A meld is a group cards of the same ranks. Points are awarded when teams meld their cards. The top card of the stock is then flipped over and placed to the side to form the discard pile. Players should separate the Hand and Foot into two decks. The first eleven cards are known as the Hand and the second set is known as the Foot. The dealer then shuffles the decks and passes out twenty-two cards, one by one, clockwise to each player. Whomever draws the highest card gets the honor of being the first dealer. Teammates should sit across from each other.īefore gameplay can begin, every player draws a card from the deck. To set up a game of Hand and Foot, players need to form a circle around a stable playing area. Like regular Canasta, the objective of Hand and Foot is to make the most melds and to be the first team to go out. It is most commonly played in teams of two. Hand and Foot can be played by 2-6 people. It requires 5-6 decks of standard playing cards and is suitable for ages 12 and up. Hand and Foot is a much easier variation of the rummy-type card game Canasta.
