Canasta by MeggieSoft Games User Guide Copyright © MeggieSoft Games 2004 Canasta Copyright ® 2004-2005 MeggieSoft Games All rights reserved. No parts of this work may be reproduced in any form or by any means - graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping, or information storage and retrieval systems - without the written permission of the publisher. Products that are referred to in this document may be either trademarks and/or registered trademarks of the respective owners. The publisher and the author make no claim to these trademarks. While every precaution has been taken in the preparation of this document, the publisher and the author assume no responsibility for errors or omissions, or for damages resulting from the use of information contained in this document or from the use of programs and source code that may accompany it. In no event shall the publisher and the author be liable for any loss of profit or any other commercial damage caused or alleged to have been caused directly or indirectly by this document. Printed: February 2006 Special thanks to: Publisher All the users who contributed to the development of Canasta by MeggieSoft Games making suggestions, requesting features, and pointing out errors. Contents I Table of Contents Part I Introduction 5 1 MeggieSoft.. .Games............ .Software............... .License............. ...................................................................................... 5 2 Other MeggieSoft............ ..Games........... ......................................................................................................... 6 Cribbage .......................................................................................................................................................... 7 Euchre & Écarté .......................................................................................................................................................... 8 German Whist .......................................................................................................................................................... 9 Gin Rummy .......................................................................................................................................................... 9 Pinochle & Bezique.. ........................................................................................................................................................ 10 Piquet .......................................................................................................................................................... 10 Rummy 500 .......................................................................................................................................................... 10 Part II How to Play Canasta 11 1 Canasta Overview............... .................................................................................................................... 11 2 Terminology...... ............................................................................................................................. 12 3 The Deal . .................................................................................................................................. 13 4 Taking From....... .The...... .Stock......... .......................................................................................................... 13 5 Taking The.... .Discard............. .Pile...... ......................................................................................................... 14 6 Melding Cards.......... .To.... .The...... .Mat...... ..................................................................................................... 15 7 Initial Meld.... .Thresholds.................. ............................................................................................................ 16 8 Discarding... .. .............................................................................................................................. 17 9 Meld Scoring....... ............................................................................................................................ 17 10 Bonuses .&... .Penalties............... ............................................................................................................... 17 11 Getting Started........... ....................................................................................................................... 18 12 Watching. .A... .Game......... .Being.......... .Played........... ............................................................................................ 19 13 Strategies.. .-. ..Classic............ .Canasta............. ................................................................................................... 19 14 Strategies.. .-. ..Modern............ .American................ .Canasta............. .................................................................................. 20 15 Tournament..... ..Play....... .and...... .Replays.............. .............................................................................................. 21 Part III Understanding the Interface 21 1 The Meld ..Layout........... ...................................................................................................................... 22 2 Using The.. ..Mouse.......... .. ................................................................................................................... 23 3 Drag and ..Drop........ ........................................................................................................................ 23 4 Point and. ..Click........ ....................................................................................................................... 24 5 Arranging.. .Your........ .Cards.......... ............................................................................................................ 24 6 Card Interleaving.............. ..................................................................................................................... 25 7 Mousepointer........ ..Icons......... ............................................................................................................... 26 8 The Scoresheet........... .. ...................................................................................................................... 27 Copyright ® 2004-2005 MeggieSoft Games I II Canasta 9 Status Bar... .Counters............... ............................................................................................................... 27 10 Shortcut .Buttons............. .................................................................................................................... 28 11 The Toolbar..... .............................................................................................................................. 29 12 Visual and... .Sound........... .Effects............ ...................................................................................................... 29 Part IV Menus & Preferences 30 1 Game Menu..... ............................................................................................................................. 30 Restart Round .......................................................................................................................................................... 30 Restart Game .......................................................................................................................................................... 31 Redeal Fresh Game.. ........................................................................................................................................................ 31 Replicate Game .......................................................................................................................................................... 31 Switch To Euchre &.. ..Écarté........... ........................................................................................................................................... 31 Switch To German. .Whist......... ............................................................................................................................................... 32 Switch To Gin Rummy........ .................................................................................................................................................. 32 Switch To Pinochle.. .&.. ..Bezique............. ...................................................................................................................................... 32 Switch To Piquet .......................................................................................................................................................... 32 Switch To Rummy ..500...... .................................................................................................................................................. 32 Terminate .......................................................................................................................................................... 33 Exit .......................................................................................................................................................... 33 2 Online Menu....... ..........................................................................................................................