Canasta in 20 Minutes

By Harold Thorne

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: 9781473356306

Book preview

CANASTA

IN 20 MINUTES

BY

HAROLD THORNE

AUTHOR OF

CONTRACT BRIDGE IN TWENTY MINUTES

THORNE’S COMPLETE CONTRACT BRIDGE

ADVANCED CONTRACT BRIDGE SIMPLIFIED

BACKGAMMON IN TWENTY MINUTES

BLUE BOOK OF DUPLICATE

Contents

PREFACE

A PRELIMINARY CANTER

INDEX

PREFACE

CANASTA is a glorious combination of Rummy, Bezique and Poker. It is fascinating, frustrating, a test of patience and as maddening as Croquet.

Canasta is easy to learn, you can enjoy it from the very first deal and you will undoubtedly develop a technique of your own which will enable you to confuse your opponent, but do not forget that your opponent is trying to do the same to you.

The game is ideal for two, three, or four players, five or six can play, which is an advantage when extra people drop in as they can be included in the the next deal, and start with an average score.

The only recognized British rules are published by Messrs. Waddington, and are included in that excellent book Imperial Canasta. At this stage of the game, these rules must be considered as provisional, but they are a solid foundation on which to base future amendments which are bound to be made as the game develops.

At present, many points are optional and visiting players adapt themselves to what might be termed House Rules. To establish some order and, incidentally, to save time and explanations I have included at the end of the book a form (we cannot get away from them) which covers most of the optional plays and rules. I have not given a complete set of rules (which no one reads until it is too late), but have preferred to put in a few footnotes at suitable places so that readers will be aware of the pitfalls and penalties as they go along.

Though the rules of procedure are the same no matter how many are playing, the technique of the two-handed game is entirely different from that of the four-handed, and as the latter is a little more complex I would prefer that the reader takes up the two-handed game first.

The game comes to us from South America via New York, and bids fair to oust Contract Bridge, over which it has one enormous advantage, and that is there is ample scope for individual methods without criticism from one’s partner.

H. T.

A PRELIMINARY CANTER

Before coming under the starter’s orders it might be as well to take a quick run over the course and see some of the changes.

CANASTA is a glorified form of Rummy (without sequences or playing on the opponents exposed cards) and the object is to make Canastas which are groups of seven or eight cards of equal rank regardless of suit. The deal ends when a player goes out, that