Sue and Alan Silberstein

Sue and Alan have almost 150 years of combined experience playing Canasta. Sue started playing when she was ten and Alan began playing at age thirteen when his mother needed a fill-in for her regular game. After working and raising their children, Sue and Alan retired to South Florida, where they started teaching Canasta to their friends. Eventually, they turned their hobby into a business to help everyone play this fun and social game with confidence. However, they noticed that players often picked and chose which rules to follow. As a result, in 2012, Sue and Alan founded the Canasta League of America (CLA) and began to standardize the regulations for playing Canasta. In addition, the CLA provided a place for members to receive newsletters, supplies, event information and playing advice. Under Sue and Alan’s direction and expertise, the CLA produced a rule book that became the standard for Modern Canasta. Subsequently, they authored a strategy book. Shortly after that, they developed the concept of a Canasta App. By 2015, the first edition of Canasta Junction (CJ) was released for Apple, Android, Kindle, Mac and PC devices. After additional testing and further development, CJ became the Official App of the Canasta League. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the app saw viral success and was listed in Apple’s Top Ten Card Games for over eighteen months. In late 2020, Sue and Alan sold their interests in CLA and CJ to 52 Entertainment, a leading e-gaming company. However, they have remained on board as consultants and recognized experts in Canasta. They continue to contribute content to the CLA newsletters, advise on enhancements to the CJ app, test new versions and work on other Canasta innovations. Sue and Alan have taught over 5,000 players in person and on Zoom. In addition, they continue to encourage Canasta enthusiasts to socialize, challenge themselves and have fun through the various Canasta avenues they created, including the Canasta League of America, Canasta Junction and Canasta University.