Canasta is a card game from the rummy family of games. It can be played with 2, 3, 4 or 6 players but it is most commonly played by four in two partnerships with two standard decks of cards.

Initially the group will learn to play the game with Marcus acting as tutor, and then they will help each other to improve their gameplay. Like many games it is relatively easy to learn but challenging to become an expert.

If there are more than 4 members games can be played on separate tables.

Canasta is reported to have been invented at the Jockey Club in Montevideo Uruguay in 1939 as a time efficient substitute to Bridge. It was very popular during the 1950s. It was originally called Argentine Rummy and the gameplay derives from rummy. The aim is to score highest by laying down your cards in the form of melds.