Customer Reviews

The Complete Win at Hearts

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I am regularly one of the highest-rated players on Yahoo Hearts, and I bought this book some time ago to improve my game. It has some good ideas, but I was generally disappointed. There is too much discussion of trick plays, and definitely not enough on good solid fundamental play. The section on spade-suit management is pretty well explained-out, but I found the heart-suit management section lacking. (hearts do make up half the point total of each hand, after all). The style of the book is very home-spun, resembling a compilation of hearts tidbits, without a thorough discussion of principles involved in playing the game. At one point Andrews says offhand that one should generally slough minor suits before breaking hearts, but he doesn't say why, and under what circumstances you don't. The "hearts player's diary" was a big waste of paper and ink. There is a lengthy discussion of the 'partnership' version of the game, but the section on the -10JD game is altogether lacking (if that's what you want the book for), with only about 5 pages devoted to it. One of Andrews' 10 cardinal rules which nearly everyone online would disagree with is "Dump the QS on the first available player, unless your hand is absolutely safe". Rather, you save the QS for the low man at the table. The score of the game is always an important factor in determining your play (especially what hearts you pass), and this is not addressed at all in this book. Also not addressed is how to determine who has the QS, and manuever so the low man gets her. I also would've liked to see a section on how to shoot the moon, since this is an aspect of the game you cannot readily practice without torching your scores. This book does contain a few good ideas for the novice or intermediate player, but if another book on the subject becomes available on this site, I'd definitely suggest buying it before buying this one.

I've been playing hearts online for a few months now, and have been horrified to learn how bad I am at this game. I take everyone's advice, pass a low heart, void a suit if possible, etc etc etc, but still I eat her highness four out of five hands. So I bought this book. Well, with the exception of a few helpful thoughts in the very beginning of the book, there is emphatic attention paid throughout 75% of the book to preventing Moon, and achieving it. Let me tell you something, MOST of the people in online hearts are not thinking moon usually. That's why I said that this book is not for beginners, in my review title. I am sure it's great for people who have a good grip of the strategies best practiced in this game. But if you are looking to LEARN those strategies, I don't believe this book is good. It's very limited in teaching those things, although it is not totally silent.

I also found the writing style extremely cumbersome. A hand is diagrammed, then its play-through is described in prose, and this is a lesson. NOT. I wanted much more in the way of "black letter law" -- strategies that are time-tested, and then a demonstration of the applications of these strategies.

I am an avid Hearts player, having played it on various computers (though only a few times with real cards) for several years. In that time, I have come up with several ways to improve my game, but my rating on the MSN Gaming Zone, where I usually play, continued to flounder below average. Once I read this book and began applying Joe's strategies to my game, I found my win/loss ratio improving and my rating steadily increasing - I have gained almost 200 rating points since reading Joe's wisdom. Granted, you can't win them all, but with help like this, you should certainly win at least your fair share. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the game of Hearts, whether a newcomer to the game or a seasoned veteran. Rules (even for variant forms of the game), tips, strategies, a little history, and even a glossary of terms and list of Hearts web sites - this book has it all!

Not for one looking for principles. Mostly a collection of wild-titled hands, impossible to remember. Chapter Nine, "The Grand Squash," is devoted to a hand the author has seen only 3 times in 20 years. Go figure.

Just finished reading "Win At Hearts". I found this book to be very informative and I consider it my bible for the game of Hearts! There is great instruction that covers all aspects of the game including the basics, the passing of three (3) cards, spade suit management, how to plan and play difficult hands, various strategies and defensive play. These sections include intermediate and advanced hand analysis. The instruction that I got out of this book has greatly helped me improve my skills in playing this great game. Since reading this book, I know play at a much higher level and feel like I've got an advantage over good players! I'd like to thank the author (Joseph Andrews) for writing this book and sharing his great knowledge of this fun game with all of us! I highly recommend this book to both social and competitive players at all levels. Good luck and good Hearts to all.

This book is aimed at everyone from beginners to strong intermediates, and all of those will learn a lot from it. My Yahoo hearts rating went up several hundred points after I read it. I wouldn't be dismayed that the master strength player who reviewed it didn't like it - he/she undoubtedly already knows what is in this book and needs a more advanced book (which doesn't currently exist). Playing online hearts, you hear some strong players screaming "Always pass a low heart! Always cover your pass!" What they want is for you to protect them against an opponent shooting, so they can win. This book will explain when and why to pass a heart and cover it, and when and why not to, among many other things.

As an educator with a master's degree in reading,I couldn't believe how difficult it was to follow the author's line of reasoning.But if you stick to it and reread and reread again,there is much to be learned. I can honestly can say that it has improved my game.

Supposedly teaches by showing many examples and situations where you could have done so and so .. I didn't find any real rules to follow and very few tactics that can be inferred from the examples. I'm an above average Hearts player and certainly have to say that I did not pick up anything to improve my game in this book. The best hearts book? Probably so, but only because there isn't another out there.

Dry and painfully boring.

Joe's latest Hearts book is not only a good introduction, but it also teaches advanced techniques and strategies. Unlike most books, he actually goes into wonderful detail with examples of finesses, passing, conventions, leading, and play.

Joe has consulted with us on several of DreamQuest Software's Championship Hearts and Championship Spades card games and this book and its techniques were critical to making our computer games as challenging and close to live tournament play as possible. If you want to learn how the pros play, this is the book to read!

From the amateurish color registration of the cover to the numerous editorial errors and vague rambling advice, this is nothing more than a thin piece of cheese. Someone is simply out to impress his friends with all the new 'hearts' jargon buzzing around some of the Zone rooms. Save your money and your time.