#OFFICIAL RULES CANASTA CARD GAME HOW TO#
#OFFICIAL RULES CANASTA CARD GAME FULL#

If a player obtains four red treys, their red trey score is 1000-points. More than one red trey may be stacked beside one another on the board. When a red trey is picked up from the stock during the two-card draw of a player’s turn, it is to be placed face-up on the board in front of them and replaced with one from the top of the stock. When drawing a red trey during play or when forming their original hand, the player MUST place it immediately face up on the board/table in front of them and chose another card from the shuffled cards or top of the stock to replace it. RED TREYS count only as bonus points and are never kept in the hand. TREYS: Treys (3's) may NOT be used to make a meld or canasta. Only during their own turn may a team member play on their shared/team cards. If playing with a partner, only one person will keep melds, canastas and red treys combined on the playing board/table in front of them. Individual players or a team member are allowed to place cards on the board/table only during their turn and AFTER their original meld has been made for that round.

If a person does not have a card to discard, they are OUT OF THE GAME. Players must plan ahead to keep a card to discard at their next turn. The face of any card below the top one on the discard pile must not be visible. One card from their hand must be chosen as their discard and placed face-up on the discard pile. If they have not melded, the two cards from the stockpile go into their hand. GAME PLAY: At their turn, each player may either draw two cards from the stock or pick up the discard pile if they have melded and have the correct cards in their hand required for picking up the discard pile. The player with the highest card begins play. ORDER OF PLAY: As stated above, each person picks one card from the face-down, shuffled cards, shows it to everyone, and mixes it back into the shuffle. The flipped over card begins the DISCARD PILE. One card of the stock is to be flipped over, face up and placed beside the stock to begin the play. All shuffled cards left on the table are to be arranged by everyone face down into one stack at the center of the table. The player displaying the highest card pulled out of the shuffle pile will begin the first play. When every player has picked from the shuffled cards their pony and hand cards, they next pull one out of the shuffle pile and display it to all players.

When cards are drawn from the stock or discard pile they will be added to the hand cards if not played on the board/table during that players' turn. Therefore their 'hand' cards number 13 at the beginning of the game. They will keep in hand cards in their hand to play with during the game.

These cards are designated as that player's PONY which is stacked face down and put aside to use later.Įach player next picks 13-cards from the shuffle for their HAND CARDS. When they are thoroughly mixed/shuffled, each player is to pick up 12-cards from the shuffle without looking at card faces or allowing anyone to see card faces. Leaving them face down, all players use both hands to scramble/shuffle cards around at the center of the board/table. A player may pick up their pony when presenting their first canasta to the playing board/table.ĭEAL : Place all cards face down at the center of the board/table. OBJECTIVE : The objective is for players to grow canastas on the playing board/table or in their hand (surprise canastas). If more than three and an even number of players, play as partners/teams if desired. With two or three players, each plays for himself. PLAYERS : Two to twelve or more players may play this game. WILD CARDS: Wild cards are jokers and deuces (2's).

#OFFICIAL RULES CANASTA CARD GAME FULL#

PLAYING PONY CANASTA WILL CREATE MANY SMILES! FEEL FREE TO SHARE GAME RULES WITH OTHERS.ĬARDS: Two full decks, including jokers, are required PER PLAYER. YOU WILL ALSO LEARN SOMETHING THAT WILL CHANGE YOUR OUTLOOK ABOUT CARD GAMES. YOU ARE WITNESSING THE FIRST TIME THAT RULES FOR PONY CANASTA HAVE BEEN WRITTEN DOWN. Everyone who plays Pony Canasta ends up creating unique strategies to win. The game is so fast and fascinating it will quickly become a favorite.

#OFFICIAL RULES CANASTA CARD GAME HOW TO#

They taught me how to play it when I lived in Bangkok, Thailand. They were bored with other card games and devised this one with friends. It originated with dear friends, a couple who lived 14-years with their five children in an isolated outpost in Ethiopia. If you’re bored with slow canastas and tired family games, Pony Canasta is your new game. It is played similar to other canasta games with additions that make it exciting and fast. This card game is perfect for children, couples, families, and friends. Table size will determine the number of players from 2 to 12+. Pony Canasta is a rather new and fascinating card game for ages 10-100.

Official rules canasta card game