Card Games for Dummies

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.

About the Author Barry Rigal teaches, writes, and plays Bridge professionally and serves frequently as an official commentator at international Bridge competitions. Since 1985, Barry has been an occasional Bridge and card game correspondent for several national newspapers, an occasional Reuters correspondent, and a contributor to a number of specialty publications such as Bridge (UK), International Popular Bridge Monthly (UK), Bridge Today (US), Bridge World (UK), Le Bridgeur (France), and IMP (Netherlands).