TYPICAL FOUR-HANDED SCORE SHEET
| We | They | |
| 800 | 1,000 | Base score (bonuses) for the first hand |
| 170 | 270 | Net Point values for the first hand |
| -------- | -------- | |
| 970 | 1,270 | Total score at the end of the first hand |
| 900 | 3,200 | Base score (bonuses) for the second hand |
| 90 | 565 | Net point value for the second hand |
| -------- | -------- | |
| 1,660 | 5,035 | Total score at end of the second hand |
| 900 | 1,800 | Base score (bonuses) for the third |
| 230 | 385 | Net point values for the third hand |
| -------- | -------- | |
| 2,790 | 7,220 | Total score at end of the third hand |
| 1,800 | 3,200 | Base score (bonuses ) for the fourth hand |
| 125 | 340 | Net point value for the fourth hand |
| -------- | -------- | |
| 4,715 | 10,760 | Total score for game |
| -4,715 | Score of We | |
| -------- | ||
| 5,945 | Points they won by |
At one-fiftieth of a cent a point, partnership pinochle they collects $1.18 from partnership. When the game (not a hand ) ends, the score is usually figured in even hundreds – 50 or more counting 100, and less than 50 or more counting 100,. And less than 50 counting zero. In the game, above, the final score would read: We, 4,700; They, 10,800. They won by 6,100 points. At one-fifth of a penny a point, They receive $1.22 from the We partnership (6,100 /50 = 122 cents = $1.22).
Additional Rules. The additional rules governing irregularities in International Canasta are basically the same as those governing Canasta.
Canasta Strategy
The basic approach to Canasta strategy applies in general to all variations described in the preceding pages, though, of course, each game gives rise to some specific bits of strategy. Actually, the skill of Canasta centers around the effort to get the discard pile and to do a lot of melding. The partnership that takes the first discard pile has every prospect of keeping control to the end of the hand and of increasing its margin of victory at every draw. The beginner’s its margin of victory at every draw. The beginner’s worst mistake is putting down his initial meld fast and reducing his hand to a few cards. then he will probably never get the discard pile during that hand, minimizing the chances of completing canastas and of going out. A good rule to follow is this: When you need 50 for the initial meld, do not meld without taking the pack. When you need 120 no more than six cards. this basic theory, of course, changes with the variations canasta .
Make mixed canastas fast rather than wait for natural canastas. Don’t be in a hurry to go out if your partnership has a better chance of further scoring. Also, don’t pay too much attention to the bonus for a concealed hand.
If you have some wild cards to build up your count for an initial meld, build up a hand of pairs. Don’t meld from your hand when the discard pile is big wait until you Canasta take the pile. Safest late discards are those that match your left-hand opponent’s earliest discards or his side’s melded cards. when melding, try to keep at least one wild card in your hand.
Before your partnership has put down its initial meld, know at all times the meld count your have in your hand and what discards might allow you to take the pile and meld. Forget about extra bonuses for natural canastas and for special going out hands. Think twice about saying “No” to “May I go out?” it pays to keep your score at the end of a hand just under the next initial meld count, even at the sacrifice of a couple of hundred points you might have scored. In this way you avoid increasing the minimum initial count you need for the next poker hand .
More mistakes are made by hoarding than by squandering wild cards. usually try to keep even with the opposition in the number of canastas, using wild cards when necessary to complete your own. It is especially important to be first to complete your canasta requirement. The partnership that does this puts added pressure on the opposition.