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Show Goren on Canasta Melding Tactics Different When 120 Points Needed eases It will be a sheer guess. The only consideration to influence you ia partner previous discards. If he has previously thrown an eight, it ia reasonable for you to assume as-sume that he la not saving eights, and that he ia more apt to have jacks in his hand; so that you should meld the pair of Jacks with your deuce. . ' Usually Ne Rush When you have been able to take the discard pile to make vour initial meld, you will frequently find that you are In a position to make numerous other melds. There a usually no rush about doing so. While it is true that the more you spread the easier it Is for your partner to work on the building of Canastas, nevertheless there is a certain advantage in holding up a great part of your meld, for this will make your righthsnd opponent's op-ponent's discarding problems mors acute, and he may be tricked into throwing cards which find mates in your hand and which permit you to take the discard pile again. Illustratloat Tou need 50 for your initial meld, and after drawing draw-ing you hold: Joker, t. A. A, Q. J, 8, , 7, , i. 4. Tou should meld Joker, ace, ace Immediately. It will be observed that you could meld 1. A. A which would also meet the required count, but that would not be proper tactics. The Joker should always be melded in Preference to the deuce. It counts iW Instead of 20, and furthermore, if you happen to be caught with the Joker it ia at the cost of 50 points as against only 20 for the deuce. Whereas in the plsy of hand the deuce haa all the power of the Joker; so you might as well gain the greater score and at the same time run the lesser risk of loss. If with thst same hand you needed 120. you could meet the requirements by melding the Joker with a pair of sees, and the deuce with a pair of eights. But there is some question as to the advisability advisabili-ty of such play. This method would have exhausted your entire supply of wild cards, a situation which should be avoided wherever possible. pos-sible. It might even be better strategy to wait for a round or two in the hope of drawing an eight so that you could make the initial meld and atiil retain your wild card. ' Editor's aote: This is the third of a serlee ef arklcJea en canasta, the papular new card game. by Oiarlea H. Oerea Noted card authority ' When SO points are required for the initial meld, it ia considerably more difficult to make the grade, and you must be prepared to give up six cards for that purpose. However, when it will take that many cards it is better to wait a round or two in the hope that your hand will improve on the next draw. If it would take eight cards It is recommended that you delay de-lay indefinitely your initial meld, and If it would take nine. Just don't do It. In the words of the Q. L sweat it out." Making the grade when 120 is required for the Initial meld is frequently very difficult The importance im-portance of getting down then ia more pronounced. Even if it requires re-quires sis cards do It Immediately. Canasta Booklet Mr. Gores has Just flalahed work e a aew booklet titled "How to Play Caaaata" aa which he ontliaea the basis rnlee of the game and backgrounds back-grounds the finer points of play. This booklet msy be ebtalDed at The Salt Lake Tribune and Salt Lake Jelegram Home Serv Ice bureau. 14S 8. Main, for ZSe per copy. Mail requests will be accepted at th same price. If it takes seven or eight, wait for a little while. Sometimes it is necessary to ruin your hand by melding nine cards when it appears ap-pears that partner ia unable to go down, and chances of improving improv-ing your hand are not very good. Partner Gets Burdea When you have given up nine cards you will have virtually eliminated elim-inated yourself as an offensive character in the game, and it devolves upon your partner to Tarry the burden from here in. There ia this comfort, that if partner part-ner succeeds in obtaining the pack and completes a Canasta, you will be in a position to play for out. Aa you make your initial meld you may have a choice as to the manner in which to spread it. That Is to say, you may have several different pairs. It is good policy . In such eases to meld them cards to which your partner will more likely be able to contribute. Eg.: Tour side needs DO for the Initial meld, and your hand consists of: t. A. A. A. J. J. 8. S. 7. . 4. Tou will naturally spread the three acea, and now you may meld (with your deuce) the pair of jacks or the pair of eights. They both count the same. If you thought that your, partner probably had Jacka that would be the pair to apread. On the other hand, if you thought there waa a better chance that your partner held eighta, you would eseld that pair. In most |
