Fun and Games: The Canasta Club
Suzi Gerber, resident of The Hill at Whitemarsh and organizer of the Canasta Club
Like many of the games people play, canasta–which is a card game–is meant to be played with others. In fact, when Suzi Gerber first learned how to play about 10 years ago, it was because all of her friends were playing it.
“I was still working full-time, and it was a great way for me to get together with my friends and have some fun,” said Suzi. “It requires skill but isn’t as complicated as bridge, and I fell in love with the game.”
Anyone who knows the vibrant and energetic Suzi knows that she’s never one to shy away from getting involved. So it’s hardly a surprise to learn that after moving to The Hill in 2017, she eventually organized the Canasta Club.
“I’m now officially retired, and I’m heavily involved in many different activities here at The Hill,” Suzi said. “I started the Canasta Club almost three years ago, and it’s still going strong. We get anywhere from 12 to 20 people who show up to play when we meet each week.”
The Canasta Club meets every Thursday afternoon in the Club Room, and while the atmosphere is lighthearted, there are also many fierce competitors who attend.
“I brought in a big whiteboard and started writing down ground rules and special hands to keep everyone on the same page,” Suzi said. “The level of skill for the club varies–some come to learn and some come to compete–and keeping score is very important.”
The game ends when someone achieves 8,500 points, which usually takes anywhere between one and three hours. It’s not uncommon to play more than one game in an afternoon, depending on the cards players are dealt. For those who want to attend in order to learn how to play or to better their game, Suzi encourages them to study outside of club time by playing canasta online.
“The best way to learn is to play!” she said.
That statement rings true, because for a game that’s under 100 years old to have become as popular as it has, people have to want to play and keep playing.
Canasta was invented in Uruguay in 1939 by Segundo Sánchez Santos and his bridge partner, Alberto Serrato, who were attempting to find a more time-efficient way to play a card game as engaging as bridge. After receiving a warm reception at their local bridge club, the game began to quickly spread throughout South America.*
“The game made it to the States in 1949 and was wildly popular in the 1950s but sort of fizzled out,” explained Suzi. “It started to become popular again in the last 15 to 20 years, and there’s been a real resurgence.”
Canasta is played with two decks of cards, including the jokers, among four players–two teams of two. On game days, Suzi doesn’t typically play; instead, she acts as sort of a roving coach and problem solver.
“I’m basically the ‘Commissioner of Canasta’ at The Hill! I like to help the players who need it and encourage newcomers to keep going.”
– Suzi Gerber
Betsy Ingersoll, Suzi Gerber, Denise Ferrier, Pemberton Hutchinson, and Suzi Foster, residents of The Hill at Whitemarsh and members of the Canasta Club
“I’m basically the ‘Commissioner of Canasta’ at The Hill!” she said. “I like to help the players who need it and encourage newcomers to keep going.”
The Canasta Club is open to everyone–men and women alike–and provides a nice balance of social interaction and friendly competition to all those who attend.
“You have to work really hard to be bored here!” said Suzi. “There’s so much to do at The Hill and endless possibilities for fun.”