Penalties in Modern Canasta
While they don’t occur in every hand, penalties can have a major impact on the final score, especially when special Canastas are left incomplete or when powerful cards are held too long.
Many penalties come from small oversights rather than intentional mistakes. Understanding when penalties apply and how they are calculated helps players make better decisions, manage risk more effectively, and avoid costly surprises at the end of a hand.
Below is a clear summary of the main penalties in Modern Canasta, based on the official CLA rules.
Penalties for Incomplete Canastas
If a team has started but not completed certain special Canastas by the end of the hand, they incur penalties:
- Incomplete Wild Card Canasta: Minus 2,000 points.
- Incomplete Natural Aces Canasta: Minus 2,500 points.
- Incomplete 7s Canasta: Minus 2,500 points.
Penalties for Cards in Hand
At the end of a hand, players are penalized for holding certain cards in their hands:
- Three or more Aces: Minus 1,500 points.
- Three or more 7s: Minus 1,500 points.
- 3 held in hand: Minus 100 points per 3.
- Last card drawn is a 3: Minus 5 points.
Other Penalties
- Each Mis-meld: If a player fails to meet the required meld count during their Initial Meld, their team’s meld requirement increases by 10 points (e.g., 125 becomes 135). Additionally, their partner cannot use exposed Aces, 7s, or Wild Cards to create a Natural Meld of the same rank for their Initial Meld.
- Invalid Canasta: If a team closes a Canasta incorrectly (e.g., fewer than seven cards or mixed ranks), the Canasta is discounted during scoring. This may affect the team’s 3s score and result in the loss of the Going Out bonus.
Key Notes
- Penalties can significantly impact a team’s score, especially if they fail to complete special Canastas or are caught with Toxic cards (three or more Aces or 7s).
- Players should carefully manage their hands and melds to avoid penalties.
| Penalty Type | Situation | Points Applied |
|---|---|---|
| Incomplete Wild Card Canasta | A Wild Card Canasta is started but not completed by the end of the hand | –2,000 points |
| Incomplete Natural Aces Canasta | A Natural Aces Canasta is started but not completed | –2,500 points |
| Incomplete 7s Canasta | A Natural 7s Canasta is started but not completed | –2,500 points |
| Toxic Hand – Aces | Player holds three or more Aces at the end of the hand | –1,500 points |
| Toxic Hand – 7s | Player holds three or more 7s at the end of the hand | –1,500 points |
| Toxic Hand – Aces + 7s | Player holds three or more Aces and three or more 7s | –3,000 points |
| 3s Held in Hand | A 3 remains in a player’s hand at the end of the hand | –100 points per 3 |
| Last Card Drawn is a 3 | The final card drawn is a 3 and cannot be replaced (hand ends immediately) | –5 points |
| Each mis-meld (Initial Meld error) | Initial Meld does not meet point or legality requirements | +10 points added to next Meld Requirement |
| Invalid Canasta | A Canasta is closed incorrectly (wrong card count or mixed ranks) | Possible loss of Going Out bonus |