Ultimate Book of Card Games: The Comprehensive Guide to More than 350 Games [Hardcover]

Scott McNeely (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 26, 2009

Classic and comprehensive, this guide to over 350 games is sure to appeal to all ages. From Bridge to Poker and Solitaireto Hearts, card games are a beloved source of entertainment and competition (and they are recession proof!). Thisauthoritative book is ideal for every household, college dorm, family cabin, or neighborhood bar that has a pack of cards. Designed in the style of the popular Ultimate Bar Book, this essential resource provides the rules to dozensof variations of your favorite games, and a few you've probably never heard of (Bezique, anyone?). With simple instructions and clear illustrations to guide the way, this volume will be a welcome addition to any gamer's library.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Scott McNeely is the author of Chronicle Books' Poker Night and Casino Night. His writing has appeared in numerous magazines, Web sites, and travel guidebooks. He lives in Portland, Oregon.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 400 pages
• Publisher: Chronicle Books (August 26, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0811866424
• ISBN-13: 978-0811866422
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 5.1 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #109,032 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Pretty but dumb, January 4, 2010

By 

Michael Callaghan (Jersey City, NJ United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Ultimate Book of Card Games: The Comprehensive Guide to More than 350 Games (Hardcover)

This is a pretty book, but many of the games are explained either poorly or with outright incorrect information. I'll quote verbatim here so you can see if it matters to you.

"Baccarat... difficulty high... the minimum bet at casinos is rarely less than $50." (pg. 318)

Um... did the author ever go to a casino in the last fifteen years? Baby baccarat, anyone? $10 minimums? And high difficulty? The player in baccarat does ABSOLUTELY NOTHING but bet on 'player, house, or tie'. They don't touch the cards, don't strategize on any level. That's like saying rock paper scissors is a difficult game (actually, it is a little more difficult than baccarat). Uh... ok...

"Blackjack... difficulty low... there's not much strategy in blackjack... just remember that the odds are heavily stacked in the casino's favor." (pg. 321)

That's just ridiculous. A half of one percent advantage is 'heavily stacked'? The author then claims that the odds are better with fewer decks, completely failing to mention that this only matters to card counters and most single deck games are of the 6-5 payout on a blackjack variety, which will SLAM any player in the wallet and jack the house percentage by about 1.5%. This is the fastest way to go broke. He also fails to make mention of basic strategy.

In his description of hold 'em poker he claims "it's generally worth paying to see the flop." (p.356)... and get this doozy from the same page - "The best starts are A-A, A-K, A-Q, K-K and Q-Q. you're off to an equally strong start if your first two cards are sequential (eg, 8-7 or Q-J) or are suited". Wow! So 7-2 suited, and 3-4 off suit is as strong as A-A! Who knew?

Hey, invite this guy to my table!

And in his description of gin rummy he claims "Veteran players agree: The only reason to take a card from the discard pile... is to complete an existing set or sequence" (pg. 156)

Either the author doesn't actually play these games, or he gets drubbed by anyone who actually knows how to play them. In either event, this is simply bad advise to take to a table.

Check out The Penguin Book of Card Games for a superior text. If you're going to learn a new game, it's best to learn it properly so you don't go in with bad habits and incomplete information.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars beautiful and useful, November 26, 2009

By 

Lynn Kahle "lynn loves to read" (Denmark) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Ultimate Book of Card Games: The Comprehensive Guide to More than 350 Games (Hardcover)

I am in the process of ordering more copies of Card Games. The illustrations are inviting and the text is a joy to read. I also like the fact that there are card games from all over the world. The structure helps you to choose a game based on number of players, time frame, and what kind of card game you are looking for, from competitive to collaborative.

I'd recommend this book as a gift to individuals or families. Everyone will learn something new!

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars For young eyes only, November 12, 2010

By 

N. McGee - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Ultimate Book of Card Games: The Comprehensive Guide to More than 350 Games (Hardcover)

I like the IDEA of this book, but the print is small and - on some pages - the ink is lighter. For those of us with 'mature' eyes, it is a strain to read. I had to return it.