Canastapedia

This is probably the most difficult and lengthy part of the game. Scoring can be done in any order the score keeper wishes. Given below, is the order I usually use when determining the score for a hand. Scoring consists of two parts: bonuses and the point values of the cards. Bonuses are a fixed amount of points awarded for canastas, red threes and going out. The bonuses awarded for each situation are given below:

In the above table it is important to note that the going out bonus is only scored once per partnership, but the other bonuses are scored for each player and added into a single score for the partnership. The different bonuses a partnership earned are added up and added to the score sheet.

After the bonuses are recorded, the point values of the cards left in a player's hand and/or foot are added up and recorded as a negative number on the score sheet for each partnership. For example, if two 4's are left in a player's hand and their partner has a 5 and K left, a -25 (5+5+10+5) would be recorded on the score sheet. This is where the 3's come into play. For each red 3 a player has in their hand, -300 points are added to the total negative score. For each black 3 a player has in their hand, -100 points are added to the total negative score. Next, the point values of the cards on the table are added up. This includes the cards in melds and completed canastas. This value is recorded as a positive value on the score sheet. If a player only has a few cards in their hand it is possible to remove cards with the same point value from the table. This basically automatically subtracts negative point from the final car point value total. For example, if a player has 25 points left in their hand, they can remove 25 points worth of cards from the table instead of subtraction points on the score sheet. Each player counts the point value of their cards and then the two players in a partnership add their individual scores together.

The total score for a partnership for the round is the total of the above mentioned values. Unlike Classic Canasta, the score for each round has no bearing on the game. It is only the total score after all 4 rounds that is important. Like most other games, the partnership with the highest score wins.