Editing Canasta (section)

====Initial melds====
Each card has a specific value that determines both the score and the minimum points players need before laying down their first melds:

{| class=wikitable
|+ Point values towards minimum meld
|-----
! Card               !! align="right" | Value
|-----
| 4, 5, 6, 7 || align="right" | 5
|-----
| 8, 9, 10, J, Q, K  || align="right" | 10
|-----
| 2, A        || align="right" | 20
|-----
| Joker|| align="right" | 50
|}

During each hand the first time a team lays cards on the table, the cards of the combined melds must equal a minimum meld requirement based on the values of each of the cards. At the beginning of a game, both teams have an initial meld requirement of 50 points. The count towards the requirement cannot include the value of any cards a player could possibly pick up within the discard pile except for the exposed top card of that discard pile. If the combined value does not meet the minimum requirement, they cannot play the cards on the table nor pick up the discard pile. After the first hand, the minimum meld requirement for subsequent hands is based on that team's accumulated score before the hand starts.

{| class="wikitable"
|-----
! Team score     !! align="right" | Minimum initial meld
|-----
| Negative       || align="right" | 15
|-----
| 0–1495         || align="right" | 50
|-----
| 1500–2995      || align="right" | 90
|-----
| 3000 and above || align="right" | 120
|}

Example: If a player/team has a score of 1,600 and has not yet made any melds in a hand, an initial meld of {{cards|7c|7d|7h}}, {{cards|Qc|Qd|Qh|2d}} cannot be made. It scores only 65 points and the requirement is 90. A meld of {{cards|7c|7d|7h}}, {{cards|Ac|Ad|Ah|2d}} would score 95 points and can be played. Note that both initial melds can be played if the team's total score is below 1500, and that neither can be played if the team's total score is 3000 or higher. The minimum meld requirement for a team which has a negative score is 15. Because any three cards are always worth at least 15 points, it effectively means any meld is sufficient for laying down the first meld(s). Once a teammate has laid down cards on the table to meet the team's minimum opening meld, the partner at their turn is free to meld whatever cards are legally allowed.