Do you Canasta?

Canasta is a South American card game, originating in Montevideo, Uruguay in the 1940s. By 1950, it was so popular it almost replaced Bridge. There are two types of regular Canasta: Classic Canasta and Modern American Canasta. There is also Canasta Caliente, which adds two additional cards worth -100 points (which is for more advanced players). It's best to familiarize yourself with the rules of Canasta and playing the game. You have to get in the game to understand it.

But, I'd like to introduce you to the newest form of Canasta out there: Hargrove House Rules. My family has been playing Canasta for over three years. We have taught many people the game, including the 2005 CU Softball Team, close friends, other relatives (besides the five of us) and on lookers. But, more recently, there is a group of us known as THE CANASTA. It includes myself and my sister, the founders of the group, along with Bryan, Scott, Katie, Marissa and Tommy. Granted not 100% of THE CANASTA is available all the time and currently only 5 can really play regularly. But, none the less, we are THE CANASTA.

Take a look at one of our rules: we incorporate Modern American Canasta rules with a few additions and variations. For example, in Modern American Canasta, going out concealed is not playing a single card until you can go out and you must have a canasta. You earn an additional 100 points for your efforts and you surprise the opposing team with possibly a handful of negative points. But in House Rules, going out concealed is simply going out with with a canasta. You can contribute to your team's melds and you are granted 1,000 points for your clever strategy.

Take last night's match-up: Hargrove sisters, Alysen and Robyn vs. AC, Bryan and Scott. We had just discussed the 'going out concealed' addition when the following game the Hargrove's had over 320 points melded, but no canasta. AC had maybe 100 melded, but nothing serious. Then out of left field, Bryan goes out concealed with a canasta of queens. He left me with a caliente in my hand and put AC up by 1,200 points.

You thought that was good.

The very next hand it was the exact oppoiste: AC melded a lot of points and Robyn and I had nothing. After about six rounds, Robyn asks (which is required in all forms of Canasta) "Want to go out?" Of COURSE I DID! She went out concealed with a canasta of sixes putting us within 200 points.

In the end, as this was a rematch from last week's Hargrove sweep, AC ended up beating us with a total score of 5,325 to 4,875. The series is now tied at one each for AC vs. Hargrove.

Game 3 is tentatively scheduled for Saturday, February 18 in Ft. Collins.