Case Solved: The Silent Signal
Recap of the Situation
It’s the first round of play.
You’re holding three Wild Cards and going for a Wild Card Canasta.
You discard a 10-point card — the sign that says, “I’ve got at least three Wilds.”
Across the table, your partner responds…
with a 5-point card.
Do you go for the Wild Card Canasta or do you give up the plan?
🔍 The Reveal – Reading the Signal
✅ Your partner’s 5-point discard says it all: they have fewer than two Wild Cards.
That means your team doesn’t have enough combined to safely complete a Wild Card Canasta — you’d need at least five between you to make it realistic.
If you try it alone, you risk:
❌ Running out of Wilds before completion
❌ A –2,000 point penalty
❌ Losing the ability to Go Out
In other words — your partner’s “Negative Signal” is a gentle warning:
💬 “Don’t do it. We don’t have the Wilds for that.”
Patience wins this one.
Save your Wilds for power melds later in the Hand — and wait for a round when both of you are holding strong.