Valid plays start, add to, or finish a Canasta or Zamba on your table. A partial Canasta or Zamba can be laid on the table beginning with at least three cards.
In order to begin laying down cards, players must be able to meet their opening point threshold.
Set of 7 cards of the same face value.
Red Canastas are made without wild cards. They are worth 500 points each.
Black Canastas include up to two wild cards. They are worth 300 points each.
Any player (or team) needs to make at least two red and two black Canastas in order to go out.
Once a Canasta has been made, gather its cards together and set it aside with the top card indicating its colour (e.g. a black in 10's should have a black 10 showing). Keep your completed Canastas together in one place, separate from your Foot to prevent confusion.
You may continue to add to finished Canastas as you pick up more cards that fit, but you may not pick the pack to do so.
Run of 7 consecutive cards in the same suit, using no wild cards. They are worth 1,500 points each.
Zambas are not able to replace a Canasta in anchoring the table; if another player goes out and you haven't made any Canastas, any completed Zambas are forfeited and the cards contained in them are counted in the negative along with the rest of the table.
Once a Zamba is complete, set it aside face down to distinguish it from your Canastas.
Each player (or team) may only pursue one Zamba in each suit (whether you complete them or not). You may not add cards to a finished Zamba the way you can with Canastas.
At the end of the hand, cards on the table count toward your score, even if the Canasta or Zamba they belong to isn't complete, whereas cards you are still holding count against it.
Important note: At least one complete Canasta of any colour is required to anchor the table. If another player goes out before you make at least one Canasta, the points on your table are counted in the negative, as though they were still in your hand.