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Download on Google Play- Use 4-6 decks with jokers depending on player count.
- Deal two piles of 11 cards each: a hand (pick up) and a foot (set aside).
- Remaining cards form a central stock with one discard.
- Draw 2 cards from stock or pick up the entire discard pile.
- Lay down melds of 3+ same-rank cards; wilds cannot outnumber naturals.
- Build melds to 7 cards to form canastas (clean or dirty).
- When your hand is empty, pick up your foot pile and keep playing.
- Clean canasta (no wilds): 500 points.
- Dirty canasta (with wilds): 300 points.
- Going out bonus: 100 points.
- Cards left in hand or foot count against your score.
Rules
Hand and Foot is an expanded Canasta variant played with multiple decks where each player manages two separate hands — a 'hand' and a 'foot.' Teams race to form melds and canastas while navigating the unique two-hand mechanic.
Objective
Score the most points across multiple rounds by forming melds (groups of same-rank cards) and completing canastas (melds of seven cards). A team must complete specific canasta requirements before going out.
Setup
- Players: 4 to 6 players in partnerships.
- Deck: 4 to 6 standard decks with jokers, depending on player count.
- Deal: Each player receives two piles of 11 cards. One pile is the 'hand' (picked up immediately), the other is the 'foot' (set aside face-down).
- Stock and Discard: Remaining cards form a central stock pile with one card turned to start the discard pile.
Gameplay
- Drawing: On your turn, draw 2 cards from the stock or pick up the entire discard pile (if you can immediately meld the top card).
- Melding: Lay down groups of 3 or more cards of the same rank. Wild cards (2s and Jokers) can be included but cannot outnumber natural cards in a meld.
- Building Canastas: Extend melds to 7 cards to form canastas. A 'clean' canasta has no wild cards; a 'dirty' canasta contains at least one wild card.
- Switching to Foot: When you play the last card from your hand, pick up your foot pile and continue playing from it.
- Going Out: Your team must have completed a minimum number of canastas (typically 2 clean and 2 dirty) before any team member can go out.
Scoring
- Clean Canasta: 500 points.
- Dirty Canasta: 300 points.
- Going Out: 100 point bonus.
- Card Values: Jokers 50, 2s and Aces 20, 8-K 10, 4-7 5, Black 3s 5.
- Penalty: Cards left in hand or foot count against your score.
Tips and Strategies
- Coordinate with your partner on which melds to build to avoid duplicating effort.
- Getting into your foot pile quickly gives you more cards to work with.
- Balance between building canastas and keeping flexibility in your hand.
Tips & Strategy
Getting to your foot pile quickly is a major advantage. Focus on efficient melding from your hand to unlock those extra 11 cards.
Team communication through your plays is vital. If your partner is building a meld, feed them cards rather than starting a competing meld of the same rank.
Trivia & Fun Facts
Some dedicated Hand and Foot groups maintain running scorecards across entire seasons, treating it like a competitive league sport.
In Hand and Foot, when does a player pick up their 'foot' pile?
History & Culture
Hand and Foot emerged in North America in the late 20th century as a variant of Canasta, adding the distinctive two-hand mechanic that gives the game its name.
Hand and Foot has become a staple of American social card gaming, particularly popular among groups that enjoy Canasta but want a longer, more involved experience.
Variations & House Rules
Variations include different canasta requirements for going out, optional 'clean only' rounds, and three-hand versions for six players.
Adjust the canasta requirements for going out based on desired game length. Some groups require only 1 clean and 1 dirty canasta for shorter games.
