Each player is dealt 11 cards, and the remaining cards are placed in a draw pile. To start the game, players draw cards to determine teams and the first dealer. The goal of the game is to score points by creating melds, or groups of cards of the same rank. Canasta is a card game that is typically played with four players, although it can be played with more players. If you’re looking to learn how to play canasta, it’s important to understand the basics of the game.