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Reiner Knizia
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Dice Games Properly Explained Paperback – January 15, 2010

by Reiner Knizia (Author)
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 123 ratings
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THE DEFINITIVE BOOK ON DICE GAMES!

World-renowned game designer Reiner Knizia has written the absolute classic on dice games and strategies. Straightforward and easy-to-read, this little gem gives detailed instructions, comprehensive odds, and insightful strategies on nearly 150 dice games and variations-several of which appear only within these pages!

Topics covered include: Betting games - Including casino favorites where a little knowledge can give you a distinct advantage...or at least minimize your disadvantages!
Bluffing games - Your ability to use psychology and persuade other players is often more important than your actual throw!
Category Games - Use strategy to achieve specific results and be the first complete and win the game.
Lucky Scoring Games - In these games chance and fate have the upper hand...but knowing your odds never hurts.
Progression and Jeopardy Games - Play wisely and successively improve your score while minimizing your risk of losing everything!
...and much, much more!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Reiner Knizia is one of the world's most successful and prolific game designers of all times. He has had more than 500 games and books published in many countries and languages with sales totaling over 15 million games. He has won numerous international awards including five German Game Prizes, two German Game of the Year Awards, the German Education Game Award, four Austrian Game Awards, the Swiss Game Award, three French Grand Prix du Jouet, the Spanish Game of the Year Award, the Dutch Game of the Year Award, three Finnish Game of the Year Awards, the Swedish Game of the Year Award, the Danish Game of the Year Award and the Japan Board Game Prize.

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  1. Print length
    226 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Blue Terrier Press
  4. Publication date
    January 15, 2010
  5. Dimensions
    5.06 x 0.48 x 7.81 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0973105216
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0973105216
  8. See all details
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Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Blue Terrier Press (January 15, 2010)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 226 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0973105216
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0973105216
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.06 x 0.48 x 7.81 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 123 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Reiner Knizia

Reiner Knizia

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Reiner Knizia is one of the world’s most successful and prolific game designers. More than 700 of his games and books have been published worldwide and have won numerous international awards.

Reiner Knizia holds a doctorate in Mathematics. He is a master of simple game rules that create much fun and enjoyment for people of all ages.

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
123 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the book impressive, comprehensive, and informative. They say it offers a variety of easy, fun, and strategy games. Readers also mention the book explains hundreds of dice games and variations.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

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ComprehensionFun games
8 customers mention "Comprehension"8 positive0 negative

Customers find the book impressive, comprehensive, and informative. They appreciate the thoughtfully researched details presented. Readers also mention the right balance of brevity and completeness.

"...the various games we learn from this book as well as gaining a depth of understanding thanks to the thoughtful researched details presented...." Read more

"Easy to understand book with lots of fun games. Organized into general classification of games." Read more

"...The games are described with just the right balance of brevity and completeness to allow you to play all the games without having the book be a..." Read more

"...It is incredible how comprehensive the book is in its scope. It's ability to enlighten about the aspects of each game are also very impressive...." Read more

7 customers mention "Fun games"7 positive0 negative

Customers find the book offers a variety of easy, fun, and strategy games. They say it explains hundreds of dice games and variations. Readers also mention the book is organized into general classifications of games.

"Easy to understand book with lots of fun games. Organized into general classification of games." Read more

"...This book is truly an amazing collection of dice games.As I read each game, I wanted to play each one...." Read more

"...book if you're interested in things like probability, and a bunch of fun little games to play with basic dice...." Read more

"...I'd definitely recommend it to game nerds, though. Lots of great new games to try out." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

Helen Crow
5.0 out of 5 stars Dice games really are properly explained in this well written book.
Reviewed in the United States on February 10, 2024
Verified Purchase
My grandchildren and I are having a lot of fun playing the various games we learn from this book as well as gaining a depth of understanding thanks to the thoughtful researched details presented. It's a treasure.
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CarlB
4.0 out of 5 stars Four Stars
Reviewed in the United States on April 30, 2017
Verified Purchase
Easy to understand book with lots of fun games. Organized into general classification of games.
One person found this helpful
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Tony Hsieh
5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing library of Dice Games
Reviewed in the United States on May 26, 2010
Verified Purchase
Dr Reiner Knizia does not disappoint!

This book is truly an amazing collection of dice games.

As I read each game, I wanted to play each one. I have children so therefore, the randomness of the dice has a great equalizing effect with adults.

But it covers the gamut of games from pure randomness (Lucky Scoring, Lucky Counter Games) to some slight strategic plays ( Betting Games, Progression Games, Jeopardy Games, Category (Yahtzee)) to a fair amount of skill (Bluffing Games).

He covers thoughts on dice and randomness as well as simple but engaging variants on the games.

Really inspirational for playing around with the mechanics of all games.

The only super-tiny-slight disappointment is there wasn't a category for a dice game like ButtonMen which merges planning as well as incorporating the range and probability of dice larger and smaller than the traditional d6.
14 people found this helpful
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Reasonable Reviewer
5.0 out of 5 stars What's not to love?
Reviewed in the United States on September 16, 2010
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Reiner Knizia does it again! If you enjoy table top games then you own it to yourself to pick-up and read this book cover to cover.

Reiner Knizia is one of the premier card and board game designer in the western world today, and he delivers everything that one would expect and more in "Dice Games Properly Explained."

The books chapters are: lucky scoring games, lucky counter games, the theory of dice, betting games, progression games, jeopardy games, category games, and bluffing games.

In each of the games chapters, Reiner describes the basic genre and then gives workable examples of old favorites, lesser known, and new games.

The games are described with just the right balance of brevity and completeness to allow you to play all the games without having the book be a 3,200 page tome.

I highly recommend this book on any serious gamers bookshelf.

In service,

Rich
[...]
9 people found this helpful
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Leonardo Lee
4.0 out of 5 stars The great board game designer and math professor walks you through dice games.
Reviewed in the United States on May 17, 2021
Verified Purchase
This is a curious journey, more of a historical conversation piece. Each section is a quick outline of the core mechanic and the games that fall within that mechanical category. There's a brief section of the probability of outcomes, but I wish that was a little more exhaustive in explaining how to calculate the math, especially for creating dice mechanics yourself.
3 people found this helpful
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wilksc85
5.0 out of 5 stars incredible encyclopedia of games
Reviewed in the United States on July 16, 2012
Verified Purchase
This is an impressive book. It would be difficult to read this cover to cover as it acts more like an encyclopedia of games. It is incredible how comprehensive the book is in its scope. It's ability to enlighten about the aspects of each game are also very impressive. I used this as an instructional tool in my game design class and it went over very well.
5 people found this helpful
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TechSavage
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book if you're interested in things like probability
Reviewed in the United States on December 11, 2017
Verified Purchase
Great book if you're interested in things like probability, and a bunch of fun little games to play with basic dice. Knizia is a legend in the gaming world, so his insights are second to none!
3 people found this helpful
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PeterK
4.0 out of 5 stars I'd definitely recommend it to game nerds
Reviewed in the United States on November 11, 2016
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It's a book of dice games. Worth the price of admission, nothing to get worked up over. I'd definitely recommend it to game nerds, though. Lots of great new games to try out.
One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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Laurenz
5.0 out of 5 stars Properly Explained, indeed.
Reviewed in Canada on May 22, 2024
Verified Purchase
Games are well explained. My only criticism is that my dice rolls have not improved.
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Cliente Kindle
5.0 out of 5 stars O livro é excelente. Entrega rápida e tudo ok!
Reviewed in Brazil on April 20, 2022
Verified Purchase
Pra quem quer conhecer jogos usando dados e suas mecânicas. Excelente!
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Wonderdog
5.0 out of 5 stars Fabulous book, covers the mechanics of dice games I'd never heard of.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 15, 2024
Verified Purchase
Great book - covers dice games I'd never even heard of, broken down by their primary mechanics and a bit of history on them as well. A great resource for players of Dice games, and game designers in general, who will benefit from the ideas to be gleaned here.
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Leser
5.0 out of 5 stars Übersicht über Würfelspiele
Reviewed in Germany on June 21, 2024
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In dem Buch findet man eine schöne Übersicht von Würfelspielen.

Dabei sind sie so kategorisiert (ich nutze die englischen Namen, da ich nicht bei jedem 100% eine gute Übersetzung griffbereit habe):

Lucky Scoring Games
Lucky Counter Games
Betting Games
Progression Games
Jeopardy Games
Category Games
Bluffing Games

Man findet hier einige Spiele, die man schon kennt und manche, von denen man noch gar nichts gehört hat.

Alles in allem eine schöne Abhandlung!
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Paul Welsh
4.0 out of 5 stars Wide array, well explained
Reviewed in Singapore on April 4, 2021
Verified Purchase
Many more than just the popular games in here, many with guiding strategies and notes. Would have benefitted by more illustrations and graphics.
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