Customer Reviews

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

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3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
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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.

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!

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.

For hundreds of years card games have been an entertaining means of social gathering. From poker to black jack games of chance have brought people endless amounts of joy and entertainment.

In Scot McNeely's Ultimate Book of Card Games: The Comprehensive Guide to More than 350 Games it allows the reader to experience an unlimited amount of old and new card games. Old time favorites such as Old Maid, Hearts, and Texas Hold'em can all be found in this one book. Games which you might not know include: Tien Len, Black Hole, and Cuarenta. Each one of the directions for each game is in-depth and easy to understand. In no time at all you will master each one that you find interesting.

For hours of countless fun and discovery Scott McNeely's Ultimate Book of Card Games: The Comprehensive Guide to More than 350 Games. It offers a easy way to discover an endless supply of fun and pleasure.

It's got a lot of neat games, but the person who wrote the directions isn't very good at details. We knew more about some of the games in the book than the author did.

This book is just what I wanted as I had a new game room in my basement. The history of games is interesting and the pages are also unique.

Lots of fun games. Great for families - dozens of card games for kids. Easy to use. Great for first-time players.

If you are like me and are looking for something to help you out when people ask about all sorts of card games this is it. A good variety of games with great instructions!

This will be given as a christmas present to a friend they will love it.