Bonjour Canasta Lovers,
Over the last month or so I have been lucky enough to be teaching beginner's canasta at a nearby country club. Usually these classes are made up completely of Canasta Goddesses, but this time, we had four Canasta Gods in the group. I started to notice the differences in the postures, attitudes and competitiveness between the madams and the messieurs. The goddesses sit up straight in their chairs with their eyes on the card table at all times, the gods kind of sit in a relaxed, reclining position with an arm thrown back over the chair and spend a lot of time looking at the ceiling. They miss nothing, though and are actually very adept card counters. I find the goddesses very serious and focused on the lesson. The gods seem to be focused on their lunch and handicap, but, at the same time, always know what is happening in front of them. The gods are much more competitive than the goddesses during the learning process. The gods are always the first to ask about scorekeeping and how to go out while leaving the other team in the dust. In the end it all evens out and everyone has a good time at the card table, but it just seems to me that the gods have a lot more fun getting there.
There has been quite a bit of feedback on the super pairs (seven pairs including two big jokers, two deuces, two aces and two sevens) debate. Most people seem to like the idea and many tables have already incorporated it into their table rules, usually adding a five hundred point bonus. Try it, it's fun.
Another, rather elegant question has been posed recently: Setting the stage; Your partner has picked the pack and has at least three sevens in her hand, you have only three wild cards in your hand and places to lay them off on the table. Since discarding a wild card is the discard of last resort do you have to go out and leave your partner holding the bag (of sevens). My sources say yes, and I agree, but I'd love to hear what you think.
Keep playing canasta, all you gods and goddesses and, as always, Vive Le Difference!
Love, Barbara
