How NOT to Lose at Spades, Second Edition [Paperback]

JohnGalt Strichman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 2003

Note: If you would like a BRAND NEW CUSTOM AUTOGRAPHED copy, see the author's listing under "used and new" copies of the book.

Having received unsurpassed acclaim among the Spading community since its publication, the first edition of How NOT to Lose at Spades was the highest rated Spades book and a bestseller here at Amazon.

This edition is even better, with expanded coverage of key topics, and lots of new material.

Written by one of the most highly regarded Spades players on the Internet, How NOT to Lose at Spades identifies 80 common mistakes that players make which cause them to lose games that they could have won. Through the use of over 100 bidding and playing examples, the author shows readers how to avoid these mistakes, and in a very structured approach teaches readers how to think and play like a winning Spades player.

The majority of readers see an immediate improvement in their game, and many readers order additional books for their regular playing partner(s) or friends.

"How NOT to" is highly unique compared to other books on card theory. It is written in a simple and fun style, with the emphasis on humor and enjoyment of the game, rather than on complex diagrams, statistical theory, and technicalese.

Through this unique approach, the author teaches readers how to "think" when they play, as much as how to play, and it is this approach which is the key behind the book's popularity and success, and which has generated a loyalty among its readers which is rare indeed.

Once you have read the book, you will probably think of the game very differently than you ever have before, and you just may wind up being rewarded in Spades.

Readers have achieved the following results using the teachings in the book: ZSTOC (Zone TOC): WIN, ATLANTA, 2001 LIVE TOURNEY: WIN, LAS VEGAS, 2001 LIVE TOURNEY "Main Event Cash Prize": WIN, ZONE CLUB CHALLENGE: 2ND and 3RD out of 114 teams, ZONE CLUB HONORS: (11 game tourney among the Zone's very best) WIN and 3RD Place, Igames TOC: WIN, ZONE CLUB CHALLENGE: WIN and 2ND Place out of 125 teams, 2003 ZONE Sweethearts Tournament: WIN and $1,000 Cash Prize!

Do you know... the single most important consideration when playing Spades? the biggest mistake made in Spades? Hamlet's secret to successful bidding? the most powerful convention in the game of Spades? the 2 biggest mistakes players make bidding Nil? how to bid an Autowin? how to make a Faux Throw when playing a Nil hand? the Rule Of Four? how to bid the Prevent Defense? how to use the Potato Chip Attack? how to insure your pard's Nil with the Dormy Dare? when to go Undercover In A Miniskirt? when to use the Cover Charge, and when More is Less?

If you don't want to lose at Spades, you need to know the answers to these questions, as well as how to use the other 100-plus strategy and execution approaches described in this 220-page book.

Special note: The book is 8.5 by 11 inch format, with 14 point normal font.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"JohnGalt has hit a home run with his new book. You must read this book to be an allstar player." -- Joe Andrews' Spades Column of the Month. MSN Zone, July 2001

"Strichman is a great teacher of the logic needed to improve one's game.....best published coverage on endgame bidding scenarios." -- Dan Hoffenberg, former highest rated Spades player among the over 100,000 players at the MSN Zone gamsite, Spades instructor and accomplished Pro player.

After reading HOW NOT TO LOSE AT SPADES, I reached NUMBER 1 on the ratings list! -- Mitch Adams, former highest rated Spades player among the over 100,000 players at The MSN Zone gamesite.

Because of JohnGalt's book, HOW NOT TO LOSE AT SPADES, I won the first live Spades tournament I ever attended! -- Donna Lloyd, Winner of the Atlanta, 2001 live Spades tournament.

I had no idea how to play winning Spades until I learned the risk/reward playing system in JohnGalt's book. -- Sheryl Brewer, winner of over 100 Spades tournaments.

I never thought I would win a tournament as big as ZSTOC, but your book made it happen! -- Jacqulyn Peterson, Winner of ZSTOC (the Zone Tournament of Champions).

It has worked wonders for myself and partners in the Zone. My bedside table would be bare without it. -- Mary Short, Winner of ZSTOC (the Zone Tournament of Champions).

It is everything I had hoped for....this book is really going to help me against the good players. -- Tom Miller, once beat Bobby Fisher in a chess game.

Winning live tournaments can be achieved using the techniques that JohnGalt describes in his book... READ IT!! -- Swannneee, Winner of the Main Event, Las Vegas live Spades tournament, October, 2001.

You've done a fantastic job...it is easy to understand whether you are a veteran Spades Player or a newbie. -- Tiger_Tale, Cofounder and Leader of The Tigers Spades Club, the largest Spades club at the Zone with over 800 members. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From the Publisher

Not only did I write How NOT to Lose at Spades, but I am the publisher as well. I wouldn't want you to have the false impression that Karosa Publishing is some large publishing house. It is a business that I started solely for the production and distribution of the book.

Although the book is self-published, it is a quality product. Not only is it produced in large format, it is printed on heavier than normal paper. I wanted to be sure that readers could write in and highlight in the book without damaging it, and that it would stand up to heavy use. Producing a book this way isn't inexpensive... it costs more to produce, store, and ship a book that weighs one and a half pounds. I didn't produce the book the way that I thought it would make the most money, I produced it the way that I thought it would make the most book.

This 2nd edition could easily demand a substantially higher price than sold for here at Amazon, but I wanted to keep the book as affordable as possible.

The book was professionally edited by an individual who is a professor of English, as well as the President/Editor at Brandylane Publishing in Richmond, Virginia.

I would be happy to do my best to answer any questions that you might have if you email me using the link under my "used and new" listing in The Marketplace.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 220 pages
• Publisher: Karosa Publishing; 2nd edition (September 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0970631219
• ISBN-13: 978-0970631213
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (83 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #95,265 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I was born in 1952. I hold both a B.S. in business management and an MBA from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. My wife, two daughters, and I reside in beautiful Boulder, CO.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best book on card playing I have ever read, January 8, 2002

By 

Alan Bernstein (Colorado, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: How Not to Lose at Spades (Paperback)

Strichman's book on Spades is the best book on any card game that I have ever read. As a long time spades and bridge player, I certainly have read many books on playing cards - this is the best.

The writing is straight forward and crystal clear. In every instance, you understand the situation, the problem, the right line of attack, how to recognize it, and most importantly, why the stated approach is right.

The book is loaded with examples that help make each important point in the book. These really help to clarify and drive home each lesson.

The breadth covered is great. Just about every kind of situation is covered and these are logically grouped for easy understanding and reference.

Besides the excellent and easy to understand insites, the book is also humerous. This makes it really fun to read while you are learning enough to put you at the top end of any set of competitors you might face.

Buying this book is a "no brainer".

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars spaderiffic!, January 5, 2002

By 

Dan Taylor (Eden NC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: How Not to Lose at Spades (Paperback)

In the age in which we live, lots of authors dash together books that make claims not altogether true. Jack Strichman is not one of them. He has written THE definitive manual in "How Not to Lose at Spades".
By nature, the game of spades is much the same as any other game of skill. The team that makes the fewest mistakes usually wins; therefore,it is incumbent upon any serious player to learn prospective pitfalls, strategies to avoid them, and ways to lead the other team down the mistake ridden path. This Strichman teaches in a way that is easy to understand and remember. Anyone who has played can insert himself easily into the illustratory stories. What's more,Strichman goes through lots of situations a number of times so the reader can visualize each piece of business in his mind as it happens in the book and thusly recognize when it happens in one of his games.
The best thing about this book is that when one buys it, they also make a friend of an expert spader. Anytime one runs across a situation unusual in their spading experience, Jack is as close as his e mail address. The reader's progress tickles him just about as much as it does the reader.
Like most self help books, it is a tool- no better or worse than the person who wields it. Therefore, how much one improves depends on the strength of motivation. For me, though, two weeks after receiving it, I wound up in twice as many tournament finals as I had in all my previous experience put together.
The bottom line is the game of whoever buys this book, reads it and works toward applying it will improve and they will have more fun. Regular use of the principles outlined in "How Not to Lose at Spades" will result in opponents bickering among themselves. A person may hear more 4 letter words from the opposition than they did before also; there is one word readers won't hear nearly as often in their minds ear previously....LOSE.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Have for ALL Spades Players!!, January 7, 2002

By 

"zzzdeprived" (Cleveland, OH) - See all my reviews

This review is from: How Not to Lose at Spades (Paperback)

I thought I played a pretty good game of spades... and did pretty well at the game... then I got this book and WOW... What a difference it made in my wins and losses!!!

It makes you look at the game in a whole new manner and everyone has noticed my game improve... they all say... What would of made you bid nil with that hand? I smile and say... its all thanks to JohnGalt Strichman.

I was truly surprised at the ease of reading and examples of different situations and what to bid and why. The author did a wonderful job in explaining the game in terms anyone can understand... even "newbies" to the game. However for this book to help those of us who already "thought" we knew the game... well what can I say... I learned "HOW NOT TO LOSE AT SPADES"

I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in losing less and winning more :)