Glossary
See a game word you don't understand? We've defined all the words you'll need to know in the game. Your go-to source for important canasta terms!
B
Block cards
The black threes are block cards. They can be placed on the discard pile to prevent the next player from drawing a card from the discard pile. Block cards can be melded but only placed on the table when a player "goes out".Bonus cards
The red threes are bonus points. Their score is added or deducted at the end of the game.
C
Canasta
Forming a meld of at least 7 cards of the same rank.
D
Discard pile
After the stock pile is formed, one card is turned over and placed face up directly next to the stock pile. This is called the discard pile.
G
Going out concealed
When a player has not yet placed any melds on the table and plays all the cards in their hand in one turn.Going out
When a player can meld all the cards from their hand. Going out ends the game.
H
Hand
The cards dealt and drawn are placed into your hand. They cannot be seen by your opponents or by others in your team.
L
Lock symbol
When a card on top of the discard pile is locked, it cannot be drawn for one turn.
M
Meld
Melds consist of 3 or more cards.Mixed Canasta
A meld of at least 7 cards including wild cards.Mixed meld
2 or more cards of the same rank with wild cards.
N
Natural Canasta
A meld of at least 7 cards of the same rank without the use of wild cards.Natural cards
Natural cards are the Aces, 8 to Kings and 4 to 7.Natural meld
3 or more cards of the same rank.
S
Stock pile
After dealing cards to each player, the remaining cards are placed face-down on the table to form the stock pile.Snowflake (Frozen) symbol
When the discard pile is frozen, a player may only draw the top card when they can meld it with at least two natural cards.
W
Wild cards
Wild cards are the Jokers and Twos.