Hand & Foot Canasta
Jeux

Jeux de Cartes / Card Games

We play with tables of 3, 4, or 6 players.

3 or 4 players, use 4 decks
6 players, use 6 decks

The dealer deals 2 sets of 13 cards each to each player. One set is your “Hand” and the other is your “Foot.” Put your foot aside, without looking at it.

A canasta is 8 cards, either natural or mixed.

A “natural” canasta is 8 cards all the same: Jacks, or Kings, or 4s, etc., with no wild cards. A natural canasta is considered Red.

A “mixed” canasta includes wild cards (Jokers and 2s are the wild cards). You must have at least 5 natural cards for a mixed canasta (natural cards must outnumber the wild cards). A mixed canasta is considered Black.

After you have made a canasta, you can continue adding cards to it. For example, if you have a mixed canasta of 7s, you may add 7s to the bottom of it for the rest of the round. No wild cards can be added.

If playing with 3 players, a canasta is 7 cards rather than 8.

3s are used for discard ONLY. They may not be used in canastas.

A game is usually 3 rounds. Opening meld requirements, per round:

Round 1 = 50 points

Round 2 = 90 points

Round 3 = 120 points

If necessary (because other tables are just starting their 120 hand), play a 150 hand

At the start of your turn, you may either pick up two cards from the big pile, OR pick up the top 8 cards from the discard pile. You can pick up the discard pile if all four of the following things are true:

1. There are at least 8 cards in the discard pile.

2. You have at least 2 natural cards in your hand to match the top card in the discard pile. For example, if the top discard pile card is a King, you must have two Kings in your hand, and then you must immediately put all 3 Kings down as meld.

3. You or your partner melded on a previous turn.

4. You have no more than 4 cards of what’s being picked up laid on the table. This includes wild cards. For example, if you have 3 Kings and 2 wild cards you may not pick up the pile.

Your Foot

First you play out your Hand. When you have played the last card in your Hand, pick up your Foot.

If you play the last card in your Hand, pick up your Foot and immediately begin playing it.

If you discard the last card in your Hand, pick up your Foot but wait until your next turn to begin playing it.

Going Out
 
The round is over when one person plays his/her last card and is therefore out.

To go out, you (or your team) must have at least 1 natural (red) canasta and at least 2 mixed (black) canastas.

If you are playing partners, you must get your partner’s permission to go out.

Going out, you can either play your last card OR discard it.

All partners must be in their foot to go out. It is not required that all partners have played from their foot.

Counting Points

At the end of each round, count two things:

1. Your canastas

Natural canastas are worth 500 points each
Mixed canastas are worth 300 points each

2. All of the cards in your canastas and in your hand

4s through 7s are worth 5 points each
8s through Kings are worth 10 points each
2s and Aces are worth 20 points each
Jokers are worth 50 points each

3. Cards left in your hand (and foot) are MINUS points.

Red 3s left in your hand are worth MINUS 100 points each
Black 3s left in your hand are worth MINUS 5 points each
4s through 7s left in your hand are worth MINUS 5 points each
8s through Kings are worth MINUS 10 points each
2s and Aces are worth MINUS 20 points each
Jokers are worth MINUS 50 points each

Winning

The person or team having the most points at the end wins!

Rules

A card laid is a card played.

Players arriving late may be asked to wait until first games (all 3-4 rounds) have finished.

Enjoy!