Customer Reviews

How NOT to Lose at Spades, Second Edition

5 star:		(76)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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".

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.

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 :)

How Not To Lose At Spades covers it all!! Like a good movie, after you read it you want to find someone else who has so you can discuss what the book adds to your game! The strategy in this book explained HOW TO BID, when to play AGGRESSIVELY, when to PULL TRUMP and how TO BID on that LAST HAND!! Before I learned Galt's techniques, I crossed by fingers before games against certain opps, afterward.. I searched them out! IF you really enjoy spades, this book is a MUST read!! Thanks Galt!!
Great job!!

As I incorporate the technigues outlined in JohnGalt's book into my game, my playing keeps getting better and better; my rating has increased almost 200 points on the MSN gaming zone; and, I enjoy playing the game so much more. When I recognize mistakes being made by the opponents that JohnGalt says to avoid, I get a psychological advantage and an increased confidence that my partner and I will be winning more games than we will lose. Well worth the money if you are or want to be a serious player.

You can read other books on Spades, and you will learn the rules of the game and tips on how to play. But if you want to learn the strategies behind the great plays that win games. . .you will have to read THIS book. Mr. Strichman is a "spades" genius. His easy-to-read book covers every aspect of the game. If I had been playing spades all my life, I still would not have picked up all the concepts Mr. Strichman presents. Thanks to his intruction, I now rarely lose a game. Mr. Strichman delivers what the title of his book promises!

I purchased my first book several months ago. As soon as I started reading it I immediately noticed a substantial improvement in my game. I was winning more and more games.

As the captain of an Internet spades team, I have have encouraged the other players on our team to read this book and have purchased copies of the book for our Member of the Month winners. Every reader of this book, that I have spoken to, has experienced an overall improvement in their ability to win at spades.

I ordered this book hoping for some clues on improving my game. When I ordered "How Not To Lose At Spades", I also ordered one for my spades partner as a gift. Little did I know how much I'd learn in every chapter.

Jack Strichman has chosen to teach with humor as well as his insightful spades knowledge. He's also made it simple to understand and grasp. I found Jack very refreshing as well as helpful when he's online.

With a few new approaches to the game and a whole lot of new found confidence, I ventured to a live tourney in Atlanta. My partner JonnyGee and I walked away with first place. The win was great to have but Jack was there and his pride in our win made it super sweet.

I can't say enough about this fun, helpful, insightful book. I've told Jack repeatedly, it's the best $ I've ever spent!

Thanks Jack. For everything!

Donna Lloyd (Its_Charmer)

What a great book! Whether you are a beginner or experienced Spades players you will learn how to win more Spades games. Before reading How Not To Lose at Spades I was an average spades player. After reading How Not To Lose At Spades I started winning more games and winning tournaments. I play with skill now and have won many games that I would have lost prior to reading this book. How Not To Lose At Spades is easy to understand and will keep you smiling throughout the whole book. How Not To Lose At Spades has just the right amount of humor to entertain you while showing you techniques to make you a quality Spades player. How Not To Lose At Spades will let you experience the joys of winning on a regular basis.
Thank you, John for making me a better spades player.

I bought Johns book several months ago.. I cant begin to say enough good things about what he teachs in the book. I have used many of the techniques and im winning consistantly now. Its so much fun to use them cause most of the time the opps have no idea what hit them. THANKS JOHN
ps. i love your updates too