<p><strong>It depends on which rulebook you follow.</strong></p>

<p>Most commonly, Canasta rules say that a legal meld cannot contain more than 3 wild cards:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>A meld is valid if it contains at least two natural cards of the same rank - aces down to fours inclusive - and <strong>not more than three wild cards</strong>.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Melds must be valid at all times, whether during the initial meld, or when adding to an existing meld:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>A player may add additional cards to a meld by his side, <strong>provided that the melds remain valid</strong> (having no more than three wild cards). </p>
</blockquote>

<p>You can find these rules <a href="https://www.bicyclecards.com/how-to-play/canasta/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">here</a> and <a href="https://www.pagat.com/rummy/canasta.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">here</a>.</p>

<p>However, <a href="http://www.canasta.net/canasta_rules.php" rel="nofollow noreferrer">some rules</a> teach a variation on this rule, and say that rather than being limited to 3 wild cards, a meld cannot have more wilds than naturals:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>It is possible to add a wildcard to a column of cards of any rank on the table. The wildcard is then seen as a card of that rank (but the value remains unchanged). <strong>However, there may never be more wildcards than natural cards within one meld</strong>.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Under this rule, a meld with 4 naturals and 4 wilds would be a valid meld.</p>

<p>Under most circumstances, these 2 rules function the same; they prevent a Canasta from being made with 3 naturals and 4 wilds; and prevent melds such as 1 natural and 2 wilds.</p>

<p>Note that if you need to meld an extra wild in order to go out, you can always just add it to any meld you already have; it seems like it would be a very rare situation that a Canasta is the only place you have to add it to.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-06-19T08:36:21.460Z
This is somewhat accurate. Both [Britannica](https://www.britannica.com/topic/canasta) and [Hoyle](http://www.hoylegaming.com/rules/showrule.aspx?RuleID=204) also state that any meld (incl. canastas) may not have more than three wild cards. I think the equal-to-or-less-than-naturals is really only a glorified house rule, and the question can just be answered 'no'. That said, yes, 'it depends on the rule book' isn't *wrong*.
lly
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-05-31T21:25:19.067Z
2018-05-31T21:25:19.067Z
GendoIkari
<p>Can you play a wild card on an <strong><em>existing</em></strong> Canasta if it becomes the 4th wild card in the meld?</p>

<canasta>
Canasta Playing Wild Card on a Canasta
Steve
# Canasta Playing Wild Card on a Canasta

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-05-31)

Can you play a wild card on an ***existing*** Canasta if it becomes the 4th wild card in the meld?

**Tags:** canasta


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2018-05-31. Score: 2

**It depends on which rulebook you follow.**

Most commonly, Canasta rules say that a legal meld cannot contain more than 3 wild cards:

> A meld is valid if it contains at least two natural cards of the same rank - aces down to fours inclusive - and **not more than three wild cards**.

Melds must be valid at all times, whether during the initial meld, or when adding to an existing meld:

> A player may add additional cards to a meld by his side, **provided that the melds remain valid** (having no more than three wild cards).

You can find these rules [here](https://www.bicyclecards.com/how-to-play/canasta/) and [here](https://www.pagat.com/rummy/canasta.html).

However, [some rules](http://www.canasta.net/canasta_rules.php) teach a variation on this rule, and say that rather than being limited to 3 wild cards, a meld cannot have more wilds than naturals:

> It is possible to add a wildcard to a column of cards of any rank on the table. The wildcard is then seen as a card of that rank (but the value remains unchanged). **However, there may never be more wildcards than natural cards within one meld**.

Under this rule, a meld with 4 naturals and 4 wilds would be a valid meld.

Under most circumstances, these 2 rules function the same; they prevent a Canasta from being made with 3 naturals and 4 wilds; and prevent melds such as 1 natural and 2 wilds.

Note that if you need to meld an extra wild in order to go out, you can always just add it to any meld you already have; it seems like it would be a very rare situation that a Canasta is the only place you have to add it to.

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: This is somewhat accurate. Both [Britannica](https://www.britannica.com/topic/canasta) and [Hoyle](http://www.hoylegaming.com/rules/showrule.aspx?RuleID=204) also state that any meld (incl. canastas) may not have more than three wild cards. I think the equal-to-or-less-than-naturals is reausername_2 only a glorified house rule, and the question can just be answered 'no'. That said, yes, 'it depends on the rule book' isn't *wrong*.  

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