START THE GAME CORRECTLY
Canasta Setup and Deal: Cards, Decks & Player Counts
Canasta uses 108 cards: two standard 52-card decks plus four Jokers. In the Classic version, deal 15 cards each for two players, 13 each for three players, or 11 each for four players.
Why you may see another answer: Canasta has several widely played versions. Card counts can change with the number of players and the rule set. This page gives the counts used in the classic version of the game and throughout Canasta101 and points out the choices your table should settle before dealing.
THE QUICK ANSWER
Two decks. Four Jokers. One hundred eight cards.
Shuffle the entire pack together, deal the correct number of cards for your player count, place the remaining cards face down as the stock pile, and turn one card face up to begin the discard pile.
CARDS PER PLAYER
How many cards are dealt in Canasta?
Use this table before every game. The remaining cards form the stock pile.
| Players | Cards each | How players compete | Canastas needed to go out |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 players | 15 | Individually | 2 per player |
| 3 players | 13 | Individually | 1 per player |
| 4 players | 11 | Two partnerships | 2 per team |
BUILD THE PACK
What is in a Canasta deck?
You do not need specialty Canasta cards. Two ordinary decks work as long as all four Jokers are included.
Duplicates are expected: Because two decks are combined, the pack contains two copies of every specific natural card—for example, two Kings of Hearts—plus four Jokers.
CENTER OF THE TABLE
Leave room for two piles
The stock pile stays face down. The discard pile stays face up, and only its top card determines whether the pile may be taken.
Hand, melds, canastas and red 3s
PILE
FACE DOWN
PILE
FACE UP
Keep both piles within everyone’s reach
DEAL IN THIS ORDER
Six steps from shuffled cards to the first turn
- 1
Choose the dealer
Pick the first dealer by agreement or by drawing cards. Rotate the deal after every hand.
- 2
Shuffle all 108
Mix both decks and all four Jokers into one pack.
- 3
Offer the cut
The designated cutter separates the pack before the deal begins.
- 4
Deal the hands
Deal one card at a time until everyone has 15, 13, or 11 cards for the chosen game.
- 5
Build the stock pile
Place all undealt cards face down in the center of the table.
- 6
Start the discard pile
Turn the top card face up beside the stock pile and handle any special starting card.
CHECK THE FIRST DISCARD
What if a special card starts the pile?
A wild card or red 3 is turned crosswise so it remains visible. Continue turning cards until a natural card or black 3 is on top.
♦
Joker or 2
Turn the wild card crosswise. It freezes the pile until the pile is legally taken. Turn another card on top.
♥
Red 3
Turn the red 3 crosswise. It also freezes the starting pile. Turn another card on top.
♣
Black 3
Leave it on top. It stops the first player from taking the pile, but it is not a permanent freeze marker.
For the complete pickup rules, see Canasta Discard Pile Rules. For red- and black-3 handling, see Canasta 3s Explained.
BEFORE THE FIRST DRAW
Expose any red 3s in the hands
Every player checks the cards they were dealt. Place each red 3 face up in that player’s area. On that player’s first turn, draw one replacement card from the stock pile for each exposed red 3.
- Red 3s are not held as ordinary hand cards.
- On the player’s first turn, draw a replacement for every red 3 dealt to that player.
- A red 3 from the initial discard is handled differently: the player taking that pile does not receive a replacement for it.
AN OPTIONAL VARIATION, AND PART OF CANASTA101 TRADITION
The 30- or 31-card perfect cut
In the two-player game, the cutter tries—without counting—to leave exactly 30 cards for the two 15-card hands, or 31 cards when the first discard is included. This is a variation to the classic game that is optional, and should just be agreed upon before the game begins.
30 CARDS
Exactly enough for both hands
Fifteen cards go to each player. The initial discard then comes from the other portion of the pack.
31 CARDS
Both hands plus the first discard
The cut portion supplies 30 hand cards and the initial face-up discard.
Bonus: A perfect cut of 30 or 31 earns the cutter 100 points when this optional rule is used. If special cards must be covered to start the discard pile, additional cards may be needed.
READY TO PLAY?
A 20-second Canasta setup checklist
- Two complete decks and all four Jokers are present.
- The deal size matches the number of players.
- One stock pile is face down and one discard is face up.
- Special starting cards are turned crosswise and covered correctly.
- Every dealt red 3 is exposed and replaced.
- Everyone agrees on the player-count and house-rule variations.
AVOID THESE
Common setup and dealing mistakes
Using only two Jokers
A 108-card Canasta pack contains four Jokers, not just the two that may have come in one deck.
Giving every game 11 cards
The classic version uses 15 cards for two players, 13 for three, and 11 for four.
Hiding the discard pile
Keep the top discard visible. Players may not search or fan through the cards underneath it.
Leaving a dealt red 3 in hand
Expose it immediately, and upon your first turn, draw a replacement before ordinary play begins.
QUICK ANSWERS
Canasta setup and deal FAQ
How many decks do you need for Canasta?
Use two standard 52-card decks plus four Jokers, for 108 cards total.
How many cards does each person start with?
In the classic version, deal 15 each for two players, 13 each for three players, and 11 each for four players.
Do the two decks need matching backs?
Use matching—or visually indistinguishable—backs so nobody can tell which deck a face-down card came from. Shuffle all 108 cards together as one pack.
Where do the undealt cards go?
Place them face down in the middle as the stock pile. Turn one card face up beside it to start the discard pile.
Who plays first?
The player to the dealer’s left begins. Play continues clockwise, and the deal rotates after each hand.
What happens if a red 3 is dealt to a player?
Place it face up immediately. On that player’s first turn, draw a replacement from the stock pile.
MAKE GAME NIGHT EASIER
Set it up once—and keep the answers nearby.
The Complete Canasta Game Night Guide includes illustrated setup, rules, scoring, table references, and reusable score sheets.