5 comments about Get the Edge at Craps (Scoblete Get-the-Edge Guide).

1. The insular world of "dice control" is divided into several bitterly opposed camps. Who knows what they disagree with each other about, but believe me, you don't want to get into the middle of it. This offering by the "Sharpshooter" comes from the Scoblete camp. I enjoyed the book. I found it to be a good overall introduction to dice-setting and so-called rhythmic rolling. Recommended.



2. The book is just bragging about his ability and trying to convince you to take the seminar to actually learn "the secrets". Don't waste your money.



3. This book is alright and teaches what you want to know but I recommend "Golden Touch Dice Control" over this one. They basically talk about all the same information except this book goes into more detail about math formulas which I really don't care about, I just want to learn how to throw the dice.
   
   Also I don't recommend getting both books, pick one or the other as they contain basically identical information.
   
   Just one is written by the best out there and this one is written by the guy that proved it all. I thought I'd prefer this book over the other one for that reason but in the end I liked Golden Touch better.



4. This is a fantastic learning tool for vocabulary, odds, percentages, setting the dice, gripping the dice, throwing the dice and betting strategies.



5. Great from basic rules to detailed strategy...will be a resource that you will circle back to over time

5 comments about Metroid Prime 3: Corruption: Prima Official Game Guide (Prima Official Game Guides) (Prima Official Game Guides) (Prima Official Game Guides).

1. I have all the Metroid Prime games.They get better with each new game. But they are hard for me, I'm 74 and compete with my grandsons. Wayne



2. All the Metroid games are great and this is the best out of all of them.
   I have really enjoyed it. The control with the Wii controllers makes it even better.



3. I haven't got in the need to use this guide as much as I thought, which is good, but in some parts of the game it was really useful. The presentation is amazing and the art in it is worth the price of the guide.



4. Its a really complete step by step guide including ALL screens of the full path to get this game finished with all possible credits. It's AMAZING. No way to get lost in this game using this book. It's like a person who has already finished that game showing you all the solutions for this puzzle.



5. Metroid Prime 3: Corruption was a fantastic Wii title. It contained a wonderful universe to explore and an innovative control scheme that feels comfortable. The bar was raised a little higher for the author of the strategy game. I'm pleased to see that David Knight met the bar, and exceeded.
   
   PROS
   
   + It has an outstanding overall appearance and design.
   + It is thorough and presents an easy strategy to collect 100% on.
   + The boss strategies are thorough.
   + It contains all item locations
   + The maps are beautiful, have great keys and are easy to follow.
   
   CONS
   
   - The appendices don't contain enough information, and are tad bit confusing.
   - The scan appendix has the scans in order of appearance, but not in the same order the game has them in (alphabetical) making you do a bit more searching.
   - Not enough little tricks and tips, and no Hyper difficulty tips.
   
   APPEARANCE - A
   
   The guide itself looks fantastic. The cover has a wonderful shine and texture. The overall design of the guide is beautiful, and matches the game very well. The maps also look wonderful.
   
   STRATEGY - A-
   
   The strategy is wonderful and actually tells you how to obtain 100% through the game. The Notes and Item boxes are great, and it divides each section for you to follow easily. The boss strategies are great, but they don't really have the small tricks and tips that make them so much easier. There aren't any tips for Hyper difficulty.
   
   APPENDICES, CONTROLS AND CONTENTS - B
   
   The table of contents are clear and well divided. The controls are thorough and teach well. The real problem lies in the Appendix section. It is a good appendix, but it's also confusing. The order of the scans are out of order from the in-game's list of scans. If you are missing scans in the game, you have to actually read through your scans and find the one you are missing. The Pickups section also has all of the different pickup types compiled together. It would be nicer if the Energy Tanks, Missile Expansions and Energy Cells were in separate lists. It is still a nice deep appendix through.
   
   OVERALL - A-
   
   This is one of the best game guides I own. I'm a bit harsh sometimes when it comes to reviews, so an A- is a great rating. It is highly recommended that you get this guide if you own the game. Even if you've beaten the game, and know it inside and out, the guide is still a blast to look through.

5 comments about Winning in Tough Hold 'em Games: Short-Handed and High-Stakes Concepts and Theory for Limit Hold 'em.

1. I bought this book because I liked the fact there were tables to help me understand the game. I ended up returning it because it was so was jargon filled as to be unreadable for me as a less than expert player. The tables didn't appear to have column explanations.
   
   If you're a novice Texas Hold'em player (I consider myself above novice but certainly not experienced) you likely won't benefit from this book. If you're an expert player I'll defer to the other expert reviewers for their review of the book.



2. This is a great book by one of the greatest and most successful online cash game players in the world- Nick "Stoxtrader" Grudzien (and of course his collaborator Geoff "Zobags" Herzog). If there is one person in the poker world that you could make a case for accepting his word as gospel then Stox would be it. You can count on what this guy has to say as being factual and accurate. This is not some armchair theoritician who played a bit of 10/20 in soft live games and is now banging out a book to make a quick buck. This is a guy that has played in the toughest, highest stakes online poker games in the world and won- big time- for a long time.
   
   This is a book for advanced players who play in tough games against other good, thinking players. It is not about how to beat bad players in loose games so if that is the type of game you play, get Small stakes hold 'em by Ed Miller & co. This text covers multiple facets of the shorthanded high stakes online limit games and it's scope and content is far too deep to be expounded on in any great depth in a simple, two paragraph book review. I'll just say that it is a brilliant piece of work by one of the greatest poker players of the modern era and it's importance definitely cannot be overstated. I guess you could say that this book is the real "Hold 'em for advanced players" now.
   
   Five stars and a glowing recommendation.



3. This is a good, useful book for advanced higher stakes limit players who already win and are looking to improve their bottom line. The content is excellent, but the presentation is lacking in some ways. As others have pointed out, this is seriously NOT a beginner's book. The authors clearly assume that their audience is as described in the first sentence of this review. Look elsewhere for beginner books. For materials on the fundamentals of limit hold'em, I recommend the books by David Sklansky, or to a lesser extent, Lee Jones. Those books don't really address much short handed play, however, so once the fundamentals are in place, if one is interested in the much more fun short handed game, one should read the book by Borer, Mak, and Tanenbaum. Once one understands all of that, it's time for this book!



4. This is an unusual book, to say the least. Every detail of how to handle tough, short handed play is in here. The weakness is in the editing, layout and just general usability of the text. This would easily be a five star text with only a little bit of work. Large portions of this book consist of spreadsheets showing performance of certain plays under various conditions. The tables are staggering in their size. There are roughly 70 pages of spreadsheet tables with hundreds of cells apiece. While this is a scholarly work, the editors could have insisted in summations of the spreadsheets using graphs or charts and then put the tables in an appendix. It would have added greatly to the readability. Also, it would have been helpful if they had included a CD ROM with the tables in spreadsheet form for the rest of us to sort through.
   
   This is a good book though. If you're willing to take some time to sort out the logic of the tables (here I'm talking spreadsheet tables, not playing tables) then the book is worth every penny. But don't go charging into this text expecting an easy read. This is a book for those serious enough to put extra effort into digging, reading and re-reading. The plus side is - you can rest assured these guys have done their homework.



5. I had high expectations for 'Winning in Tough Hold 'em Games: Short-Handed and High-Stakes Concepts and Theory for Limit Hold 'em' but after reading this book I was very disappointed. Authored by 2 very successful online (mainly limit) players, I expected to see great writing, analysis, hand inspection, the whole shebang. What I got was a half-hearted, borderline result that I quickly shelved. I don't doubt "Stoxtrader" and "Zobags" being successful players (not one bit) but I just was never sucked in to their book like I have with many other poker books like the Harrington NL tournament series or Small Stakes Hold 'em by Malmuth and Miller.
   
   The major problem with this book is that there is simply too much time wasted on charts. The charts provided show the results of each hand that can possibly be played for a full ring player, 6max player, etc. It's interesting to see the results but not much is going to be learned from them. Obviously the better hands (it's expected that the reader have a basic knowledge of limit before reading this text) are going to win more, and this is the same for short handed or full ring play. Of the 300+ pages, about 50 pages or so are just charts. They add something to the book but not nearly enough to warrant so much page real estate.
   
   Content is alright but I don't feel that I learned much overall. The authors advise a more daring style for the higher limit games with more bluffs and making river calls without even pairs (as an example). You do have to adapt to win at the nosebleed stakes but the type of analysis here didn't add much to my repertoire.
   
   The thing that I was most interested in was the hand analysis and quizzes section and I was not pleased with what was there. The writing just didn't get me excited to go to the next hand like I felt with the Harrington books, itching to read the next analysis. Too many hands are just marginal holdings or non-holdings and I wonder how realistic this is. Of course I don't play at the highest stakes so maybe pushing with air or practically air is the norm but I felt that this wasn't the greatest effort.
   
   There's no 2 1/2 star for this book so I tend towards the bottom scale as I was not happy with the end result. Most 2+2 books are fantastic but this doesn't get my stamp of approval. I feel that there are other limit books that handle 90-95% of the market for readers who need such books. For the other 5-10% the advanced concepts discussed are a subset in themselves and I feel hard to document.
   
   **

5 comments about Games Magazine Presents Paint by Numbers (The Unique Geometric Logic Puzzles for Ages 14 to Adult).

1. I just recently became interested in Paint by Numbers puzzles and one of my professors recommended Games Magazine. This book is helpful because it explains how to solve a Paint by Numbers puzzles. You can start off with simple puzzles and work your way up to harder puzzles in the book. The only complaint I have is that it would be easier to work on the puzzles if it were spiral-bound.



2. This book is just a slapdash reprinting of Japanese book. The images in half the puzzles are of Japanese characters and references that most Americans would be unfamiliar with. Also, there are no special puzzles, such as the ones where you'd use two different colors of ink, for example.



3. Like Games magazine, there are hours of pleasure to be found in doing these puzzles. If you are a sudoku fan, try these art/logic puzzles.



4. I worked four copies of this book before I was aware of other books of this type. I really enjoyed the art work in this book.



5. I bought this book from the advertisement in Games magazine (the best). I am a huge fan of paint by numbers. I've completed every single one Games magazine has ever published (and most of World of Puzzles) for the last 2 decades. I was disapointed for 3 reasons: 1) the squares are too big. This takes way too much lead. This may also have something to do with the paper. 2) Most pictures are un-interesting. They are choppy (also due to the big squares), and many are symbols from Japan and are unfamiliar to an American. 3) Several are impossible to decipher after they're solved; I had to look up the solution just for the title to tell what the heck I was looking at. The bigger ones are much better, but you have to go through 85 of them before you get to them.

5 comments about Theory of Blackjack, Sixth Edition.

1. I ran across this book many years ago in a used bookstore (mine was the 2nd edition). I must say this book changed my opinion of books about gambling books. Up to that point, all the gambling books I've come across were laughable. But this book was startlingly different. It thoroughly explains the mathematics behind basic strategy and card counting techniques in a way that really made sense.

   This may sound too advanced for many folks, but frankly the math is fairly easy to understand (it mostly uses basic statistics that you probably learned and forgot in high school).

   If you are serious about card counting, the information in this book will help you evaluate BJ counting systems (or even systems you invent). It will also help you subtly modify your play for changes in rules at different casinos.

   Do you need to be a computer programmer to use this book? No, but it wouldn't hurt. Is this book useful for writing BJ simulators? Yes, but it's also great for really understanding what it takes to be a really good card counter.

   Personally, this book convinced me that I don't have the patience (or time) to become a good card counter. But at least now I know why.




2. THIS IS A GREAT BOOK FOR THE CASINO PROFESSIONAL.



3. Although this is a great book you really need to know what it is and what it IS NOT!
   It is not an introduction to blackjack. It's assumed you already know how to play the game.
   It is not an introduction to card counting. The author assumes you already know a card counting system, or at least have a basic understanding of what one entails.
   It is PROBABLY not going to make you a better player. It's not really a "how to" guide for the game as much as it's a guide to show you how to effectively ANALYZE the game.
   
   As the title suggests this book is a fairly comprehensive review of the theory of blackjack. While a traditional counting book will tell you the HOW of card counting, this book will show you WHY it works, how card counting systems are derived, how to compare the power of different card counting systems (the so-called "efficiences") and contrast them to an (linearly) ideal system. You will also learn how to calculate exact probabilities (well, really how to write a program to do this) that could be used to determine the values (in terms of expected return) of different hands or to design a tool that will give you the optimal play in any situation that may arrise in blackjack. This tool isn't to be confused with "basic strategy", which only gives you the optimal play off the top of a freshly shuffled shoe.
   
   This book is ideal for someone who is comfortable with playing blackjack in a casino environment, has a basic understanding of the difficulties faced by card counters, and is comfortable with mathematical formulas and their derivations (although a lot of concepts can be understood without a strong background in math, you'll get a lot more out of the book if you can follow its derivations). After reading it you should be in a position where you COULD develop your own card counting system, calculate expected values (essentially probabilities) for given hands and given plays, and have the satisfaction of knowing that you have a better understanding of the inner workings of blackjack than 99% of the people who play the game!



4. The theories in this book are rock solid, but unless you have a degree in mathematics, it will be a very tough read. There are lots of complex theories and equations that the everyday Joe might have a problem following.
   Also, this book mostly covers 1 deck blackjack which is not played in any casino in the world these days. Most casinos use 6-8 decks, but the theoretical aspect of the book holds true regardless on how many decks are used.



5. Who knew a mathematician could be so funny? In this well written, enormously entertaining and enlightening book, the late Peter Griffin tackles the questions of why blackjack can be beaten and what kind of edges players can get using a count system. There are some interesting revelations in the book, too. I would recommend that players with some experience of the game are the best audience for the book, and the truly best audience are those players who have mastered a card counting system and have enjoyed/suffered the slings and arrows of being an advantage player. This book clearly explains why blackjack is a roller coaster.
   
   I think this is one of the must-read blackjack books of all time.
   
   Frank Scoblete: Author of Golden Touch Dice Control Revolution!

5 comments about GURPS Basic Set: Campaigns (4th Edition).

1. 
   The "Gurps 4th Edition" just fixed all "Gurps 3rd Edition" weakness. The two books are so great. The color and hardcover look and feel are some big diference between the books and the the old versions.
   
   The bad comercial thing: are two books, and you need to have both if you want to be a Game Master.
   
   The "Characters Guide" have lots of resources to make a rich character and the "Campaigns Guide" have a good Game Master stuff.
   
   If you want to have some good RPG System, well, you need to buy "Gurps 4th Edition", but you need some time and practice, cause the game system is so rich, then the rules number is high.



2. An awesome upgrade to GURPS 3rd Edition. Full colored and illustrated book, some new rules added and some old rules banished, creating a better balanced and understandable system.
   Five stars again to SJG.



3. GURPS is one of the most, truly, generic systems around... and that's no suprise since it's the first. In this fourth edition, SJ games brings to bear their 20+ years of experience with this system and delivers an excellent addition to the GURPS line. The system is fully able to be employed in any genre from fantasy, science-fiction or horror and it flexible enough for even the most creative of gamers. If it has any weaknesses they would be:
   1. too many options: some gamers might be overwhelmed by the number of options available. Keep in mind that the game can be as simple or as complex as you like.
   2. all of the "flavor" is on you: GURPS (since it is generic...duh) is not set up to convey flavor through the design of its character sheets, the naming of abilities or the graphics in the books. Flavor is ALL up to the game-mast
   
   ... on the otherhand, perhaps those are strengths.



4. I've been contemplating the purchase of this book for a couple of years now, and finally broke down to make the purchase. The physical object itself is a thing of beauty. It has the lovely full color design and quality printing and binding that past purchasers have come to expect from GURPS products.
   
   This isn't a product for somebody who wants to buy it and run a game the next weekend. GURPS itself is less a game than a toolkit for making your own game. Once you have the rules, you need to either create your own setting and character archetypes (what GURPS calls templates), or you need to purchase one of the many game world books published for use with the game. Fortunately the book provides a lot of good guidance and examples. The published material that describes game worlds is also excellent. The high quality of this supporting material is what helped me decide to purchase GURPS Basic Set: Characters, Fourth Edition and GURPS Basic Set: Campaigns (4th Edition).
   
   Given that caveat, I recommend this product for any gamer who wants to expand their gaming into new directions. There's nothing revolutionary here, but this toolkit gives you what you need to produce any other kind of game that you want to play. You might want to play ghost hunters right now, but in six months you can switch to a space opera, and six months after that to cape-wearing super heroes. And for any of those options, you can purchase additional supporting material, or just wing it on your own. The number of games you get by purchasing this one set of books makes it an excellent bargain for the serious role player.



5. Been a long time GURPS fan and I think the 4th edition is absolutely great.

5 comments about Killer Game Programming in Java.

1. This book is really worth you money to buy. It has detail explaintion of Java 2D and 3D gamming techniques. However this isn't for beinninger Java learners, it does not include basic syntax of Java language. I strongly recommand this book to all game lovers.



2. Java has come a long way since books like "The Black Art of Java Game Development", and Killer Game Programming with Java is a great example of how far it's come. The book covers the basics of not only Java and the libraries relating to games, but also the basics of programming games. The book is quite complete, starting with the basics of 2D game programming and moving on to 3D games. The author conveys a genuine excitement in developing games with Java, and makes it simple enough to grasp and understand. The book is very well illustrated, with helpful class diagrams throughout the book.



3. 2 months ago, I was completely new to Java. (I'm getting better now)
   The book provides many concepts and technique in game programming.
   You'll find it really useful. If you want to learn Java game programming, don't miss this one.
   
   Read also:
   Developing Games in Java
   
   This one is easier. But I recommend you read both!



4. I have not gotten all the way through the book - in terms of using the code.
   
   I have read it through.
   
   Very impressed with the level of explanation. Lots of things that never quite clicked now do. Setting up a 2d game engine is a piece of snap.



5. I have programmed in C, C++, and C# for many years and have done 3D rendering with each. With that background, and a couple Java references lying around, I am finding this book to be very helpful, not only in the rendering areas, but also in its attention to Java user interface design and implementation issues. For a book with 'killer' in the title, I was grateful that it kept the tone much more readable than some of those other 'zen' and 'killer' programming books out there. Well worth the moolah.

5 comments about Forever Craps.

1. This Craps title isn't worth your time. It's full mostly of stories about craps players, and vague advice on the potential of dice control. The centerpiece of the book is the highly touted '5-count', which is nothing more than a betting system that gives you no chance of diminishing the house edge. Get Sharpshooter's book instead.



2. This book is a masterpiece of craps writing and the five step method is a winning method over the casinos.
   
   You will learn:
   
   How to control the dice.
   How to bet on yourself.
   How to use the 5-Count to bet on random rollers.
   How to get more comps than you actually deserve.
   How to get a monetary edge.
   
   The book has a great section on darkside playing too.
   
   The chapter on the Captain, his complete life story, is facinating. This is the father of the dice control movement and Scoblete really lets us meet him in a close way.
   
   This book, as all Scoblete books, is well written and loaded with information.



3. Scoblete has written about the mysterious "Captain," his patented "five count" method for qualifying shooters, and the essence of dice control elsewhere. But this is the first book where he puts them altogether in a five-step system for advantage play. I have all of Scoblete's books and this is one of my favorites.



4. I have had this book for awhile and re-read it last night.. Overall, this book is a disappointing read. The only worthwhile material in the book is the 5-count and his section on crap comps which I thought could have been expanded. The rest is stories and added technical fluff. 5-count is the key in his system and if you do not know what it is, I would pick up one of his books for the concept and knowledge... just not this one.
   
   I would recommend 'Winning Craps for the Serious Player' J. Edward Allen. Very good book.



5. 5 count system, controlling the dice are hogwash ...the best craps book out there is John Patricks Craps and advanced Craps !!!!!!!!!!

2 comments about Dungeons & Dragons Deluxe Dice (D&D Accessory).

1. I really love this dice set. It is dark green with gold numbers, very well made. The little bag can carry the dice set and even more (the bag that comes with the multicolored D&D dice set is smaller). Just waiting to use it for the first time. Highly recommended!



2. These are an excellent set of dice for someone who is in need of a set.They are green with some bluish highlights and the set contains 10 dice.The bag,black with red D&D logo,that comes with the dice is a very nice bonus and has plenty of room to expand your dice collection.The dice are a little on the light side,I would prefer them to weigh a little more.The set I bought rolled great right out of the bag and I will probably keep them with me for a long time.Hope this helps.

5 comments about Logical Chess: Move By Move: Every Move Explained New Algebraic Edition.

1. I recently worked through my copy of this book. I must say it was very enjoyable to play through the games and read Chernev's explanations of the moves and the reasons behind them. I think Chernev did a superb job, and this book is a great game collection for anyone interested in chess. Newer players will certainly learn a lot.



2. This book is must reading for any novice! I will never again see a chess board in the same way! Many people, books and films state that principles of martial arts or samurai philosophy apply to everyday life, so much so that they constitute a guiding philosophy. In Japan and China people apply principles from war and strategy books such as The Art of War and The Five Rings to the world of business, and to great effect. Now, many films have also tried to do this with chess, but usually fall short. They usually end up making some blah statement, such as, "We are all pawns," etc. This book contains many fascinating quotes and principles handed down from the masters. As I read them one thing that struck me was that many of these principles apply equally to real life. For instance, Chernev's main lessen in this book is that the right move is determined by the requirements of you position. You assess the situation at hand, you have a goal, and there are only certain actions that will bring that goal about. Thus, the action you take is determined by what circumstance required.



3. Why "unfortunately"? Because Chernev put a lot of hard work into this book. He DOES explain every move--even if he has to go back to obscure 1820s books to say something new about 1. d4 when we see it for the 10th time. What's more, he does this without, for the most part, repeating the old libels about the "crazy" Steinitz or the "sadistic" Alekhine, etc., used by some authors to make reading about chess "exciting" without real work. Also, Chernev's love of the subtle move and the brilliant combination come through in the book, making us all remember why we like chess in the first place.
   
   Unfortunately, the book's analysis is simply bad. It is hard to blame Chernev for trying to simplify what is going on in complex positions--the book is, after all, aimed at beginners--but his simplification completely distorts the situation. Of the 30+ games in the book, almost *all*, apart from five or six, are symetrical open games (1. d4 d5 or 1. e4 e5) many of them using obscure openings few play nowadays (Colle system, King's gambit). Some of this is due to fashion. But a lot of it has to do with something Chernev constantly ignores or mistates, but is of cardinal importance--the *plans* of the two sides.
   
   Putting things very crudely, The King Indian's Defense and other asymmetrical openings allow black to concentrate on other plans--"building a solid position" for example--instead of that of immediate control of the center and rapid development. Why? Because, as Botvinnik noted, with such "asymmterical" plans white's first-move advantage is less prnounced. Conversely, the King's gambit is now unpopular since the main plan for white--attack on the black monarch--had been shown to lead to no more than a draw against accurate play.
   
   Not much of this gets into Chernev's book. For him, the only opening plans are "develop your pieces" and "control the center". For example, he says that the reason people play 1. ... Nf6 in reply to 1. d4 is "to not allow white to dominate the center with 2. e4". Similarly, he condemns 1. ... e6 is "less agressive" (in controlling central space) than 1. ... e5 in reply to 1. e4, but at least it "opens lines to two pieces", does not allow White to play the King's gambit, and is useful against "over-agressive players".
   
   Talk about oversimplification! Chernev's analysis is, I suppose, helpful to absolute beginners, showing them what is wrong with 1. h4 intending 2. Rh3, or with 1. e4 e5 2. Qh5 intending 2. Qxe5+ (which, after the "thematic" 1. ... g6, leads to 3. QxR, 4. QxN, 5. Qx anything she can get her hands on), though they too are left wondering why anybody ever plays "inferior" moves such as 1. c4 or 1. ... Nf6. For all others, Nunn's "Understanding Chess Move by Move" is so superior in every respect comparing the two would be pitiful. It's like, to quote Edward Winter, comparing a Rolce-Royce with a rattle-trap.



4. My 9 y.o. niece recently developed an interest in chess, and she was quick to learn the figurine notation--from Chess Informant, no less. But she had the unfortunate problem of being in an after school program for chess that was neither kid-friendly or (by the description) not doing a very good job either. Since I live a bit far I needed something educational, and after reading some reviews & visiting some bookstores to flip through, I eventually chose what I used from back in 1970s (I was a Fischer Boom kid then), and so I went back to what taught me the basics of play. There's a lot of others out there now but I went with what I knew, eventually I went on to get a Master rating in correspondence chess.
   
   This is a good book to explain why--that's the key concept--certain moves are played, and the themes, strategies & principles behind those moves. It's important to learn the Fischer observation: to get squares, you got to give squares. The ideas of attack & defense, and taking control of squares, ranks, files & diagonals, and learning to tell, at least at a rudimentary level, which are considered more important than others in selected situations. My niece still has to learn what 'fianchetto' means, and she's not ready for hypermodernism vs. classical theory or systematic study of openings or even examining game collections of the greats (something I strongly advocate for players beyond this stage); she has to crawl before she walks. That's what I want from a book that's more a primer. Later there are excellent tomes on short exercises & pattern recognition for identifying situations for tactical play, and to set up traps, and to avoid stepping in one. But those require some ability to 'think logically' ahead of the move; this explains why & now, and the basis for 'ahead'. It's concrete learning for the concrete player.
   
   In looking at other reviews I note that in some that 'theory is out of date'. So should I subject my niece to the shifting sands of the Sicilian Najdorf? The mind-boggling complications from the QGD: Semi-Slav ('let's look at some Alexei Shirov games'). How about the French Defence-Winawer variation with 7. Qg4? Or Alekhine's Defense where likelihood of dropping a piece are astronomical? In a word, no. The classic defenses like the Ruy Lopez or Giocco Piano are fine--one less likely to lose quickly in playing these, either by dropping material or getting pushed off the board. Or the Queen's gambit--the variations have since multiplied but the basic concepts on playing it in the early stages are still valid. Also, a beginner can play the Colle System without learning a lot of theory--it can be set up & played against just about every major defence. I could do without the King's Gambit, I can only think of Boris Spassky, the 11th World Champion, who would roll that out on occasion, and essentially retired from active chess since the 1980s.
   
   Other comments are about 'wrong analysis & errors'. True enough, but I like prose that identifies the purpose & some opinions about alternatives(if one wants a good collection of games of top level grandmaster play that easy to read & clear on concepts, read anything by the great Estonian GM Paul Keres). Also, GM Bent Larsen's retort "Long Analysis, wrong analysis," even as short as some are. What I don't like in "Logical Chess" are the occasional vague phrases like 'doesn't look appealing' without giving a concrete reason why. But that's common to any annotations.
   
   Short games: does anyone know what the attention span of a pre-teen is? I taught elementary school chess for a short time. I like short games--clear concepts, fast finish; it's a little early for endgames--scholastic chess games don't last too long.
   
   One has to learn the rules & principles of chess strategy before becoming an iconoclast. And for that I recommend to the intermediate-advanced player John Watson's "Secrets of Modern Chess Strategy."



5. I started playing chess less than a year ago and I bought couple of chess books. But none of them taught me this much!! This book is amazing, the way of explaining each game and its variations are incredible. I bought this book three months ago and I finished reading it yesterday. I learned that each move on the chess board has a meaning, and also how to play these moves more strategically. This book tells how to open the games and how to think more logically, the result is that the person who reads this book will see the chess board more clearly and make more brilliant moves. In the 33 games of this book I loved the queen pawn opening, especially the Colle system and I practiced this system with other players and I quickly demolished the king side of the opponent. Selected games are very nice games especially those games from Capablanca and Tarrasch. The diagrams are of high quality and the language is very nice to read!
   May be one or two minor point I would like to mention.
   Sicilian opening is one of the most popular opening nowadays, only one game explained in this book. I think she should have added little more opening traps in every opening. May be the author did not want to confuse the readers too much with variations!! But these are very minor things. Overall, this is a must for beginners, highly recommended. I give five stars!