1 comments about Bridge Basics 3: Popular Conventions (The Official Better Bridge Series).

1. Item not delivered
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5 comments about Chess Tactics for Champions: A step-by-step guide to using tactics and combinations the Polgar way (Chess).

1. This book is perfect, with lots of excercises and lots of important tactics discussed and overviewed. An exceptional piece of work!!!



2. Susan Polgar's book intrigued me from the start as it focused rather like her father's book on prolems and working to figure out what your first move. The only drawback is that it is heavily influenced towards the White pieces. Overall, though, Polgar's book really helps you develop an idea of playing 'for the future and not just for the now' (i.e. you need to play smarter and not just better).
   
   The idea is also to develop the ideas about looking 2-3-4 moves ahead and that will benefit all players enormously!



3. This book has a perfect combination of variety and quantity. Problems are broken down by type. Each type is introduced and explained step by step, then 50 or 100 practice problems of that type are provided for drill. The solutions are at the back of each section. There are separate sections for Mates in 1, 2, 3, and even 4 moves, as well as pins, discoveries, double attacks, etc... I have her father's massive collection of mate problems. This book is less overwhelming and will be approachable to a wider audience.



4. This is another excellent book by Susan Polgar. Her first book is similar to this one, but with the major difference being the difficulty of the chess puzzles. The first book was elementary compared to this one. This book really tested my skills and eyes for the correct move. It basically deals with developing the art of seeing the tactic or creating the winning move with little instruction. The chess puzzles help the speed player. This book is great practice in using the art of tactics. It has helped my play by supporting wins over a high 1400, 1500, 1600 this week. An excellent book for the intermediate player.



5. This is an incredible chess book!!! You want to improve your chess?? Read this book and solve the puzzles, but solve them seriously! Dont look for the answer at the end of the chapter, some of them are not easy, but keep practicing, every day solve some puzzles, you will not notice your improvement while you are reading but after some chapters if you play against your friends again, you will see it and they too!! In less than two months practicing you will see results!!
   
   This book start from easy problems, you will solve them easily, next chapter you will think "Oh c'mon give something better than this!!", but after a few chapters you will be playing much better and solving puzzles that never before you could solve... in just seconds!!.
   
   I play against my computer and also online in yahoo chess, my rating usually is around 1400 to 1500, and never more than that. This night I just beat a 1600 guy!. He couldnt see what I could!! Even I offer him a queen sacrifice!! (unfortunally he didnt take it because it was mate, but he lost a knight instead!:)
   
   Amazing book!! Thanks Susan!! I will buy all the Polgar family books!!!
   Here are some of them:
   A World Champion's Guide to Chess: Step-by-step instructions for winning chess the Polgar way (Chess) and
   Chess: 5334 Problems, Combinations and Games
   
   Some Advices from just a (still) regular player:
   1. When you find a puzzle that you cant solve after 15/20 minutes thinking, just leave it and go to the next one, dont look for the answer!. Later, next day or next week try again and you will find the right move for sure!
   2. May be I shouldnt say this, but just in case... dont be tricky with yourself! Make the moves in your mind, do NOT touch the pieces until you find the moves just thinking. If you dont do this, the excercise will be useless for you and a waste of time because you will not improve your game doing this.

No comments about Defense in the 21st Century, 2nd Edition: The Heart Series (Acbl Bridge Series).

5 comments about Aranzi Aronzo Cute Dolls (Let's Make Cute Stuff).

1. In "The Cute Book", readers were treated to patterns for making small felt versions of many of the Aranzi Aronzo characters (if you aren't familiar with the Aranzi Aronzo characters, check out the Aronzo website, '[...] - they're sort of like the Sanrio/Hello Kitty characters, only with more personality). "Cute Dolls" is another book of patterns for making Aronzo character dolls (18 patterns in total), but this time, the patterns are for full sized (8 - 12 inch) dolls, most of which are made from jersey cloth (t-shirt fabric).
   
   As with "The Cute Book", the patterns are very easy to follow. The instructions are fully illustrated, making it so that you don't even need to read the words in order to make these dolls. The book is beautifully presented, with colour photographs throughout and the captions on each of the pictures are hilarious (for example "Make us cute or we'll be angry!").
   
   This is the second book in the Aranzi Aronzo "Let's Make Cute Stuff" series. People who enjoy this book should also consider purchasing the other books in this series: "The Cute Book", "Fun Dolls" and "Cute Stuff".



2. I have really enjoyed looking this book over, and have chosen more than one pattern to try. the patterns and directions are clear and concise.



3. This is a fabulous book for making cute two-dimensional dolls! Since the recommended fabric for these dolls is jersey knit- I use old t-shirts to make them! Recycling and crafting all in one! Most of the patterns in this book are recommended to enlarge on a photocopier- or you can make smaller versions without enlarging. These dolls are great to hand sew- making it a great little craft for all ages!



4. This is the first doll book I've been interested in. The instructions are funny, simple and easy to follow. I've made the spacey bear and the panda and both are just adorable. Planning on making them all! I wish the full size patterns were included (you have to use a copy machine to enlarge some of them). Happy crafting.



5. I bought the Cute Book and loved it so I decided to buy this one as well. Same characters and a few new ones only bigger. Great instructions and photos. Any one who loves to make cute thing will love this book.

5 comments about Return to Elm Creek: More Quilt Projects Inspired by the Elm Creek Quilts Novels.

1. Book gives insight to blocks that were relevant to that era as well as those still loved today.



2. I especially enjoyed memories of the delightful Elm Creek books intermixed with the patterns for the quilts from those books! It was like enjoying the stories all over again.



3. If you've read the novels you will find this book of special interest. It shows examples and gives instructions for some of the mentioned quilts. If you are a quilter you will have been looking forward to this book. Hapy Quilting!!!



4. I have enjoyed immensely Return to Elm Creek quilt patterns. This has answered many questions from reading the series of books. Being able to comprehend the amount of time AND talent involved by many of these women from 100+ years ago is overwhelming at times. I am enjoying work on Sylvia's Bridal Sampler.



5. After reading the Elm Creek Stories. I have been inspired to start a quilt. All I need is the time. The Projects are as intricate or simple as you would what them. I think I well pick simple to Medium and chose my own colors.The Quilter's Homecoming: An Elm Creek Quilts NovelThe Quilter's Legacy: An Elm Creek Quilts NovelAn Elm Creek Quilts Sampler: The First Three Novels in the Popular Series (Elm Creek Quilters Novels)

No comments about The Original Sudoku Page-A-Day Calendar 2009 (Page a Day Fun & Games Calendr).

5 comments about Secrets of Professional Pot-Limit Omaha.

1. If you buy into cash games for the minimum and want to reduce your risk, while raking in large pots, this book is for you. Rolf has written a unique approach that is really quite informative. It takes a real commitment to his strategy for it to work, but in the long run I am sure it works well. Even if you don't use this specific strategy, the book is worth it because it covers a lot of groundbreaking areas that other Omaha books haven't touched and it is well written. I haven't pulled the trigger yet on his strategy, but I learned a lot about the reasons behind a successful Omaha strategy. Well done Rolf.



2. A fresh view on pot-limit omaha, a must read for everyone seriously interested in the game. Helps you understand the strategy of shortstack play perfectly.



3. Ok folks, up front this is not a how to book. Actually there is very little information in this book about starting hands, semi bluffing ect. This book is more about Power Plays. It is about using betting to lure in the action, controlling the pot, and most of all: understanding a great players use of logic rather than pure aggression. Rolf goes through hand scenerios that he has been in, in specific types of games.
   
   For Example: He tells of his time playing in a loose aggressive game in Vienna and how he was able to develop a systematic approach in beating this particular game. P.S. It is fascinating to read.
   
   His style is very erradic but once you read a few of his "Tales from the Felt" (as I call it) you begin to comprehend why he plays these hands a certain way in one game and completely different in another type of game.
   
   If you are an intermediate player I would still say you should read: Jeff Hwangs, Pot Limit Omaha book first and then read this one. Because the concepts in this book are advanced and you must have a clear understanding of the game to fully grasp the ideas and plays in this book. If you don't you will loose alot of money attempting these Power Plays.
   
   On a Personal Note:
   
   I play Omaha hi/lo Ring Games at my local casino and there are moments when I can understand these plays and incorporate them into my game and they have helped me get that extra value for my hand that I could not get before.
   
   Hope this helps!
   
   - George Johnson



4. Having read these reviews, I thought I'd better give my sad opinion too, since most of the reviews miss the biggest point.
   
   Unless you are an advanced Omaha player, this book is not for you. If you don't have an exceptional understanding of the game, the stuff Rolf writes will go right over your head. God help you (and your bankroll) if you try using it in money games.
   
   One reviewer is right in saying to read Hwang first. Ciaffone would be another good choice.



5. If you are looking to learn PLO, this, Hwang, and Ciaffone are the standards.
   
   The only thing I dislike about any of these books is that they tend to show you the easy hands - you play good cards, you get hit in the face by the flop, and then they explain what to do from there, which is fairly obvious.
   
   They don't go into as much detail about what to do for what you really spend the bulk of your time doing, and that is getting cards that aren't that great, or whiffing on flops - because that is what is hard and requires thought and separates the beginners from the rest.
   
   These books are all for beginners and basically tell you what you need to know to minimize the hard decisions and minimize your losses.
   They also discuss a fairly tight strategy that is largely specific to full ring games and live. In that there are very few full ring games online, compared to the shorthanded 6max games that are becoming the standard for PLO regulars online.
   
   Of the standards, Slotboom's is probably the best in terms of the next level discussion, but even then it is a lot of him talking about hands he played - but he does show a lot of the thought that goes behind it and it is a good book.

5 comments about Final Fantasy X-2 Official Strategy Guide.

1. I was very pleased with the speed in which my game guides came in. They were perfect when they arrived and I was very excited to start using them.



2. This strategy Guide is very very resourceful full of information and its awesome! Tells you where everything is and how to get there. If you wanna complete the game with 100% this strategy guide book is here for you!
   
   Cody Collum



3. My purchasing experience was excellent and my daughter was very impressed with this item as a gift. It was received timely and in excellent condition.



4. Nearly all the way through the game and a 100% completion in one run. Without a guide like this I don't see how anyone could get 100% even after several times through the game.



5. The shipping was fast and the product arrived in lovely condition. However the book itself was poorly written, and if you're buying this I STRONGLY recommend reading the mini games section first as the only way to see the entire ending of the game is if you complete some of these things, a fact which is not mentioned until well AFTER you're 1/4 of the way through the book itself. I was very satisfied with the purchase, but as most of you know FF isn't a short wham-bam game and it was horribly disappointing that after getting 15-16 hours in we realized we'd be watching the end of the game on youtube anyways =p Also, there were still parts that were explained in such uncertain terms we ended up using the internet to find the answers anyways. A die hard FF fan....I was extremely disappointed in Dan Birlew's product this time.

5 comments about The Structure of Magic II: A Book About Communication and Change (Book 2).

1. This series is for the serious in depth learner and student of NLP. These are not self help books for the casual reader they are the kind of book most of us read a chapter of and then have to digest, read again, as these are text books..real text books.
   
   That said, if you want to really understand communication then you want to read them, these boys are the big guns. You want to sell more real estate, read Tony Robbins, you want to be a great therapist, start here.



2. Though not an ease read, The Structure of Magic II as well as The Sturcture of Magic I are a must read for anyone interested in the healing magic that is done by therapists. This book takes the foundation created in book I and demonstrates how it is used in therapy. Bandler and Grinder have truly studied the masters of therapy and added their own unique and brilliant skills to create a very useful guide to doing therapy.



3. If you are interested in knowing how psychiatrists effect life altering change, then this book is for you. As you may know, the authors modeled the life altering strategies of successful psychiatrists, such as Milton Erickson, Fritz Perls, and Virginia Satir. These models became the basis of what we now know as nlp.
   
   I was rather intrigued, when reading this book to notice a strategy of Virginia Satir. In one of her dialogues with a patient, when the patient explains a perceived issue with another person, she repeatedly challenges his thinking by asking 'Are you a mind reader?'
   
   I now ask myself the same question on a regular basis. Sometimes, I ask other people that question too. If you think about it, that is a very good perception changing question unless, of course, you are a mind reader.
   
   Another book I recommend in this field is Mind Lines by L Michael Hall, which has an extensive list of change patterns, and My voice will go with you, which is a book of the therapeutic teaching tales of Milton Erickson.
   
   If you were to find this review helpful, please click yes.



4. I found this book even more difficult than the already challenging "Structure of Magic" but that's not necessarily a bad thing. The detail and precision that is gone into describing the unlimited power of words and communication is just what is needed in the wishy-washy world of self-help. Consider it more of a text book than a fun/easy read like Tony Robbins, and definitely start with "Structure of Magic" before going into this one.



5. This book is the book that when wanting to learn about NLP this is the text book to learn. If you have never done anything in NLP I suggest that you take some lighter material about the topic before you pick up this book. This book is in depth and the heart of NLP. Get the first volume too, as this one covers more on the first volume.

5 comments about 100 Samurai Sudoku Puzzles.

1. A "samurai" sudoku puzzle consists of a central sudoku with its corners joining it to four additional sudokus, as shown in the cover illustration, a construction which can provide additional fun for the mid-level sudoku addict. The objective is to solve all five overlapping puzzles. In the more difficult puzzles, none of the corner puzzles can be solved in their entirety until additional information is provided as a result of solving part of the central sudoku, and that, in turn, depends on information from all four corner puzzles.
   
   In the early puzzles, the corner sudokus can be done in their entirety, before solving the central puzzle, and occasionally a central puzzle can be completed before the corners are completely filled, making these puzzles fairly easy. The options for a given box within a square are usually limited to pairs of numbers, reducing the challenges. By puzzle #7, however, the author introduces three options per box and the puzzles begin to be more time-consuming and difficult.
   
   As is sometimes the case with regular sudoku puzzles, however, it is occasionally possible to have more than one correct solution to a single sudoku puzzle. When this happens in a corner sudoku, it can prevent the whole samurai puzzle from being solved. Sometimes it is simply the reversal of a couple of numbers which causes the problem. Though the individual sudoku puzzle can be solved without any "errors," this alternative, "correct" solution is wrong in the overall scheme of the whole samurai puzzle. Puzzle addicts may be hard pressed to figure out how to avoid this problem, even when warned that all puzzles should be done in tandem and not separately.
   
   I found nine occasions in which individual sudoku puzzles within the samurai puzzle had more than one solution--puzzles 12, 38, 46, 55, 65, 78, 79, 88, and 89. This was particularly frustrating in the more difficult and more time-consuming puzzles. The remaining 91 puzzles were clever and fun to do, however, and I've already bought, and look forward to doing, the next book in this series. Mary Whipple



2. I bought this as a gift for a family member. They love Sudoku but wanted something a bit more challenging. If this sounds like you then you will love this book. Samurai sodoku books were not carried in the local bookstores. It was a great find and a very well received gift.



3. Peter Greene's samurai sudoku puzzles are great! Every puzzle is symmetrical and pleasing to the senses. The page size is comfortable for working the large puzzles and the paper is a good for the inevitable erasures. Very few of the puzzles leave you with several sets of pairs, which result in having to guess and check. (I dislike puzzles that leave you guessing; I want to use logic and not do tons of erasing.) I couldn't wait for volume 2 to come out!



4. The way they have it set up, it's really hard to differentiate between the middle and the end sections. Also, the print is very small so if you have trouble seeing this is no the sudoku book for you. Also, I was expecting a challenge but finished the hardest puzzles in the book very quickly. Good for beginners, but not someone who's already gone through another Samurai Sudoku book.



5. Excellent Book for beginner/intermediate puzzle solver. Challenging! Easy to start with and draws you into it's web.