Customer Reviews

Deluxe Canasta Caliente

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

We picked up Canasta Caliente before our recent trip to Mexico and have been hooked ever since. Canasta is a classic South American card game which took America by storm in the 1950's and this card set pays hommage to that time period with fantastic and colorful graphics. The goal is to create as many "melds" as possible (i.e. matching sets of three or more) leading up to the required amount of Canastas (seven cards each) before your opponents. If you lose the hand, you subtract the values of your unused cards from your score. This penalty doubles if you end up with the Caliente card. First person to reach 5000 points wins. Two to six playes.

The card point values are clearly marked, making it very easy to calculate your score. The cards themselves are nice and strong, with a glossy finish. We've been running them through a vintage metal Johnson card shuffler, and they have yet to bend or warp. The instructions are simple and well stated, plus there are several quick-tip cards with score values so you can save time.

Cards are fun and simple, and Canasta is a high energy card game that is perfect for small groups, travel, or simply passing time on a rainy day. For those of you looking for a swank card game for your next cocktail, lounge, or tiki party, grab this retro-inspired deck and have fun.

If you do plan on using the deck on a plane or train, buy the deluxe edition which includes a handy card tray (otherwise those cards will fly everywhere) and make sure you have plenty of room to spread out those melds.

Overall, a fun and simple game that will have you hooked in no time.

We've played canasta with this deck a couple dozen times. It's starting to wear out, but I can't say we haven't gotten good use out of it. The art is festive, and the cards are informative (with a game like canasta, it's nice to have the point values on the cards). Personally, we tossed the "Caliente" cards because we don't think it adds anything (good) to the game. For anyone who hasn't played canasta, it's an excellent game that requires a good deal of statistical skill or instinct to play well. Highly recommend it.

This is a really fun game that will keep your mind running. These cards are much better then using a regular deck of cards to play the game. Point values are on every card & you have the wild & stop cards marked. I enjoy playing this game because there's always conditions to be determined when trying to decide your next move. This game really keeps you thinking. The only problem I've come across is that after a while the cards start sticking a little & they become more difficult to shuffle. Over all though I'd say highly recommended.

I saw this item and ordered it to teach my 7 and 9 year old children Canasta. I thought the colorful version would make it more interesting. I was extremely pleased when I got it. Not only is it true to the game, but the colors and revolving card tray make it easy for new players to learn.

I'd recommend it very highly to current Canasta players and to anyone who wants to play a rummy type game with their children.

My family loves this game and so do all those we have introduced it to! Not only is if fun, but there is a fair degree of strategy involved. Only down side is that the cards wear out too fast and I have to buy boxes to give all those to whom we've taught the game!

We were introducted to this game by our son & daughter-in-law. There are many variations possible. When we bought our own set, we found the directions are written that you read a quick explanation of what each type of card can do and the ultimate object. From there on, the directions are set up to read as you play. Lots more fun to learn than studying a set of directions first and trying to memorize them all. Plus they have four cards which simply help players remember how to count "their hand". The cards each have their point value in the top corner so that you can easily determine which are the higher point cards. There are no "suits" (hearts, spades, clubs, diamonds) for those who dislike playing with traditional cards. However, most cards are familiar Ace, two thru ten Jack, Queen, King. All the cards are different from "face cards" in that there are no "spots" or faces for J, Q, K, but each type of card has a South American drawing such as a boy climbing a tree, a dancing senorita, a butterfly, a tropical fish, a tropical bird . . . There are simply eight of each of those. The games dynamics change dramatically whether two, three, or couples are playing.

The game is fun. The "luck of the draw" and being able to pick up the discard pile instead of drawing another card, helps even out the field so that those able to count cards, are not at an overwhelming advantage. Of course, wild cards, stop cards, bonus cards, being able to freeze the discard pile to an extent, and the big hand changer -- the caliente card (allows you to play the negative 100 point, but then allows you to draw cards to bring your depleted hand back up to the beginning # of cards) can really open new possibilities.

I enjoy playing whether I win or lose or even keep score at all. The rules are fairly straight forwards, but with enough little "kickers" to keep the game interesting. My 10 & 11 year old grand children are sharp enough to play. But I would think this would be a family game with older kids or simply a great game to invite another couple over to enjoy. By the second or third round, even a novice usually has a good idea of how to play and starts to think strategically.

Canasta is fun, but Caliente Canasta is hot, hot, hot!

I have played Canasta since I was six and I was searching for a card tray after some friends of ours wanted to play cards and the one game we all knew without having to learn another was Canasta. We then tried the Caliente game once and though we found it different we put away those cards and went back to regular deck. The cards are hard to read with their small print for older eyes even though we play with regular not large size decks. Perhaps this situation exists because they are not primary colors and you need to see the differences from regular cards.
The tray, which was why we bought the set in the first place, works wonderfully and the lazy susan turning feature is the best part. So, considering the color issue and printing issue of the cards, 4 stars.

Fun game. Lousy cards. Two of the cards were torn but that wasn't what bothered us the most. The cards have some kind of powder that makes your hands feel dirty and sticky. We could actually taste this stuff. Strange. We really wonder what it is that they put on them in China. Any answer?Winning Moves Games Canasta Caliente

The game comes without any instructions...the first game I've ever purchased in my life without any. Fortunately, I know how to play canasta, but this set introduces a new "hot" card for a variation in play. Problem is, no direction as to how it is used.

A very good game - easy and fun. My daughters are 13 and 15 and they really like it. Good travel game.