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.

Upcoming Classes

  • Beginner Canasta: Newburyport

    MASSACHUSETTS NORTH SHORE CLASS!

    3/1, 3/8, 3/15 from 10:00am-1:00pm

    $185 per person + small travel fee

    This series will introduce you to the basic rules and strategies to launch canasta game play. Meet other players in class to form a group after lessons end! Location within Newburyport shared at registration.

    Fill this form out to register

  • Beginner Canasta: Newton

    JCC of Greater Boston

    Mondays 5:30-7:30pm

    2/24, 3/3, 3/10, 3/17, 3/24

    1 spot just opened up

    Register Here

  • Beginner Canasta + Open Play: Arlington High School

    2/26, 3/5, 3/12, 3/19, 3/26

    Beginner Canasta: 6:30-8:30pm FULL join waitlist

    Canasta Open Play: 6:00-8:30pm OPEN

    (Open Play supervised by Emily)

    Register Here

  • Beyond Beginner Canasta: Newton

    JCC of Greater Boston

    Wednesdays 12:45-2:45pm

    3/19, 3/26, 4/2, 4/9, 4/16

    Register Here

  • Beginner Canasta: Newton

    JCC of Greater Boston

    Wednesdays 10:00am-12:00pm

    3/19, 3/26, 4/2, 4/9, 4/16

    CLASS FULL

    Register Here

  • Beginner Canasta: Needham

    Needham High School

    Tuesdays 6:30-9:00pm

    3/18, 3/25, 4/1, 4/8, 4/15

    Click Here

Upcoming Open Play + Events

  • Canasta Open Play: Arlington

    February/March 2025

    Modern American Canasta Open Play (semi-supervised)

    6-6:30 Supervised play and strategy help. Get individualized attention.

    6:30-8:30 Open play (semi-supervised). This will take place at the same time as the beginner class in an adjacent space.

    8:30-Wrap up and opportunity for questions.

    Register Here

Find local canasta games in Massachusetts

Join Our Facebook Group:

The Canasta Connection

Find local games and connect with other canasta players in the Greater Boston Area and on Cape Cod.

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