Resolutions and Rewards

Hi Canasta Lovers,

We have just about made it through January, 2015.  By now most of our New Year's resolutions have either been forgotten or fulfilled.  Mine was to write my blog more often, now I'm trying to get it in under the wire.

In the weeks since my last observations I have been very busy teaching our favorite game to three tables of newbies.  It is so interesting to watch the expressions on the faces of these beginners. They usually come in thinking "this is going to be a breeze" (after all, it's not bridge!)  Well, we start by learning how to count our USABLE points (Yes I know those adorable aces are worth twenty points each BUT you need a wild card in order to USE them.)  Uh oh, a little confusion starts to show on their faces. Next we go on to melding, 125 points and a clean triple, confusion deepens.  We play the first hand open, I walk around the table helping each player count her points, point out the clean triples and hope someone is able to meld.  With all 108 cards laying face up on the table panic ensues.  We usually play two more closed hands and then call it a day.  The newbies go home with a booklet of notes, rules and quizzes.

The second week we talk about the tricky threes, the adorable aces and those sexy sevens.  We start to play and as I walk around the table I can see the players are arranging their hands with more confidence, anxious to begin to play. One of the nicest parts for me is watching these four women who were strangers the week before get to know each other and start to cheer each other on.  Partnership is a beautiful thing!  The following week after a lesson on special hands and more supervised play, the women make plans to play on their own.  When they come back for the fourth lesson, after an afternoon of playing on their own, it is easy for me to see what is written on their faces. THEY GET IT!!!

After the fourth session all of the newbies are ready to join the ranks of Canasta Goddesses.  Many of these new Goddesses find their way to the card rooms of Paradise and play canasta happily ever after.  Many others continue with supervised play, honing their skills, as we delve deeper into strategy and timing.  Everyone seems to enjoy this and it is very rewarding to me.

Next time I hope to have some interesting hands to talk about. Let me know if you've played one recently.

Goddesses, if you are not into football this weekend, play Canasta instead.

Love, Barbara