<p>You can always discard a wild card even if one is already on the pile.  It freezes the pile for both sides, much like the start of the hand.</p>
<p>When the pile is frozen, it can only be unfrozen when a natural (non wild or 3) is on top of the pile and it is taken with a natural pair of those same cards.</p>
<p>I've played several different variants of canasta, but the above rules are the same.</p>
<p>Here is one set of rules for Canasta, I'm not aware of an official set of rules from a universal governing body.  <a href="https://bicyclecards.com/how-to-play/canasta/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://bicyclecards.com/how-to-play/canasta/</a></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-06-20T05:20:13.877Z
Thanks for responding.  But the question is, once the pile has already been frozen with a wild card, can another wild card be added to the discard pile?
Lynda
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-06-20T05:21:24.833Z
@Lynda Certainly.  I'm sorry that wasn't clear.
Pat Ludwig
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-06-20T05:44:11.740Z
Is this true if we are not playing as teams because there are only two of us playing?  By the way, thanks for the rules link that you sent above.
Lynda
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-06-20T05:02:05.020Z
2020-06-20T05:23:01.020Z
2020-06-20T05:23:01.020Z
Pat Ludwig
<p>Yes, you can discard a wild card. But there's no benefit in doing it.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-11-17T02:25:55.190Z
2024-11-17T02:25:55.190Z
Community College Teacher
<p>I think my title contains the complete question, but I'll try to rephrase it here.  When playing Canasta, if the discard pile has already been frozen with a sideways facing wild card, can an additional wild card ever be placed as the current discard?
I don't believe that is allowed, but if I am wrong and you are allowed to discard a second wild card, can the pile then be picked up by the next player displaying two wildcards for a meld?</p>

<canasta>
In Canasta, if the discard pile has already been frozen with a wild card, is a subsequent discard allowed to be another wild card?
Lynda
# In Canasta, if the discard pile has already been frozen with a wild card, is a subsequent discard allowed to be another wild card?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2020-06-20)

I think my title contains the complete question, but I'll try to rephrase it here. When playing Canasta, if the discard pile has already been frozen with a sideways facing wild card, can an additional wild card ever be placed as the current discard?
I don't believe that is allowed, but if I am wrong and you are allowed to discard a second wild card, can the pile then be picked up by the next player displaying two wildcards for a meld?

**Tags:** canasta


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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2020-06-20. Score: 2

You can always discard a wild card even if one is already on the pile. It freezes the pile for both sides, much like the start of the hand.

When the pile is frozen, it can only be unfrozen when a natural (non wild or 3) is on top of the pile and it is taken with a natural pair of those same cards.

I've played several different variants of canasta, but the above rules are the same.

Here is one set of rules for Canasta, I'm not aware of an official set of rules from a universal governing body. <https://bicyclecards.com/how-to-play/canasta/>

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Thanks for responding.  But the question is, once the pile has already been frozen with a wild card, can another wild card be added to the discard pile?  
> **username_1**: @username_0 Certainly.  I'm sorry that wasn't clear.  
> **username_0**: Is this true if we are not playing as teams because there are only two of us playing?  By the way, thanks for the rules link that you sent above.  

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### Answer by username_2 on 2024-11-17. Score: 0

Yes, you can discard a wild card. But there's no benefit in doing it.


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