How to Play Samba, 3 Deck Canasta

By John R. Crawford

Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. We are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Read Books Ltd.
• Release date: Sep 6, 2016
• ISBN: 9781473356566

Book preview

LAWS

Samba

(THE NEW 3 DECK CANASTA GAME)

This new type of Canasta game played with three decks has already gained wide popularity and this booklet is being written in compliance with the request of many players in various sections of the country. It appears that great numbers of players have already found the game more fascinating than its predecessor, Canasta.

The newer game possesses all the charm of the old one, but there are several innovations which have met with popular favor. An interesting variation is the limited use of sequences, a feature common to almost all other Rummy games which was banished from the game of Canasta and which now comes back to its own in this form of the game. The increased number of wild cards naturally lends excitement to the contest.

The scoring goal is 10,000 points in the newer game which might be a deterrent to some players, yet curiously enough, our experience has been that it takes less time to score 10,000 points in this game than it does to reach the 5000 mark in the game of Canasta. It’s a free scoring game and both sides will usually run up considerable scores. To those who bear the scars of overwhelming defeat, this game will come as a great relief, for one is less apt to be completely snowed under by an adverse run of good cards. It is much easier to protect oneself against a heavy enemy barrage.

It has this feature in common with Canasta, that it is a relatively easy game to learn even for those who have never played any of the Rummy games. Deep-dyed Canasta fans, too, will find the game highly stimulating.

SAMBA and CANASTA

THE CONTRAST

Among the outstanding differences in the two games, observe the following:

Going in for the Discard Pile

In the game of Canasta, when the discard pile is not frozen, the pile may be taken if a player has a wild card plus a card matching the last discard. In the game of Samba, however, even when the pack is not frozen, a player may not use a wild card with only one matching card to take up the discard pile. Unless the last discard matches a player’s minor meld, he must always have a natural pair to match the top card in order to be able to go in.

Discard Matching a Completed Canasta

In the old game of Canasta, if a player discards a card matching a completed canasta of the opposition, his opponent is permitted to go in and take the discard pile, provided it is not frozen. But in the game of Samba, even if the pack is not frozen, one may not go in for a card matching a completed canasta unless he happens to have a natural pair of that denomination in his own hand.

In the game of Samba, there are sequence melds. If a player has already spread a sequence meld and his opponent discards a card which plays on either end of the sequence meld, the discard pile may be taken if it is not frozen. But if the last discard matches a sequence meld which a player has in his own hand (not melded), he may not go into the discard pile.

The bonus for a Samba (sequence canasta) is 1500 points.

Red Threes

In the old game of Canasta, provided a side has made any meld at all, it receives credit for any red 3’s spread. But in the game of Samba, if a side has not completed two canastas before the conclusion of the hand, then any red 3’s that side has spread count as a debit instead of a credit.

Point Count Requirement for an Initial Meld

The point count requirement for the initial meld are the same for both games up to 3,000 points, then there is a change. In the game of Samba, if your score is up to and including 6,995 points, your initial meld requirement remains at 120. But when your score reaches 7,000 or more, the requirement for the initial meld is 150.

Glossary of Samba Terms

BASE: Five natural cards, all of the same denomination, which are the necessary part of every canasta.

THE BASE