Welcome to The Canasta Connection! We are Massachusetts based mother-daughter duo Emily and Bev and we would love to teach you Canasta and American Mah Jongg. We created a highly visual curriculum where we play, play, play! We use a step-by-step approach to help you increase your confidence and master the game! We are known for our handouts and cheat sheets that break down the game. We want to make every lesson a fun, accessible, and high quality experience.

April 28th, 1-4pm   Brookline, Ma

REGISTER HERE

Events

April 28th 1-4pm

Private Function Room
Brookline, MA

It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world.

Upcoming Classes and Events

  • Canasta and Mahjong (NMJL) Social Play Brookline

    Sunday April 28th

    1-4pm

    Brookline, MA

    Private Function Room

    Play canasta or mahjong, have a mimosa, win a prize and get connected to other canasta and mahjong players. It is not a tournament. Let's bring together the Greater Boston Canast and Mah Jongg Community and have fun playing!

    Register Here

  • Intro Mah Jongg and Open Play Moldova Restaurant

    Newton, MA

    Wednesday, May 1st 7-9pm

    Intro to Mah Jongg Lesson 7-9pm

    Join us for a beginner American Mah Jongg class. Perfect for first timers. Learn the tiles, the 2024 card, make a hand, and basic game play in a small group setting.

    Canasta and Mah Jongg Open Play 7-9pm

    Limited tables for open play, choose canasta or mahjong. Must know basic rules of Modern American Canasta or Mahjong (NMJL).

    Food and drink available any time. Arrive around 6pm for time to mingle or eat before play. Let’s support Moldova Restaurant for having us.

  • Private Classes

    Canasta and Mah Jongg Classes at your home or venue of choice.

    ALL LEVELS

    Email thecanastaconection@gmail.com if you would like to form a class with 4+ friends or join a class as an individual. Must be located in Greater Boston or Lower Cape Cod.

    Booking summer classes now. Email us to join as an individual for summer class.

  • Beginner Canasta Class Newton, MA

    April 25, May 2, 9, 16, 23, 30

    Thursdays 6:15-8:15pm

    The game of Canasta is a fun, complex and addictive card game. We cover all aspects of the game, using Modern American Canasta rules. Learn the rules and strategies needed to play. Each session will include instruction and supervised play. Meet new friends or learn with your group. Either way this game offers you great brain exercise, fun, and a social experience.

    Offered through the JCC of Greater Boston

    Open to members and non-members

    Class Full

    Email thecanastaconnection@gmail.com if you wanted to take the class but it filled up.

    Register Here

  • Beginner Canasta Class Arlington, MA

    May 8, 15, 22, 29, Jun 5, 12

    Wednesdays 6:30-8:30 PM

    The game of Canasta is a fun, complex and addictive card game. We cover all aspects of the game, using Modern American Canasta rules. Learn the rules and strategies needed to play. Each session will include instruction and supervised play. Meet new friends or learn with your group. Either way this game offers you great brain exercise, fun, and a social experience.

    Offered through Arlington Community Ed

    6 spots left

    Register Here

  • Summer Beginner Canasta Greater Boston

    We have one or two summer groups forming. Email thecanastaconnection@gmail.com to inquire and be added to the list. Location and time will depend on availability of who signs up.

  • Canasta is a card game that originated in Uruguay in the late 1930’s. It was created to be less complex than bridge but more strategic than rummy.

    Canasta is played with two decks of cards and four players in partnerships. Players pick and discard to make melds: like numbers of 3+ cards. A meld of 7 cards is called a canasta. Get as many canastas as possible. The first team to 8500 points wins.

  • Mah Jongg is a Chinese tile game. Play consists of picking and discarding to get a combination of 14 tiles that matches one of the many options on a Mah Jongg card. There are three suits: bams, craks, and dots. A hand typically consists of melds, like numbers, in different patterns. The game is played with 4 people, all playing individually to be the first to get Mah Jongg. Every year the National Mah Jongg league creates a card with all the possible options for Mah Jongg- this is the American variation.

Testimonials

  • These two, the mother and daughter dream team, are hands down the most incredible teachers out there. Not only are they seasoned pros, but their classes are an absolute blast!

    Karen R.

  • Emily, thank you so much for teaching us Mahjong! I loved each lesson. You were so clear explaining the game and built each week on the prior week’s teaching! You made it fun and not stressful and allowed us to ask so many questions. Your printed instructions are a huge help now as we continue to play.

    Kathy D.

  • My husband and I are enthusiastic and committed to mastering this game, and your patience in helping us understand strategy, rules, etc were only eclipsed by your obvious love of the game, terrific teaching skills, and sweet demeanor."

    ~P.W.S

  • Having Bev teach Canasta on Cape Cod has been a gift. She taught a group of us to play Canasta. We enjoy playing so much that we committed to a weekly group. It is the lessons and the connections with friends that makes the experience so special. I recommend expanding your life with The Canasta Connection. Thank you Bev!

    -Elaine