<p>Yes, you can do this, but you have the order wrong. You don’t first meld, and then pick up the discard pile. First you show the <code>8,8</code> from your hand, and lay them down along with the enough other cards so that the total meld is at least 120, which can include the value of the <code>8</code> from the discard pile as well.</p>
<p>From <a href="https://www.pagat.com/rummy/canasta.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">these rules</a>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>in order to achieve the minimum count, you must either meld entirely from your hand after drawing from the stock, or you must use two natural cards from your hand which match the top card of the discard pile. In this second case, <strong>you can count the value of the top discard</strong>, along with the cards you play from your hand in this and any other melds, towards the minimum count. You cannot count any other cards in the pile which you may intend to add in the same turn.</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-12-31T22:50:39.933Z
If we play that you cannot count the value of the top discard and the pair as part of the initial meld, would you still agree that you can do this.
Sue
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-01-01T20:44:30.217Z
@Sue I don’t understand your question. It sounds like you are talking about using a house rule where you can’t use those points as part of the minimum? You can use whatever house rules you want; but it’s not how the regular game works.
GendoIkari
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-01-01T21:01:20.553Z
@Sue looks like I misread part of your question. I have updated my answer to be more specific.
GendoIkari
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-12-31T15:31:50.057Z
2023-09-05T06:04:27.543Z
2023-09-05T06:04:27.543Z
GendoIkari
<p>Playing Canasta, can I make the initial meld of:
<code>2,A,A,A</code> and <code>8,8,8,8</code> = 120 and then pick up the <code>8</code> from the discard pile with <code>8,8</code> remaining in my hand?<br />
when the situation is:</p>
<ul>
<li>My hand: <code>2,A,A,A, 8,8,8,8, 8,8, J,J,3</code>.</li>
<li>My opponent throws an <code>8</code> to the discard pile.</li>
<li>I need 120 for my initial meld.</li>
</ul>

<canasta>
Initial meld and additional pair of same rank
Sue
# Initial meld and additional pair of same rank

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-12-31)

Playing Canasta, can I make the initial meld of:
`2,A,A,A` and `8,8,8,8` = 120 and then pick up the `8` from the discard pile with `8,8` remaining in my hand?  
when the situation is:

* My hand: `2,A,A,A, 8,8,8,8, 8,8, J,J,3`.
* My opponent throws an `8` to the discard pile.
* I need 120 for my initial meld.

**Tags:** canasta


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2018-12-31. Score: 4 | Accepted answer

Yes, you can do this, but you have the order wrong. You don’t first meld, and then pick up the discard pile. First you show the `8,8` from your hand, and lay them down along with the enough other cards so that the total meld is at least 120, which can include the value of the `8` from the discard pile as well.

From [these rules](https://www.pagat.com/rummy/canasta.html):

> in order to achieve the minimum count, you must either meld entirely from your hand after drawing from the stock, or you must use two natural cards from your hand which match the top card of the discard pile. In this second case, **you can count the value of the top discard**, along with the cards you play from your hand in this and any other melds, towards the minimum count. You cannot count any other cards in the pile which you may intend to add in the same turn.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: If we play that you cannot count the value of the top discard and the pair as part of the initial meld, would you still agree that you can do this.  
> **username_1**: @username_0 I don’t understand your question. It sounds like you are talking about using a house rule where you can’t use those points as part of the minimum? You can use whatever house rules you want; but it’s not how the regular game works.  
> **username_1**: @username_0 looks like I misread part of your question. I have updated my answer to be more specific.  

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