Modern Canasta

Canasta by the sea, wherever you are.

Learn the game with Rán, play a hand against three sea goddesses, sit down with friends at a Live table, or keep score at your own kitchen table. Two decks, four jokers, and the classic race to 8,500.

Play free in your browser See how it plays

Coming soon iPhone, iPad and Android

A Coastal Canasta Partners game: you and Galene against Mazu and Sedna, with canastas glowing on the table and your hand of cards along the bottom.

Four ways to play

Deal yourself in, your way

Learn the game, practice alone, play with the people you love, or bring the app to a real game night.

Solo

Against the goddesses

Play one on one against Galene, or team up with her against Mazu and Sedna.

Three computer skill levels, from relaxed to card-counting expert
A 60-second turn timer you can change or turn off
Pick up a game right where you left it

Live

With friends, online

Host a table, give it a name, and your friends find it in the lobby after they sign in.

One on one, or four players in two partnerships
Table chat, plus video tables for Premium members
If someone steps away, the host can seat a computer player

Learn

Learn with Rán

Never played Modern Canasta? Rán, the Norse goddess of the sea, teaches you one hand at a time.

Six short lessons: turns, melds, canastas, your first meld, special hands and going out
Practice one on one against Mazu, or with Galene as your partner against Mazu and Sedna, with Rán's tip on every turn
Tap Show me and she points to the cards she means
Tap Ask Rán for answers about your own cards: can I take the pile, what should I discard, can we go out yet
Prefer to listen? Turn on her voice and she reads each tip out loud

Scorekeeper

At your own table

Playing with real cards? Enter each hand and let the app do the adding.

Melds, canasta bonuses, 3s and going out, added for you
The opening meld for each side updates as scores climb
Saves past games so you can look back later

Your table mates

Four goddesses of the sea

Every computer player is named for a goddess who ruled the waters in her own corner of the world, and a fourth sits beside you to teach.

Galene

Greek · calm seas · your partner

Her name means stillness on the water. She partners with you in Partners games and faces you one on one.

Mazu

Chinese · protector of sailors

Honored in harbors from Fujian to Taiwan for guiding ships home. At the table, she plays to win.

Sedna

Inuit · mother of the sea

In Inuit tradition, the sea creatures of the Arctic are hers. She is patient, and she remembers what you discard.

Rán

Norse · the northern seas · your teacher

Wife of Ægir, she casts her net across the cold northern seas. In Learn with Rán she sits beside you, gives you a tip every turn and answers your questions.

Computer skill Beginner misses chances, holds wild cards Intermediate a steady opponent Expert counts cards and guards the pile

Modern Canasta at a glance

The numbers that run the game

The full rules are inside the app, with a table rules card at every game. These are the ones you will use every hand.

8,500points wins the gameThe first side past 8,500 takes it.

13cards to each playerTwo full decks plus four jokers.

2canastas to go outSeven of a kind, natural or mixed.

2s & jokersare wildEvery 3, red or black, goes straight to the table as a bonus card.

Score below 3,000125

From 3,000155

From 5,000180

The Coastal Rating

A level you earn over time

Your level comes from steady play in Live games, so one lucky hand never makes you a Master.

Form follows your play

Your rating moves after every hand. Form is that rating averaged over your last 30 or so hands.

Close hands count less

Winning by 20 points barely moves your rating. A clear win against a stronger side moves it more.

Keep it to yourself

Prefer not to show your level at the table? Turn it off in your stats. It still counts.

Level	Form	Rated hands	Finished games
Beginner	–	10	–
Intermediate	900	25	5
Advanced	1,100	100	15
Expert	1,300	250	40
Master	1,500	500	75

Example

AdvancedExpert ›

To reach Expert: 60 more hands · 9 more games

Your picture at the table

Choose who sits in your chair

Upload a photo, or pick from twenty-five sea goddesses, sea gods, mermaids and creatures of the deep.

Sea goddesses

Sea gods

Mermaids

Sea creatures

Questions

Before you shuffle up

Is Coastal Canasta free?

Yes. Solo play, Live games with friends and the scorekeeper are free. A Premium membership adds video tables, so you can see each other while you play.

I have never played canasta. Can I learn here?

Yes. Tap Learn with Rán on the home screen. Rán walks you through six short lessons, then coaches you through a practice game, one on one against Mazu or with Galene as your partner, with a tip on every turn. Practice games never count against your rating.

Where can I play?

Right now, in any web browser on a computer, tablet or phone. Apps for iPhone, iPad and Android are on the way.

Do I need an account?

Yes. Create a free account with your email, or continue with Google. You must be 18 or older.

Which canasta rules does it use?

Modern Canasta: 13 cards each, two canastas to go out, and a game to 8,500. Hosts can turn some table options on or off, such as special hands and the turn timer.

Is there any gambling?

No. Coastal Canasta is played for fun. There is no real money, no prizes and no betting.

What happens if a friend loses their connection?

The game holds while a player is away. The host can also seat a computer player in their chair so everyone else can keep playing.

The table is set

Galene is shuffling. Pull up a chair and play your first hand in under a minute.

Play Coastal Canasta