2 comments about Practical Endgame Play - Beyond the Basics: The definitive guide to the endgames that really matter (Everyman Chess).

1. Author Flear describes in his introduction how he wishes to take a different approach, stressing endgame variants that arise often in practice but generally aren't covered in endgame textbooks. In this, he has succeeded. He has compiled statistics on types of endgames and then concentrates, at least somewhat, on the ones that are more important in terms of likelihood of occurrence. Not at all a bad idea, as so many books want to be theoretically complete and spend many pages on endgames likely to be seen once or twice, if ever, in a chessplayer's career.
   
   Flear coins a new term: "Not Quite an Endgame" or "NQE" or, as he puts it, "nuckie." What is an NQE? He defines it rather unclearly as a position with more pieces than an endgame but no more than two per side (not counting pawns). This not so helpful definition is fairly carefully followed in the book, as two per side situations make up nearly the whole content of the text.
   
   What he does do is consider a whole raft of situations that, while statistically probable, aren't necessary treated in an organized manner in other books. This includes things like an exchange advantage with two rooks vs. a rook and a minor piece. Indeed this is "not quite" an endgame but how many times have you seen it in real play? Most likely very often indeed! Rook and minor piece endings are covered thoroughly, such as Rook and Bishop vs. Rook and Knight (and all the other combinations as well), again something seen all the time in practical play.
   
   I especially like the extended section on "Asymmetric Struggles" which considers such things as Rook vs. two minor pieces. Practical? You bet!
   
   The book is a real heavyweight, weighing in at over 500 pages. It has a useful table of contents, a not very useful index of players (and, in typical Everyman Chess style, no other indexes at all), and an attractive and readable layout with typically two or more very clear board diagrams per page. The list price is high enough, but you can get the book for just over half that price if you shop carefully.
   
   The key question, of course, is: should you buy this book? Certainly, if you were to have only one or two endgame books in your library, this wouldn't be one of them. (Silman's Complete Endgame Course would be better by far, and Pandolfini's Endgame Course would be a better choice as well.) However, I might say that if you have those other books, maybe this one would fit in as a third choice, just before you go in for a heavy-duty textbook such as Fine or one of the others. Flear's book is above all practical. After you learn the real basics in one of the "Course" books, you might go in for this very large serving of real-life situations. Only then might you want to learn everything there is to know about endgame theory, even if you might never use it.
   
   Bottom line: a good book, perhaps even an excellent book, but not a "must-buy."



2. Living up to its subtitle, 'The definitive guide to the endgames that really matter', "Practical Endgame Play - Beyond The Basics" by English Grandmaster Glenn Flear" is a 544-page compendium dedicated solely to endgame plays in chess. Included are the most commonly encountered endgames; illustrative examinations of material balances found in roughly half of the endgames played; and sound advice, practical analysis, and endgame insights assisted by currently available computer software. Mastering the intricacies of the endgame is a fundamental chess skill. Without it, players are doomed to frustration and failure. With it, players can achieve the very heights of success. "Practical Endgame Play - Beyond The Basics" is a seminal and strongly recommended addition to personal, professional, and community library chess reference book collections.

5 comments about Boomerangs: How to Make and Throw Them.

1. The book concentrates mostly on crosswing boomerangs and those built along the same lines. These are a lot of fun to make and fly but if you really want to get into the real thing (sport booms, not "hunting") there are better, more informative books available.



2. I'd like to state that this is definitely not the book you should read if you want to make or throw a contemporary sports boomerang. The instructions Mason offers really scare me: he proposes multi-bladed boomerangs with a diameter of 36 inches with a 5 inch metal screw poking out on the back for easy one handed catching - give me a break! Two-bladed boomerangs only occupy a small bit of the book.
   
   On the other hand, it's a nice historical view on a certain stage in the evolution of sports boomerangs (the book is from 1937 originally), and it contains the only description I know (including the web as known to Google) of one-bladed boomerangs, so-called tumblesticks.



3. Would you like to make a boomerang? This book will teach you how to do that. And it tells us plenty about all sorts of boomerangs and how to throw them.
   
   You start with a stick. You round the top side to a roughly convex shape while the bottom remains flat. And you bend the ends slightly towards the convex side. If you do it really well, it may already be a boomerang (called a "tumblestick"). You can try it. But it is better to make two of them and attach them to make a "cross-stick" boomerang. These tend to work very well indeed, unless they get caught in a wind. You can even put three of these sticks together, to get a "pinwheel" boomerang. And Mason describes a bunch of variations on all these designs.
   
   Of the variations, the most interesting are the "boomabirds," which look like birds. There is some fascinating material on how to make them.
   
   The book also includes a section on Australian boomerangs. There are two types. One is called the "return" boomerang. When thrown vertically, it makes an arc and returns (unless it hits something). The other is misleadingly called the "non-return" boomerang. When thrown horizontally, it returns. But when thrown vertically, it just keeps going until it lands. Australian boomerangs are weapons, and birds (which generally do not realize that they need to avoid them) are the prime targets.
   
   I enjoyed reading this book, and I recommend it.



4. I loved this book as a kid so I purchased a copy for my kids.
   Everything you need to know to make boomerangs of all types is covered here. The book does show its age some, as do many Dover reprints (you are unlikley to find the wooden sticks used by service stations for checking gas level anymore... use a thick yardstick instead).



5. This is an excellent introduction to making and throwing boomerangs, but is a little out of date. Unless you want to make a left handed boomerang, this book will show you everything you need. I found the section on tumblesticks especially interesting.

5 comments about The Complete Pinball Book: Collecting the Game and Its History (Schiffer Book for Collectors) (Schiffer Book for Collectors).

1. Muy buen libro sobre pinball. He recordado aquellos pinballs con los que empezé a jugar a principio de los 70.



2. This is a wonderful work of Pinball Book Art. I checked out this book from my local library and it is a must have. The book is heavy and very well made. The photos are very detailed as well. The book takes a certain aspect of the game such as scoring and breaks that parts of the game down, while the next chapter may focus on pinball sound. The book has so much information in it about history, features, and rare pinball features. A book of this size is bound to have a few mistakes and this book has a few small mistakes, but those are very minor and this is a very detailed work and there is no way one man can know it all about pinball. If you enjoy the game of pinball, you need to check out this book. It will not show you how to repair or maintain the game, its focus is history about the game and its evolution over time. I hope you enjoy this book and also keep enjoying playing the wonderful game of pinball.



3. You can't go wrong picking this one up. A must for any pinball enthusiast or beginner.



4. Certainly informative about most pinball machines. My gripe is with a book this big and thick, I should not have been able to find a number of machines not included. Not just any pictures, but no mention what-so-ever. I must say though I was educated much further about pinball machine operations then I was ever aware of prior to looking at this book. Just a little disappointed that some of my favorite machines had no mention. I am a 60's 70's pinball machine lover.



5. This is a great book from start to finish with outstanding photos, interviews and a timeline that brings back many child hood memories.

3 comments about Los Angeles Times Sunday Crossword Omnibus, Volume 4 (LA Times).

1. A must-buy for those who want challenging, clever and sometimes witty crossword puzzles. I'd rate the degree of difficulty as being just below that of The Washington Post. Lots of Hollywood references make it a bit more fun for those who love old movies. I also appreciated the fact that every LA Times puzzle book I've worked to date contains actual words, not misspellings or created ones.



2. I just finished Volume 5(200 puzzles)of the Los Angeles Times puzzle book and got hooked on the author's clues so I wanted more...... I am finding this book to be nearly everything that volume 5 was, except for the paper. This book was done on newsprint paper. I believe the author's had some feedback about this, as the follow-up books are all done in typing paper quality.
   
   Never-the-less, the puzzles are highly enjoyable and the book is certainly worth working.



3. Not as good as some I've had, but all in all pretty good. It has a lot of words I've never heard of, and that always gets me a little frustrated.
   Some of the puzzles are very clever, however.

2 comments about Fantastic Flight.

1. Do you have any idea how much fun paper airplanes are? How much fun they can be? Sure, everybody knows how to make your basic paper rocket. I take my nephew Devon to OMSI (Oregon Museum of Science and Industry) all the time, because I have a good friend who works there and we get in for free. They have this exhibit where kids make paper airplanes and toss them into a wind machine to see how well they fly. I have always failed miserably at this.
   
   Not Anymore.
   
   Devon and I took this book along with us on our last outing to OMSI. Of course, we'd practiced with a lot of the planes in the book. When we got there we weren't only pros, we were ringers. We really impressed the folks.
   
   And we had a lot of fun doing it.
   
   This is a book that cries out to be used and abused with a child. Mine already shows signs of wear as it's made many of the kids on my block happy and made me sort of the local paper rocket mama. My grandad's even made a plane or two (or three or four) from this book. He particularly likes the Looper. Devon's fave is the Dart and I sort of lean to Phoenix Lock, lotta steps in that one, but it's pretty doggone neat.
   
   If you've got a kid in your life between the ages of two to ninety-two, then this is the book for you.
   
   Oh yes, you might also want to check out John Collins first paper airplane book The Gliding Flight, too.
   
   Review submitted by Captain Katie Osborne



2. I've had The Gliding Flight since I was young, so when I found out that the author had a second book of paper airplanes, I bought it immediately.
   
   Fantastic Flight doesn't quite contain as many consistently unique and quality planes of The Gliding Flight, it makes up for it with its stellar planes, my favorite being the Super Canard, which never fails to wow with its looks and its flight.
   
   Definitely worth buying.

No comments about Wrapped in Crochet: Scarves, Wraps, & Shawls.

5 comments about Encylopaedia of Card Tricks.

1. The cardtricks book is well written and PACKED with card tricks - more than you could deal with in a lifetime. Hugard has written many books on the subject and you can't go wrong. Another online resource I found and loved is http://www.ellusionist.com - amazing site with card trick movies and a bunch of cool stuff.



2. This book is great in its completeness and organization. It walks you through most of the card tricks. This book is not geared toward beginners or younger audiences. If you are a visual learner this book is not for you. There are very few pictures and diagrams so you will have to use your imagination at times to visualize what the trick is supposed to look like based on the descriptions.



3. The title of the book gives a good idea of what is in store. Primarily an information source of magic card tricks.
   
   Light on useable information so far as performing is concerned, yet good for the historian.
   
   Then again, most magicians are weak performers and strong on history, so this book will be a treat.



4. Some people cook by recipe, others "by ear," so to speak. I do magic by ear. That is, I look for ideas, and then usually tweak things to fit what I think makes sense.
   
   This is a tremendous book for ideas! Lots and lots and lots of them.
   
   So for a "give me an idea I can run with" person, I think this book is just great. For someone looking more for a step-by-step recipe, this probably isn't the book for you.



5. Ordered this book as a gift for my husband. He's new to card tricks. While he didn't find the entire book useful, he did find a lot of interesting/entertaining tricks to work on.
   
   Overall 4 stars because it helped him learn some new tricks but didn't keep him occupied for more than 2 weeks :).

5 comments about The Power of Early Speed (Elements of Handicapping).

1. I agree that early speed is important in horse racing and in particular horse racing on dirt. Klein Speed Points and Klein Track Bias Numbers as mentioned in this book give the horse racing fans some kinds of objective measurement and idea on how the speed of a race will look like and the likelihood that a horse will perform better because of the favourable change in the pace of a race as well as track bias. However, the author of this book does not explain how the formulas used to derive Klein Speed Points and Klein Trace Bias Numbers are created.
   
   Once again, I would like to stress that just knowing early speed is not enough. This is only one part of horse racing. Moreover, if everyone focuses on early speed evaluation, the inefficieny in the "horse racing market" will disappear and the profit will also disappear.
   
   This book is OK to read, but as an experienced horse racing fans who have read many books on handicapping I found no surprise in this book.



2. I liked the book mostly for the Klein speed figures, I have applied them with some success. I was disappointed though when I figured out that it was pretty uneccessary to figure them myself, TVG for example has speed figures that almost exactly mirror what I came up with using the formula from the book. But it did give me a new respect for early speed that I will continue to use in my handicapping.



3. The title says it all in that early speed is the ultimate bias. It's like in the movie Top Gun where Tom Cruise says "I feel the need, the need for speed." The stats of the sucess of early speed don't lie, & this book presents an interesting way of compiling them with an emphasis that includes field size. And a large part of the book presents charts on trainers, jockeys, etc. But concentrating on the 1st call only without the all important 2nd call & no use of fractions means that this work as providing raw numbers is only a starting point for further research. The books of Ainslie, Beyer, Davidowitz & Brohammer should be studied first, as while this effort presents a formula for early speed points, the best system is that one that compiles information & experiances using the most complex computer, the one above the shoulders.



4. I can only half-finished but will not continue the book. If the people believe or love statistic records, the book is for them. Half of the book is stats records for USA dirt track ( unfortunately I am living in Australia ). I cannot enjoy the book.



5. Horseplayers have always known that, all things being equal, the horse that takes the early lead has the best chance to win the race. In "The Power of Early Speed," veteran handicapper and columnist Steve Klein shares a formula for identifying horses most likely to take the lead at the first call. Klein also explains how to use the formula to uncover horses who are good bets to win on the front end at long odds, taking into account field size, jockey and trainer tendencies, track biases and other factors. "The Power of Early Speed" is an excellent analysis of the inherent advantage of early speed (calculated by Klein using a massive sample of horses and races) and the best ways to exploit that advantage. [...]

5 comments about Pot-Limit & No-Limit Poker.

1. A clear guide to the differences in situational strategies between Pot Limit and No Limit. A definate must for the serious poker player.



2. I have read alot of poker books and this is in the bottom (of the ones I have read). It is to shallow and doesn't give you much of the practical information that other books do better. My two favorite authors on limit hold'em are Bob Ciaffone and David Sklansky (You should read the most of their material if you want to improve your limit poker, especially Ciaffones "Middle limit holdem poker" and Sklanskys "Theory of poker", "Hold'em for advanced players".). In the No Limit area I would rather recommend Doyle Brunson "Super system" and Dan Harrington books on tournaments. In the end Bob Ciaffones book "Improve your poker" is better then this one (cover the same thing but deeper), atleast if your intressted in Holdem only.



3. Stewart Reuben presents an expert's analysis of a series of about 50 omaha hands that he was involved over the past few years mostly in London poker rooms. He is clearly an expert's expert and I got much useful information. The author is clearly very aggressive in terms of his starting hands and players new to the game might do well not to emulate this tendency and just rely on better starting hands. My only qualm about the book is the layout of the problems/answers as I had to page back and forth more than I would have liked. All in all, I liked the book and found it somewhat more useful the McEvoy/Cloutier book which basically teaches, 'Only play great starting hands and wait for the nuts'.
   
   Whoops, even though I have the Reuben/Ciaffone book on Omaha , the above review applies to Stewart Reuben's, 'How Good is Your Pot Limit Omaha ?" Sorry



4. There's a lot of good, practical advice in this book. It's true that some of the sections cover games that you're unlikely to play today, but there's still solid thinking that you can apply to other poker formats. Moreover, the information density of this book is very high. If they expanded it with graphical depictions of cards and tables and repetitive bits of algebra (e.g., No Limit Hold 'em: Theory and Practice), then the no-limit hold'em section would easily fill two volumes.
   
   The discussion of position (absolute and relative to the raiser) is top notch. They introduce the 5/10 rule for implied odds decisions, which again is excellent, practical stuff.
   
   This is the book to take an intermediate player to the next level.



5. Since I am giving this book such a high rating, I will start out with the criticisms that I think are somewhat justified. After each criticism, I will explain why I think the book is still extremely worthwhile.
   
   1: The book does not concentrate on NLHE. This is very true and it would seem to be a cogent criticism. When I started to play in casinos, the only big-bet game at Foxwoods was an occasional five-dollar blnds pot-limit HE game. Now the lists are long for NLHE at four different levels and there is no pot-limit anything. So the sections of the book on other games and on pot-limit would seem to be wasted.
   
   The bare fact here cannot be denied but there are good reasons to understand the other games and the other betting structures. Poker games have continually gone in and out of fashion. While I think NLHE will be a very important game for a long time, I don't think people are well-advised to be so narrow in focus that they cannot adapt. Pot-limit Holdem is a useful game to understand but you probably won't get much opportunity to play it. Pot-Limit Omaha is an extremely popular game. Some think it is the wave of the future. Even if you don't agree, and I don't, there will probably BE a wave of the future and it is good to be adaptable. The sections on NL Draw and Lowball, PL stud and, shudder, London Lowball all have worthwhile analysis of poker situations that can come up in any game. I won a lot of money in NL Draw and Lowball at one time and any reader of this book will have a major advantage if someone decides to call one of these variations in a dealer's choice game. In fact, given the massive dealer advantage of draw games, there is no reason to call anything else when you deal.
   
   And it is fun to read about London Lowball, even if you would never want to play it. For the same reason that horror movies can be fun, even if you never want to be IN one.
   
   2:The sections on NL are somewhat dated. This is mainly true because Reuben and Ciaffone have probably never played in game where there was a one hundred big-blind limit on the buyin. Such games are very common on the internet and were very common in casinos until recently. The do require somewhat different strategies. In fact, they require very restricted and unimaginative play.
   
   Fortunately, most casinos have raised the buy-in limits somewhat.In deep buy-in games or in games where you and some of the other players have won enough to play deep-stack all streets poker, the advice from this book will aid you well.
   
   3: They advise getting all your chips in on a draw.
   
   Well, they do, under certain conditions. In fact, this is going to be right under those conditions and profitable in two ways. If you push your twelve out (flush and a gutshot or similar) draws very hard, you will win about half the time when there is a showdown. Because your opponent will fold sometimes under the pressure, you make money playing this hand that way. When you have fifteen outs or more, you are a favorite when it goes to a showdown.
   
   Also, once you have been seen to play a hand this way, you never have to slowplay a flopped set or even a straight or flush. You get paid every time.
   
   4: Some peole don't like the style and organization.
   
   This one I can't refute. I don't agree with it but that is a matter of taste and of what helps you learn. I even agree that it is not laid out in the style of a textbook. I just don't find it that important.

No comments about Clown Cats Stickers (Dover Little Activity Books).