Canasta Glossary
The following are a few of unique words and phrases used in playing Canasta (see also: general Rummy glossary):
- Base
- Four natural cards of the same rank, essential to making a canasta.
- Base, or Basic, Count
- The total of one’s bonus scores, as distinguished from the point values of cards melded.
- Black Canasta
- A canasta with one to three wild cards.
- Black Three
- A three of spades or three of clubs; since black threes may not be melded except when going out (and without using any wild cards), they are a safe discard that almost always prevents the opponent from taking the discard pile.
- Canasta
- A meld of seven or more matching cards; also, the name of this game.
- Concealed
- (See "going out concealed")
- Forced
- Required to take the discard pile if able to do so.
- Frozen
- A term referring to a discard pile that cannot be taken without a natural pair in one's hand; specifically, a discard pile is frozen for a team that has not yet melded, and also whenever it contains a red three or a wild card.
- Game
- A point total of 5000 or more.
- Going Out
- Getting rid of all the cards in one's hand, either by melding all of them or by discarding one and melding all the rest; going out is worth 100 points (double if going out concealed).
- Going Out Concealed
- Going out without having made any previous melds (worth 100 points). Note that alternate scoring gives 200 points instead of the usual 100 for going out concealed.
- Going Out Unconcealed
- Going out having previously made one or more melds (worth 100 points).
- Initial Meld
- The first meld made in a deal by a player or a side, when this meld must conform to certain specifications.
- Minimum Count
- The requirement in point values for a valid initial meld (50, 90, or 120 according to the side’s accumulated score).
- Mixed Canasta
- A canasta containing one to three wild cards.
- Natural
- A card other than a wild card, or a canasta containing no wild cards.
- Natural Canasta
- A canasta containing no wild cards.
- Partners
- Two players who sit across from one another and act as a team against the other two players.
- Point
- A unit of scoring.
- Prize Pile
- A discard pile that is frozen.
- Pure-Natural
- Used in describing a canasta with no wild cards.
- Red Canasta
- A canasta with no wild cards.
- Stop Card
- A black three or any wild card when discarded, since the next player may not then take the discard pile.
- Red Three
- A three of diamonds or three of hearts, worth 100 points each (double if all four are melded by one side).
- Unconcealed
- (See "going out unconcealed")
- Wild Card
- A card that can stand for any other; in canasta, any joker or deuce.
