Canasta is a completed meld containing seven or more cards of the same rank.

Canastas can be natural or mixed, depending on whether wild cards are included.

Card Values

Each card in Canasta has a designated point value used to calculate scores.

Understanding Canasta card values helps players make strategic decisions throughout the game.

Concealed Hand

A concealed hand occurs when a player goes out by melding their entire hand in a single turn without having previously melded any cards.

Special rules and bonuses may apply.

Discard

A discard is a card placed face up onto the discard pile, typically at the end of a player’s turn.

Discard Pile

The discard pile is the face-up pile of cards placed beside the stockpile.

Players may pick up the discard pile when they meet the applicable rules.

Frozen Discard Pile

A frozen discard pile is a pile that can only be picked up under specific conditions.

In Traditional Canasta, wild cards can freeze the discard pile, making it more difficult for players to collect the cards.

Going Out

Going out means ending a hand by legally playing or discarding the final card from your hand.

In Traditional Canasta, a partnership must have completed at least one Canasta before a player can go out.

Initial Meld

The initial meld is the first meld, or group of melds, a partnership places on the table during a hand.

In Traditional Canasta, minimum point requirements apply based on the partnership’s score.

Meld

A meld is a combination of three or more cards of the same rank.

For example, three Queens can form a valid meld.

Mixed Canasta

A mixed Canasta contains seven or more cards of the same rank, including one or more wild cards.

In Traditional Canasta, a mixed Canasta earns a 300-point bonus.

Natural Canasta

A natural Canasta contains seven or more cards of the same rank without any wild cards.

In Traditional Canasta, a natural Canasta earns a 500-point bonus.

Natural Cards

Natural cards are cards used according to their printed rank rather than as wild cards.

For example, three Kings are natural cards that can form a meld.

Partnership

A partnership consists of two players working together as a team.

Traditional Canasta is commonly played with four players divided into two partnerships.

Red Threes

Red Threes are special bonus cards in Traditional Canasta.

They are typically placed face up when received, and their scoring depends on the applicable rules.

Stockpile

The stockpile is the face-down pile of cards remaining after the initial deal.

Players draw from the stockpile during gameplay.

Wild Cards

Wild cards are cards that can substitute for natural cards in eligible melds.

In Traditional Canasta, Jokers and Twos are wild cards.