Canasta
FANCY A GAME OF CANASTA?
Canasta is a type of Rummy card game whose origins date back to 1939 where the game started in Montevideo in Uruguay. The game we now know as Modern Canasta was developed in the US in the 1950’s and at one point was more popular than Contract Bridge. The classic game is for 4 players who play in pairs. The canasta deck is two full packs of cards.
The aim is to build up canastas of 7 cards of the same value which can include wild cards. Cards are picked up and laid down to make canastas. The skill lies in remembering what is in the discard pile and being ready to scoop up the pile if an opportunity presents itself. Of course, your opponents will play to prevent this!
There are variations to the classic game and we also play a version called ’hand and foot’ which can be played with any number of players from 3 to 6 – useful if there is an odd number of players present.
Perhaps you played as a child or, like myself, had never much played card games. We can teach you the rules which are simpler than say, bridge. We take it seriously enough to want to win but never forget that ‘it’s just a game’ so there’s plenty of chat as we play. I like it for the modest mental workout, the opportunity to try a bit of bluffing and its sociability.
If you are a member of our u3a and would like to join this group or would like further details, please contact the group leader by clicking on the blue pigeon in the right hand margin. For non-members please contact the Groups Co-ordinator.