Card Games for Dummies

by Barry Rigal

Book Overview

Playing cards is supposed to be fun, so don't worry about having to study this book as if it's a homework assignment. Card Games For Dummies focuses on the games that people play today all around the world, and walks you through them with plain-English explanations. Regardless of how much experience you've had with card games, you'll find something in this book for you. Absolute beginners will appreciate that the instructions for each game start at the very beginning level. If you've played a few card games before, maybe you'll find a new game. However, coverage isn't limited to a description of each game and a summary of the rules. Instead, each chapter offers hints on strategy, so even the experienced player can pick up something new and worthwhile. Card Games For Dummies covers eight categories of games, grouped together based on the basic aim of the games. Get ready to explore several fun and friendly games in each of these categories: Exchanging Cards - Discover games in which the players try to improve their hand by taking a card from the deck and letting go of a card from their hand. These games include Rummy and Canasta. Trick-Taking Games - Everyone starts with the same number of cards, and during the play, each player takes a turn to play a card from his hand. Whoever plays the highest of those cards wins them all. These games include Whist, Euchre, Spades, and an introduction to Bridge. Don't Score Any Points - Instead of trying to score points, you try to avoid saddling yourself with points. These games include Hearts and Barbu. Score as Many Points as You Can - The objective of all these games is to score points. These games include Pinochle, Piquet, Setback, and Clobyosh. Matching Cards - Try to get rid of all your cards as quickly as possible by matching them with other cards and then playing them onto a discard pile. These games include Eights and Fan Tan. Adding and Climbing Games - Yes, there is a bit of math involved in these games, but don't let that stop you from experiencing exponential levels of fun These games include Cribbage and President. Banking Games - In some games, players compete against a central authority figure, the Banker; in other banking games, everyone competes against one another. These games include Blackjack, Baccarat, and Poker. Specialty Games - Some of the best games are in a category all their own. These games include Solitaire (in its many forms) and classic children's games such as Beggar My Neighbor, War, Go Fish, and Old Maid. Card Games For Dummies will even tell you where to find information about a game on the Internet and point out places where you can play games online. And no matter what types of games you find yourself playing, and no matter where you play them, you'll find out how to improve your card-playing skills.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0764550500
• ISBN13: 9780764550508
• Release Date: November 1997
• Publisher: For Dummies
• Length: 384 Pages
• Weight: 1.38 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 7.4" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

Great Game Reference Resource

Although an avid bridge, etc. player, I didn't know how to play pinochle. After being invited to a pinochle group, I purchased this to learn how before having to actually play. It was easy to follow, and definitely helped. It will also be a great resource if I need to learn any other card games (except Bridge, which is a separate book).

Relax

It's a little frustrating when someone at the game table starts making up the rules to the game. And no one can remember all the rules for all the card games! This settles all the arguments and gives you new card games you didn't know about to play with your friends and family! Great gift!

An overall look at some great games

This book has some fun games! It has popular games like Hearts, Rummy, and Cribbage. It also has games that I have always wanted to learn how to play, like Euchre and Canasta. In all, the book discusses over twenty games.The layout of the book is a discussion about games. Even if you have felt confused before in reading through card game rules, this book is an excellent introduction to playing card games. It goes over everything that happens in the game, from the rules, to strategy and tips, to history of the game-a fascinating book.Because it goes in-depth into each of the games, you will not find one place in the chapter that has a concise list of the rules. The rules are scattered throughout the discussion of the chapter. I found it useful to check a book of rules from the library to read along with this book.

Great book!

This book covers the basics for understanding simple to hard card games. Having a baptist upbringing and being an only child I've missed out on learning how to play card games. This book is very easy to understand and now when I play card games on the computer like Hearts, I now know how to win. The rules for card games have been updated to what average people now currently play.