Games Books

Phase 10 is so much fun! Had to go all the way from Sweden to Hawaii to buy it.

Phase 10 is very fun (especially when you bring it to family gatherings). The more people you have playing, the longer the game will last. It's for ages 8 and up and for 2-6 players. It's a game of both skill and luck and never gets old.

If you are looking for a challenging game that is easy to learn, Phase 10 may just be what you are looking for. We encountered this card game after Thanksgiving dinner ... it seems complicated at first but once you get started, you want to keep playing.

If you like Uno, Rummy, Yahtzee, Poker.. it's all of these games meshed into one.

We are addicted now and play weekly.

If you enjoy playing, uno, spades, or rummy this is the game for you. I was introduced to this game at my neighbors get together. I went out the next day and bought it for myself. The game will drag on if you have too many players. For the most enjoyable game I recommend 4-5 players and age does not matter. My players are usually between the ages of 9 - 26. I play so often I don't even take score anymore. I suggest only keeping score if it's just 2 players. Other than that its a waste because whoever completes phase 10 first wins.

This is a very good card game. It is mainly luck of the draw but there is some skill involved at times. I will say that I just finished a game, no, we didn't finish, but we were going on playing for 4 hours straight. WARNING! Don't play with too many people, you will suffer a game of great lengths. Although, I have played games that took more than one day to complete.

This game is very fun though. Great for those camping trips, family get-togethers, long rainy days (like today). I highly recommend. The only bad thing I have to say is that the games can go on, and on, and on....but that is easily dealt with. Give it a try if you're a fan of UNO, Skip-Bo, Rummy, etc...

Enjoy!

I really enjoyed this book. I have over a dozen books on the KID but this one tops them all. Joe is informative to such an extent. All chess books should be written like this. Massive amounts of data!!!!!!

Gallagher has written a really good book. The lines he offers are quite good and he explains a lot of what is going on, the book is not all about lists of moves.

I simply loved this book. I think the author's enthusiasm and love for the opening comes through loud and clear. A must for the true KING'S INDIAN fanatic.

This book furnishes a repertoire for Black in the King's Indian Defense (KID). There are twelve chapters, the first six devoted to the Classical Variation (including the currently fashionable Bayonet Attack). Then follow the Saemisch, Fianchetto, Four Pawn Attack, systems with early h2-h3, Averbakh, and miscellaneous systems. Each chapter contains an introduction, and the coverage is built around complete, illustrative games. I think this is a good way to treat opening theory, so that the reader gets a sense of the typical middlegames and endgames that arise from the opening.

I have really come to admire Gallagher's writing. His annotations are full of explanatory prose, deep and valuable insights, growing out of his long career as a KID player. There is much original analysis. I also enjoyed his humor and his obvious contempt for wimpy chess. The games and the associated variations are well selected, covering critical lines, mostly from recent high-level competition. I like his repertoire recommendations, which usually offer the most critical and aggressive way to meet a particular line, e.g., 6...c5 gambit against the Saemisch, 6...Na6 against the Averbakh. (However, he does not generally lay out alternative approaches - which some readers may prefer.) The author obviously poured a lot of hard work into this book.

This book is suitable for intermediate and advanced players. A good companion volume would be Gallagher's marvellous "Beating the Anti-King's Indians," which treats the Exchange Variation, Trompowsky, London System, Veresov and other ways White can evade the main lines. Newbies might instead turn to the excellent "Starting Out: The King's Indian" by the same author and publisher.

The book is set in two-column style, with excellent diagrams and pleasant fonts. The back of the book has an index of variations and an index of games. I didn't notice any typos or diagram errors.

I am writing this review fresh after slaughtering a cheeky 1.d4 player who attempted the Petrosian system against my WELL INFORMED Kings Indian. Indeed, I can still taste the victory; after sacrificing 2 pawns I gained a devastating initiative on the kingside. Here is a quote from the book (Main Line): "White will attempt to tear Black from limb to limb on the queenside while Black will endeavour to hang, draw, and quarter White on the kingside. Sometimes both sides succeed in their aim and then Black wins. That is the advantage of attacking the King". I just want to add to other reviewers by giving my thoughts on this book as compared to Gallaghers other fantastic book: "Starting Out: the Kings Indian". I was completely new to the Kings Indian prior to buying SOKID and it helped with some of the basic themes but, after buying PTKID shortly thereafter, I will not be going back to that other book. PTKID is just so much richer in ideas etc. So if you really are just starting out in the KID, but are somewhat strapped for cash, I would recommend you to get PTKID first, so long as you are not a beginning chess player. (Again, SOKID is a fantastic book. It explains the typical themes w/ diagrams, etc. very well). Happy hunting!
------- USCF 1420

Terry Stickels is a great entertainer for the mind--and his puzzles are both challenging and wonderful fun for the entire family!

Bought the book to while away the hours on a flight to the "Big Apple" it did a great job, I even ended up lending it to one of my fellow passengers :-)

I discovered the Frame Game phenomena about a year ago and have been busily buying up back issues. I find the puzzles deceptively challenging, and the Pocket Book addition lives up to that billing. I have been using this particular edition to introduce Frame Games to my friends. Everyone has found these brainteasers to be a real exercise in mental flexibility. Each time you solve a puzzle on a page, you feel a sense of accomplishment, but can't wait to get to the next one. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a fun challenge. A good time will be had by all who read.

Excellent and fun set of frame game puzzles. Its fun for a wide range of ages and even fun to do in groups. My whole family enjoys these puzzles. My brother and I (11 and 23) worked on them together (or in competition as brothers do) -- it was amazing, he really took to them and got many of them before me! Of course, at our house, I'm still king of our other puzzle book, "Are you as Smart as you Think?" ;-)

Terry's Frame Games have made him world famous, and just when you think all of the possible phrases and ways to utilize them in Frame Games puzzles have been used up, he makes more! All 200 (count 'em) of these puzzles are completely new. The answer to each puzzle is found 2 pages later, upside down, in small print, right at the bottom of the page. This keeps you from having to hunt around at the end of the book for the answers, but also from seeing the answer too soon by accident. At $9.95 for 200 puzzles, that's less than a nickel per Frame Game. You can't beat that.

Having been a professional magician for the past 17 years, I've read many books on magic. In my opionion, "Pockets Full of Miracles" is the best on the subject. It is beautiful, well-written, and has great photographs. It will help the beginner or the advanced magician by giving them clear-cut explanations to some of the many amazing effects in the professional repetoire of Diamond Jim.

If you read only one magic book this year, make it "Pockets Full of Miracles." You, and your audiences, will be glad you did.

This is truly the book for all magicians of any caliber. I have personally read and performed every trick in this book. Diamond Jim has tweeked every description so that it is written for beginners and not belittling to professionals. I would most definately recommend this to every magician to add to their catalogues.

P.F.M.is a wonderfuly written book on the art of Magic.This book has a lot of useful pictures and a glossary.The explaination are clear and vivid,Iwas able to understand it with out having to ask my 11 year old for help.I purchaced two of these books,one for me,and one for my 11 year old step-son.Some of the tricks you will be doing the same day, and others you will need to practice some.We have had lots of fun doing these tricks for our family and friends.

Diamond Jim's book is an incredible book for all magicians. Whether you're just starting out or have been doing it for years, this book gives insight and, step by step, teaches you what you need to know to master the magic. It's a must read!

This book not only has great tricks, but killer routines, with all the details. Most magic books have sketchy instructions with lots of bugs and mistakes, but Diamond Jim is a detail-oriented author, and I appreciate that. There is a difference, of course, between great tricks and killer tricks, and this book is a serial killer. I still have several of the tricks contained herein on my to-learn list.

This 'book' is very useful and fun to read. I have used it in many battles where it seemed like I was going to lose, but with it, I won!

it was really awesome........ It showed every pokemon there is(except for 1 ). i thought it was better than the normal pokedex

I am a 13 year old and I am extremely hooked on pokemon, and this book is a great deal for all you parents who feel that it is too costly, because it IS worth it. I know that many of you reading this that have children are kind of lost when it comes to the world of pokemon, I know because my parents are, well, if you want to learn more about the "pocket monsters" then this strategy guide is a great idea!

Here are some of the most rewarding things you wil find in "Pokemon Master Pokedex".

I found that this book was very helpful in giving a well informed description on all 251 pokemon, excluding the mysterious Celebi.

It was very well organized giving info on almost every aspect of pokemon you can imagine.

I found this book to be helpful in many areas of gameplay that were difficult to me, and the breeding section helped me catch and raise many new and different pokemon.

Unlike other strategy guides, this one gives an in-depth review and is one of the most detailed guides, in my opinion, ever written.

Perhaps the best part of this is the battle chart, giving you info on what type of pokemon is dominant against another, giving info on every type, from grass, to fire, to electric, to steel, this book is the best!

Complete, easy-to-follow, well-organized. The two Prima Guides credited to Elizabeth Hollinger and James Ratkos, ("Pokemon Master Pokedex" and the "Pokemon Gold & Silver" Strategy Guide), are in a separate class from the other Prima Guides, which are visually eye-catching, but less complete and harder to follow. (I have not yet seen Elizabeth Hollinger's "Crystal" Strategy Guide.) **PARENTS**: The Prima Guides are EXCELLENT learning tools, teaching children how to use reference materials independently. When my son was younger, I would read the instructions to him as he went along. Now an avid reader, my 7-year-old flips back and forth between his Prima Guides, plotting strategy, discovering information, confirming what he suspects to be true. EXCELLENT!!!

I liked this book because it really helps a lot. If you have to go on the internet to find Pokemon answers here is your guide! If you spend a lot of time on the computer to look for info on Pokemon this would be a good book! It has more Information than the Internet.

One incredibly detailed fantasy role playing game. There are rules and tables and charts and detail and all other sorts of stuff out the wazoo, for this one.

Not for those that just want your quick and dirty and fast type of action resolution or game.

I have been playing Rolemaster system for about 17 years. It is the game system that I prefer as hands down the best (I started out on D&D). Iron Crown (ICE) has since updated the game system to what they call Rolemaster Standard System or Rolemaster Fantasy Roleplaying, but the group that I game with still uses the materials from the Rolemaster Second Edition (1994). What makes it such a great game system? 1) Because you can account for any game situation. The manuever charts alone add the dimension of allowing a PC to attempt anything. It's up to the gamemaster to assign a level of difficulty and any other mod's he sees fit to the situation. 2) Character development is comprehensive. The ability to create unique characters with skills of their choosing is both fun and rewarding. 3) The Arms/Combat and Spell user systems add variety to the gameplay. Yes, keeping track of some things can be tedious if you let them. Our group made some slight modifications to the combat system (our house rules) that quickened the gameplay, but at the same time did not take anything away from what the system has to offer. As a base system, Rolemaster can't be beat. My experience is with the 2nd Edition. If you take the time to get the hang of this system (I also recommend that you get the Rolemaster Companions for numerous other professions, spell lists, optional rules, etc.), you will be rewarded with a rich and detailed playing environment.

This is one of the best role-playing systems I've ever played. Although it does have a lot of paperwork, it gives great freedom in terms of the creation of worlds and, along with its companions, covers *every* possibility for players.

The best FRPG. It is very different from the storyteller style games (such as Vampire & Mage from White Wolf) but this does not make it worse. It is balanced, with lasting appeal and by far the best hand to hand combat system of any game. The magic system is superb almost as good as ars magica. However rather than try to use the many companions get the standard system - the new rules are better integrated and balanced. If you dont need the extra complexity then the boxed set is all you really need.

However never, ever create a frenzied halfling warrior monk with Martial Arts Throws - its just not on :)

P.S. The martial arts system is head and shoulders above other systems.

One of the most open ended systems alive. Creativity, storytelling, art, gore, this is the one. Iron Crown Enterprises also created MERP (Middle Earth Role Playing) with similar rules in the true spirit of J.R.R. Tolken's the hobbit (w/lots of good references for your Tolken research). These materials however, are for adults, as effort is needed to read, digest and present a game that is both acceptable and enjoyable. Great for a collectors item.

I have followed Ian Adamson for years, and he is the real deal. This book has proven to be an indispensable resource for my team mate and I as we prepare for our first adventure race. The information in this book was immediately useful, and it has kept me from making several crucial mistakes in gear purchases. I would highly recommend this book for anyone who is interested in adventure racing!

This book is a expert job by a man who knows his trade! Is a must to anyone interested in this subject.

Whether you're a veteran or a rookie just starting out in adventure racing, this is one book you should never miss in your collection. This is a classic reference written in clear and understandable language by adventure racing's Michael Jordan. Each page contains a veritable treasure of information, from training, to equipment selection, to navigation and sleep management, culled from years of racing across the world in diverse terrains and climates. If there was only one book you can buy to learn about the history and discipline of adventure racing ---this is it.

If you are a fan of adventure racing (AR), the author's reputation is quite familiar to you. Adamson is among the very best adventure racers in the world, with loads of big race experience.

He is also a good writer. The book is clear and readable. Most of the material will not be new to you if you have significant experience already, but there are tips and tricks and anecdotes that are both entertaining and illustrative.

The sport is so varied and demanding that no book, and certainly not one as brief as this one, can be complete in its coverage of it. However, there is a lot of good, accessible information here and you will not regret including this book in your AR library.

Note that as to gear recommendations, the equipment available is changing very quickly, and some preferences are just personal, so update your information before spending a lot on gear if your only reason for buying was because Ian likes it.

I have read two other books on Adventure Racing that were published before Ian's book came out in the market. Those two books were also good, in fact Ian wrote the foreword on both. But Ian's book came out a cut above the rest. His book offered his and his teamates "winning strategies and experiences". The book was intelligently written and commanded authority on all topics discussed such as proper training, purchasing and use of the right equipment, proper nutrition, good leadership and teamwork skills, sleep strategies etc. For sure the book will inspire and guide beginner racers to the sport, and will further provide veteran racers of new knowledge and valuable proven race strategies and techniques from Ian and his awesome NZ and OZ teamates. Ian is truly one of the best adventure racers in the world along with his mates John Howard and Steve Gurney. To sum it all up, this is an outstanding book, I can't wait to buy the second edition.

I can only rate the service of the delivery and the accuracy of the description of the book. I haven't had a chance to read it yet.

The book arrived fast & in great shape. My nephew loves it! He loves it so much that he had to have the Scarne book on magic.

Many magicians own the Classic book "Scarne on Card Tricks." But it is said if you want to keep a trick a secret, put it in print! Most of what's in Scarne on Card Tricks is no doubt a complete mystery to most laymen--and many magicians! Its a great book for the card beginner.

On the other hand, there's a lot of boring and tedious count-down stuff in there as well.

The book is BIG--over 300 pages of carefully detailed effects. It can be a little overwhelming to someone the first time he picks it up. How do you separate the wheat from the chaff?

Best, in my view, are the tricks that can be done TOTALLY impromptu, with very little or no stacking, when a deck is shoved into your hands and somebody says "Do a trick!".

Here are some of the effects that I have judged to be best, based on the above criteria:

The Upside down Deck by Francis Carlyle
Hit the Deck
Scarne's Follow the Leader
Cardini's Color Discernment
Card on the Ceiling
Card through the Handkerchief

Of course, You Do as I Do is also a classic, though it is fairly well known among magicians.

In short, a little work digging out the best tricks will make you a true card magician in most people's eyes, with enough practice and performing experience.

John Scarne is today perhaps best remembered as a leading authority on gambling scams and card cheats. However, in his prime, he was one of the best magicians in America. In the late 40s, as stated in the Introduction, Scarne decided to gather for magicians a set of card tricks involving no sleight-of-hand. The result is "Scarne on Card Tricks". The 155 effects in the book range from quick tricks and puzzlers to more elaborate card demonstrations. All of the effects are attributed to either the originator of the effect or to a magician who used the effect frequently. The book clearly bears Scarne's unique genius not only in the selection and variety of effects, but in Scarne's improvements of the original effects. There is no doubt that anyone can put together a most entertaining routine with the material in this book. Two words of caution. First, the copyright of the book is 1950 and so some of the patter is clearly dated and needs to be revised for contemporary audiences. (Patter is the words or story that accompany the effect.) Second, because the effects are easy to do when practiced, there is a tendency to perform the effects before fully thought out. For every hour learning the basic effect itself, two hours should be spent on how to present it in an entertaining and interesting manner. The book itself, however, remains one of the very best in card magic. Scarne's work clearly stands the test of time. Frankly, the book is a steal at the published price. I bought two copies because I knew I'd wear one book out. I did. The book is that useful.

This is the definitive collection of non sleight-of-hand (you don't have to be quick with your hands) card tricks. I bought my first paperback copy in 1974 when I was still a schoolboy. Some of the tricks are easy but astounding, such that I've memorised two of them and have amazed my friends over the years until now. Since then, there hasn't been any other card trick manual that can beat this one, to the best of my knowledge.

I didn't expect to receive a Brand New copy of this book,since you can't even buy the game new anymore. I was really surprised and delighted that not only were there no missing pages, it was unused.

This game is the best of this serie that i've ever seen. This one is full of surprises and tips. The strategy guide is complete for me. It is helpful for get all ends.I enjoyed a lot with this guide. I hope you too.

This guide looks great and detailed. The only thing I don't like very much is the appendix. The endings weren't detailed but a few sentences instead. Also there is no pictures that correspond to each ending.

i thought this was a good cheat book and it was really descriptive, even though there were a few typos...the game was also good as well

let me say that if there was ever a silent hill you needed a strategy guide for, silent hill 3 is it. I was able to breeze through the original and the second on hard mode, but Silent hill 3 does a very good job of leaving you lost and confused throughout most of the game. The guide does a great job of walking you through the tough parts, and holding your hand when things get chaotic and creepy. As with all guides however, I recomend buying this one only if you are a fan or collector, because you can easilly find guides for SH3 online for free.

Just let me say that if you love the game this book HAS to be in your library.

A student could pick no better player to study. No one explains like Bronstein!

A great book. Along with Tal's book, this book belongs in the, "Chess-book Hall of Fame." !

Lets cut to the chase, this is a real Sorcerer at work... The book just for the 40 combinations is worth picking up... Still lets not waste time talking about that stuff...

Bronstein loves chess, not studying this line and that line... Not just memorising and trying to think what is this or what is that... He actually Played the game, he would do moves just to see what would happen... He talks about chess in a way where it makes you wanna play... Not all boring technical stuff that most don't understand but pretend to :)... No he talks about it in his own simple way... Calls people Fox or hedgehogs and explains how the Fox will try something even if it might lose... That is what its all about, tossing it on the line... Not just playing all safe and in worry about losing... Gotta roll the dice and just go for broke... Yes he basically says he tossed the games vs. Bot cuz of pressure and this and that... So he does admit to a shady side of chess... Still he makes it very clear he just loves playing the game... He did not seem to care about all the politics and having that on him... I wish that he would of beat him though, I wish he did not give in... Still when your in his situation thats the only way you can understand... I wonder if Tal had pressure to lose in that first match in 1960... Still lets get back to Bronstein, he played very far into his life... He is almost pure Chess I think, Im not a huge fan of his... Still if you read this book, its hard not to like the guy at least to some degree... I do not agree with him telling people to build a little house and castle early... I think many games are lost cuz people castle wrongly or too early... Still Im free not to agree with him all I wish... This book really is enjoyable just to read, even if you don't go over the games... So throw out that Harry Potter and get a book with a real Sorcerer :)...

If You play with Passion for the game, get this book... This book is not for those that play boring and never take chances... So if your a Fox, pick this up, if your a hedgehog, go play with Sonic :)...

First, the book itself:it is beautiful (really nice art work), clean (wide and clear letters and a lot of space for personal appoitments) and with a good number of diagrams (which means that is easy to follow the games without a chess board). Second, the contents: amazing, even a weak player like me can follow the games AND understand what is going on. Mr. Bronstein is a superb writer and can transmit his ideas in a very simple way. Third, the overall work: wide cover of openings, very interesting games anilized and the analizis themselves, very personal comments of the author that makes the book even more interesting. Final veredict: the kind of book you can really read on a cold sunday afternoon, next to the fire place, while seeping hot chocolate, and at same time have a LOT of fun. (where can I find more stars to place in the rate stuff??!!)

This book consists of four major sections. The first is forty of Bronstein's greatest combinations. These forty games have one diagram of the position before the decisive combination. The rest of the page has Bronstein's comment on the combination. The next section is a collection of fifty of his games. Most have a medium amount of annotation, but a few have extensive annotations. Many of the games have cute annecdotes attached to them. These annecdotes are part of the charm of the book. From one of these annecdotes, one can bring proof to the theory that the Russians 'fixed' certain tounamant results. The next section is sixty games by diagram. Practically speaking, this means that there are about 5 diagrams per game. The last section is called seventy picturesque games. Unfortunately, no clue is given to what David Bronstein considers picturesque. The added bonus to the book is that between each section there is an interesting article about Bronstein. Overall this is a game collection/autobiography that is as good as Tal's, and this one has the advantage that it has a much larger percentage of Bronstein's chess career that Tal's book has.

Bronstein doesn't patronize readers. His own comments of his games are invaluable. The combinations, in the form of puzzles will improve your tactics almost immedaitely.