Comparing the games

Canasta vs. Hand and Foot

Hand and Foot grew out of Canasta, so the two feel familiar side by side. The big differences are the second pile of cards, the bigger deck, and how strict each game is. Here is how they compare and which one might suit your table.

The short answer

• Canasta is the tighter, more strategic game. Fewer cards, more careful choices, and the discard pile is a real prize.
• Hand and Foot is the bigger, more relaxed game. Lots of cards, lots of melding, and the fun of picking up your foot.

Both are partnership games for four that also work with other numbers. Both use the same card values, and both use red threes as bonus cards and black threes as blockers.

Side-by-side comparison

The biggest differences, explained

1. The foot

In Hand and Foot, every player has a second, face-down pile of 11 cards. Once you play through your hand, you pick up your foot and carry on. It is like getting a fresh hand halfway through, and it is the moment most players enjoy most.

2. Many more cards

Canasta uses 108 cards. Hand and Foot for four uses about 270. With so many cards, you will see plenty of jokers and twos, and books come together more easily. You will want a card shuffler or several helpers, and possibly a card holder for each player.

3. The discard pile matters less

In Canasta, the discard pile can hold 20 or 30 cards, and grabbing it often decides the hand. That is why freezing the pile is such a big deal. In Hand and Foot you usually take only the top seven cards, and you draw two from the stock each turn anyway, so the pile is helpful but rarely decisive.

4. Going out is harder in Hand and Foot

Canasta lets you go out after one canasta. Hand and Foot usually requires two clean and two dirty books, and your partner must be in their foot. Rounds therefore last longer, and you spend more time building.

5. How the game ends

Canasta is played to 5,000 points, however many hands that takes. Hand and Foot is usually a fixed four rounds, with the meld minimum rising each round. That makes Hand and Foot easier to fit into a set afternoon.

6. Rules vary more in Hand and Foot

Canasta has well-known published rules. Hand and Foot has spread by word of mouth, so book requirements, red three penalties and pile rules change from table to table. Always agree the rules before you play.

Who will enjoy which game?

Choose Canasta if…

• You like thinking a few moves ahead and reading your opponents.
• You enjoy a game where one smart decision, like freezing the pile, can swing a hand.
• You want standard rules you can look up and agree on quickly.
• You only have two decks in the house.
• You play as a couple: two-player Canasta works very well.

Choose Hand and Foot if…

• You want a sociable game with chatting between turns.
• You have newer or younger players. Holding lots of cards and melding often feels rewarding.
• You like big scores and big comebacks.
• You have a long afternoon or evening to fill.
• Your group already has its own family rules and enjoys them.

Tips for switching between them

• Canasta players trying Hand and Foot: do not rush to go out. You need several books, and finishing books too early can leave you stuck before your partner reaches their foot.
• Hand and Foot players trying Canasta: watch the discard pile closely. Discarding a card your opponents can use may hand them twenty cards.
• Both: the card values are the same, so your scoring habits carry over.

Learn the rules

• How to play Canasta
• How to play Hand and Foot
• Red threes and black threes in both games
• How many decks you need