Hi Canasta Lovers,
A funny thing happened on the way to 8500 points the other day. It was toward the end of the hand, after the turn card, Corky picked the pack with two sevens from her hand, she checked through the pack and sure enough there were seven of them. Wow, really good card counting Corky! Next, looking through her hand for a discard, what did she find? Aces, dead cards and Jokers. Poor Corky, she had nothing to throw on that empty tray. She had to pick up her beautiful seven canasta, put the useless dead cards back in the pack and then draw a card for her turn. So sad.
Of course, yours truly, who had discarded that seventh seven was given a lucky reprieve!!!
Keep in touch, Canasta Goddesses,
XXOO Barbara
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Table Rules
Hi Canasta Lovers,
Here in Paradise the popularity of Canasta has exploded over the past few years. There are as many canasta games as there are Birkin bags and each game seems to have its own set of table rules.
It is most important when you are playing at a new table for the first time to check on the rules, otherwise you may find yourself trying to put a joker on a four card meld. People have been known to jump out of their seats after such a bold move,
I try to teach table rules that I consider logical and fair. Here are some of the table rules that I teach:
1. The empty tray rule- You may not throw an Ace, a Seven or a Dead Card into an empty tray. I have always played this rule because it was how I was taught. I understand not throwing in Aces or Sevens because of the penalty involved if you have more than two Aces or Sevens at the end of the hand. I do not, however, get the reason for not throwing a dead card, as there is no penalty. Would love to hear an explanation.
2. The one to hold rule- Many games insist that after your initial meld you must have one card to hold and one card to throw. I don't see the logic in this. I think if you have to discard your last card you will immediately pick up your talon and then have three or four cards in your hand with which to continue play. What do the canasta sages think?
3. The you may only ask your partner if you can go out once rule- I think this is a great rule. If your partner says "no" you must watch her discards carefully in order to know when it is "safe" to go out.
4. The you may only look back three cards rule- I like this because it teaches you to watch carefully what is thrown, which you should be doing anyway. But just in case your coffee spills or your phone rings and you miss something you can check back three cards (one time only) .
5. The special hands rule- If you are lucky enough to make a special hand, the play stops and you get the points you are entitled to. The other team is entitled to the points they have achieved to that point. If they closed a joker canasta, they should have their score, if they have two canasta they have earned their threes.
Agree? Disagree? Would love to hear what you Canasta Goddesses think! XXOO
Here in Paradise the popularity of Canasta has exploded over the past few years. There are as many canasta games as there are Birkin bags and each game seems to have its own set of table rules.
It is most important when you are playing at a new table for the first time to check on the rules, otherwise you may find yourself trying to put a joker on a four card meld. People have been known to jump out of their seats after such a bold move,
I try to teach table rules that I consider logical and fair. Here are some of the table rules that I teach:
1. The empty tray rule- You may not throw an Ace, a Seven or a Dead Card into an empty tray. I have always played this rule because it was how I was taught. I understand not throwing in Aces or Sevens because of the penalty involved if you have more than two Aces or Sevens at the end of the hand. I do not, however, get the reason for not throwing a dead card, as there is no penalty. Would love to hear an explanation.
2. The one to hold rule- Many games insist that after your initial meld you must have one card to hold and one card to throw. I don't see the logic in this. I think if you have to discard your last card you will immediately pick up your talon and then have three or four cards in your hand with which to continue play. What do the canasta sages think?
3. The you may only ask your partner if you can go out once rule- I think this is a great rule. If your partner says "no" you must watch her discards carefully in order to know when it is "safe" to go out.
4. The you may only look back three cards rule- I like this because it teaches you to watch carefully what is thrown, which you should be doing anyway. But just in case your coffee spills or your phone rings and you miss something you can check back three cards (one time only) .
5. The special hands rule- If you are lucky enough to make a special hand, the play stops and you get the points you are entitled to. The other team is entitled to the points they have achieved to that point. If they closed a joker canasta, they should have their score, if they have two canasta they have earned their threes.
Agree? Disagree? Would love to hear what you Canasta Goddesses think! XXOO
Saturday, March 2, 2013
Hi Canasta Lovers,
I had hoped to get a dialogue started, but haven't received enough feedback or questions yet, so I will have to talk a little about ME.
A long,long time ago, when the earth was new, a group of young mothers got together on a Tuesday night to play Backgammon (it was all the rage at the time). The same core group, give or take a couple of moves and divorces, are still playing together. We went from playing Backgammon to playing Rummy Kub (also very popular in its time). After a few years, Mrs.S (The mom and mom-in-law of two of our charter members) taught us how to play canasta. I had strong recollections of my own mom playing canasta with her friends, day and night, while I was growing up.
Well our little group loved the game so much that we played all through our kids' elementary, middle, high school and college years. We played through births, bar and bat mitzvahs, sweet sixteens, graduations, weddings and the births of our grandchildren, We played through wars and gas lines. We played through hurricanes, blizzards and ice storms, We kept each other sane through successes and distresses, births and deaths. Tuesday nights were sacred! You just didn't make other plans! In fact, our group despite some more moves (including mine down here to Paradise) and another divorce or two, are still playing every summer at the only dude ranch in Ammagansett.
We started out needing only 90 points to open (how easy that seems now). We didn't know about pairs, garbage or kongs and pongs, we just loved canasta and each other. In the close to forty years we have been playing our favorite game, we've left no subject left untouched. It was our very own consciousness raising group. I have lots of anecdotes to share as we go forward. Our canasta group, affectionately known as Rho Kappa, formed the basis for friendships and camaraderie that could never be outgrown or replaced.
This blog is dedicated with much love to the girls of Rho Kappa! XXOO Barbara
I had hoped to get a dialogue started, but haven't received enough feedback or questions yet, so I will have to talk a little about ME.
A long,long time ago, when the earth was new, a group of young mothers got together on a Tuesday night to play Backgammon (it was all the rage at the time). The same core group, give or take a couple of moves and divorces, are still playing together. We went from playing Backgammon to playing Rummy Kub (also very popular in its time). After a few years, Mrs.S (The mom and mom-in-law of two of our charter members) taught us how to play canasta. I had strong recollections of my own mom playing canasta with her friends, day and night, while I was growing up.
Well our little group loved the game so much that we played all through our kids' elementary, middle, high school and college years. We played through births, bar and bat mitzvahs, sweet sixteens, graduations, weddings and the births of our grandchildren, We played through wars and gas lines. We played through hurricanes, blizzards and ice storms, We kept each other sane through successes and distresses, births and deaths. Tuesday nights were sacred! You just didn't make other plans! In fact, our group despite some more moves (including mine down here to Paradise) and another divorce or two, are still playing every summer at the only dude ranch in Ammagansett.
We started out needing only 90 points to open (how easy that seems now). We didn't know about pairs, garbage or kongs and pongs, we just loved canasta and each other. In the close to forty years we have been playing our favorite game, we've left no subject left untouched. It was our very own consciousness raising group. I have lots of anecdotes to share as we go forward. Our canasta group, affectionately known as Rho Kappa, formed the basis for friendships and camaraderie that could never be outgrown or replaced.
This blog is dedicated with much love to the girls of Rho Kappa! XXOO Barbara
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