Reference Books

The Official Scrabble Players Dictionary

Merriam-Webster

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 145 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

A must have for any Scrabble Fan 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

The Official Scrabble Players Dictionary (OSPD) 4th edition is a must have for anyone looking for an edge in the game of Scrabble. Whether for competion or a friendly game you'll be glad you have this to refer to once a challenge is announced.

Indispensable 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

We love Scrabble at our house, and it's even more fun with this dictionary in hand. Since part of our playing goal is to learn new words, "our rules" state that you can use the dictionary to find words that fit the letters you have. We wouldn't play without it.

Must-Have for Scrabble Lovers! 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

You must own this book if you enjoy playing Scrabble as it is better than any other dictionary you can use for playing this game. I prefer the hardcover as it will last longer, but do need a paperback for my travel Scrabble.

Editorial Review:

New edition! An inexpensive edition of the book that SCRABBLE players call their bible. Ideal for recreational and school play. More than 100,000 playable two- to eight-letter words including 4,000 new entries. Includes variant spellings. Endorsed by the National SCRABBLE Association.

The Art of Game Design: A book of lenses

Jesse Schell

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 7 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

Anyone can master the fundamentals of game design no technological expertise is necessary. The Art of Game Design: A Book of Lenses shows that the same basic principles of psychology that work for board games, card games and athletic games also are the keys to making top-quality videogames. Good game design happens when you view your game from many different perspectives, or lenses. While touring through the unusual territory that is game design, this book gives the reader one hundred of these lenses one hundred sets of insightful questions to ask yourself that will help make your game better. These lenses are gathered from fields as diverse as psychology, architecture, music, visual design, film, software engineering, theme park design, mathematics, writing, puzzle design, and anthropology. Anyone who reads this book will be inspired to become a better game designer and will understand how to do it.

* Jesse Schell is a highly recognizable name within the game industry - he is the former chair of the International Game Developer's Association, and has designed many successful games, including Disney's award-winning Toontown Online.

* The book's design methodology was developed at Carnegie Mellon University's Entertainment Technology Center, co-founded by Dr. Randy Pausch, of "Last Lecture" fame.

* 100 'lenses' are scattered throughout the book. These are boxed sets of questions, each a different way of seeing a game that will inspire the creative process.

* 600 pages of detailed, practical instruction on creating world-class games that will be played again and again.

The New York Times Crossword Puzzle Dictionary (Puzzle Reference)

Tom Pulliam, Clare Grundman

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 19 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

NY TimesX-word Puzzle Dictionary 4 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

The best puzzle dictionary when it comes to States, Countries, and Nations. Easy to read. All State/Country information is highlighted for quick reference. Very inclusive. Recommended for the newer as well as the expert puzzle solver.

How to cheat on crossword puzzles! 2 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

I got 2 of these for my husband and son for their crossword madness...and they both thought this was just 'cheating' and refuse to use them! Oh well!

Crossword Dictionary 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

This is the one and only dictionary I use for the Sunday NY Times Crossword Puzzle. Highly recommended!!

new york times crossword puzzle dictonary 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

THIS IS THE MOST COMPLETE CROSSWORD DICTIONARY I HAVE EVER HAD. IT IS THE ONLY ONE I WOULD RECOMMEND TO ANYONE.

Editorial Review:

America's foremost crossword puzzle reference revised and expanded with thousands of new words, up-to-date factual references, including famous people and the latest geographical changes, bearing the trustworthy New York Times name.

Now presented in a handy mass market size, this edition contains the full text of the hardcover, so puzzle fans looking for that exclusive clue won't miss a thing.

Hoyle's Rules of Games, Third Revised and Updated Edition

Albert H. Morehead, Geoffrey Mott-Smith, Philip D. Morehead

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 11 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Hoyle's Rules of Games 2 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

Book is NOT user friendly, did not help me learn the game of Hearts...book is written to those that already know more than I do and my friend agreed.

Waste of Paper 2 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

Hoyle's Rules of Games, Third Revised and Updated Edition

There are easier to understand and more up-to-date descriptions of gameplay for most of the more popular games on the internet. The book is particularly weak on diagrams, which simplify understanding of many of the games tremendously. I would consider this book to be useful as supplementary information only; it would not be my first choice for learning a new game from scratch.

Excellent reference for card games & much more 4 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

I first bought this book about 20 years ago. It is an excellent reference especially now that our children are of age to play advanced card games. I was looking for some new games to learn several years ago, and discovered what has become one of our favorites, Oh Hell. This book is essential if you play cards. Also included is good reference for various board games such as chess, checkers, backgammon, and some fun games for young kids.

Editorial Review:

This definitive book on games offers rules, strategies, and odds for more than 250 games, including:

* Scrabble(r) * Bridge * Chess * Backgammon * Minesweeper * Freecell * Gin Rummy * Canasta * Poker * and more.

Everything Scrabble

Joe Edley, John D. Williams Jr.

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 17 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

GOOD BUT OUT OF DATE 3 out of 5 stars.
8 of 9 people found this review helpful.

The authors need to update this work. It still uses the words contained in OSWD 3. Anyone playing with a OSWD 4 knows that words like "Qi" and "Ki" are permissable and this edition of EVERYTHING SCRABBLE doesn't take that into account, so anyone using this version will be at a great disadvantage.

Official scrabble dictionary 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 2 people found this review helpful.

I was very pleased with my purchase of the above mentioned book. Fast shipping and well packaged.

Taking Scrabble to a new level 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

Everything Scrabble is a very useful resource for any Scrabble player who wishes to take Scrabble to the next level. This book will teach you very useful two and three letter words, all the need-to-know 'Q' and 'Z' words, and can reshape the way you look at your Scrabble tiles. It is a bit lengthy- you can't really sit down with it and read it in an hour; instead, it's designed to take each chapter in steps to improve your skills overall. Everything Scrabble is very informative and interesting and definitely a good buy.

Editorial Review:

This book opens with an introduction to the game, follows up with instruction on advanced play, and ends with valuable information for those preparing for tournament-level competition. But there's far more to this tome than the how-to material. It's also a reference manual with such valuable information as a list of crucial but uncommon two-letter words (do you know what a "Li" is?) and a number of words that require a Q but no U. Exercise puzzles are included so you can practice what you learn.

How to Cheat at Everything: A Con Man Reveals the Secrets of the Esoteric Trade of Cheating, Scams, and Hustles

Simon Lovell

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 7 Average rating: 3.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

Gambling is more popular than ever, with multi-million dollar poker tournaments on television, gambling themed movies like Rounders gaining in popularity, and casinos opening in just about every state of the U.S. How to Cheat at Everything is a roller-coaster ride through bar bets, street hustles, carnivals, Internet fraud, big and small cons, card and dice games and more. You'll even find the exact frauds that the NYPD regard as the most common and dangerous today, and learn top tips on how to avoid each one. This inside information comes from Lovell's lifetime of experience in the field, along with additional information from both sides of the law. Not just a "here's how the con works" book; this guides you through the set up, the talk, the sell, everything about the con, and how you can be suckered into one. If you think that you can't be conned; then you are already halfway to being so! There is no preaching here, just a fun ripping ride through a world so few know about. You'll meet wild, eccentric and larcenous characters and you'll learn how they work their money-making deeds, all without having to risk a penny of your own money.

SCRABBLE Wordbook

Mike Baron

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 3 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Great book for word freaks! 5 out of 5 stars.
11 of 11 people found this review helpful.

Word lists based on 4th ed OSPD; good price, comprehensive, indexed nicely, easy to follow and some really interesting lists (ie mnemonics for the top 100 7-letter bingo stems, words with 70% vowels, short words that take suprise "s" endings, etc). Baron has gone beyond just listing "the two's", "q without u's", "jqxz's" and "word-hooks", lists (although, these lists are included); and created a really great resource for Scrabble enthusiasts. Only complaint is that word lists are printed in VERY small font, so those of us with small print issues should invest in a magnifying glass.

Editorial Review:

Whether at an official tournament or a home kitchen table, every SCRABBLE player wants to be a winner—and these specially selected words and expert hints are guaranteed to boost scores. Based on the Official Scrabble Players Dictionary, Fourth Edition (currently one of the bestselling games and puzzles books) and with foreword by World SCRABBLE Champion Brian Cappelletto, this is the equivalent of an intensive training course. Complete with winning word lists, such as those that combine high-scoring letters, those that have a preponderance of vowels, and those that allow multiple I and U dumps, it also offers tips on hitting triple-triples and achieving those elusive 7-letter bingos.

SCRABBLE, the distinctive game board and letter tiles, and all associated logos are trademarks of Hasbro in the United States and Canada and are used with permission. © 2007 Hasbro. All Rights Reserved.

The Official Scrabble Brand Word-Finder: The Ultimate Playing Companion to America's Favorite Word Game

Robert W. Schachner

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 13 Average rating: 1.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

The Official Scrabbler Brand Word-Finder is designed with one thing in mind: scoring big points. The method is simple--present as many playable words as possible, in one place, for easy reference during a game. Over 60,000 high-scoring words are arranged alphabetically by first letter and by inside letters, providing the widest array of possible word variations. This innovative format allows Scrabbler fanatics to consider hundreds of potential plays with one quick glance. The Word-Finder is also a one-of-a-kind resource for the obscure words sometimes necessary to get you out of a pinch--like when you're stuck with a "z" and an "h" and time is running out ("hazard": 19 points).

In this straightforward format, standard suggestions are listied in regular type, high-scoring words (worth 10 to 14 points) are listed in bold face, and extra high-scoring words (worth 15 poionts or more) are marked with an asterisk. A quick scan of the word suggestions invariably leads to a variety of possible plays. A handy dictionary of prefixes, suffixes and plurals provides ideas for adding even more points to your score, and "Ten Tips for a Better Game" addresses winnig Scrabbler strategies. The Official Scrabbler Brand Word-Finder features a complete list of every accepted two-letter and three-letter word, and there's even a Quick Check Usage Guide listing all the acceptable words in special categories like "Animal" and "Medical" that aren't always included in standard dictionaries--no more confusion as to whether an "apteryx" is, in fact, an animal (it is: 19 points), or what the acceptable term is for someone who has received a vaccine (a "vaccinee": 15 points).

The Official Scrabbler Brand Word-Finder reflects changes to the last three editions of The Official Scrabbler Dictionary, and is updated with the most current additions to the Scrabbler lexicon with fun new words like "yo" and "ab." Whether you're new to the game or a seasoned pro, the Word-Finder is an indispensable tool for becoming a more successful player.

Pokemon Pocket Pokedex Vol.2: Prima Official Game Guide

Inc. Pokemon USA

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 3 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

There are better Pokemon resources out there 3 out of 5 stars.
6 of 7 people found this review helpful.

I'll make this review short and to the point, for those of you who are already familiar with the games and seeking a Pokedex to make your life easier as you play through Pokemon Diamond/Pearl. Here's a rundown of this guide, its qualities, and its shortcomings.

THE GOOD:

-VERY EXTENSIVE IN ITS INFORMATION. This guide doesn't just list and picture the Pokemon, you also get evolution charts, lists of the attack the Pokemon learns, stats, and even the learnable TM/HM moves. Locations of the creatures in Pearl and Diamond are also included.

-DOESN'T JUST COVER THE SINNOH POKEDEX. This guide covers each region's Pokedex and the various Pokemon from each region you'll be able to get your hands on after you beat the Elite Four, both in your own game and that you're able to trade from others. There are detailed entries here for Kanto, Johto, Hoenn, and Sinnoh Pokemon alike.

-A LIST OF EVERY ATTACK IN THE GAME AND ITS FUNCTION/TYPE/EFFECT/ETC. This is very handy to have around as you progress through the game and have to make decisions regarding what attacks you choose to keep, and which ones you don't.

-PICTURES FOR ALL REPRESENTED SPECIES. You get art for each Pokemon featured in the guide, as well as an in-game screenshot for both the male and female forms, if applicable.

THE BAD:

-NOT ALL OF THE POKEMON ARE INCLUDED HERE. The title says ALL of the Pokemon are featured here, and that's a lie. The three "event" legendaries of the Pearl/Diamond generation, Shayman, Darkrai, and Arceus, are inexplicably excluded from this guide! I'm appalled that these Pokemon were not included here, especially considering this guide is supposed to cater to the Pearl/Diamond generation.

-NOT ENOUGH INFORMATION ON HOW TO GET NON-NATIVE SPECIES. For the Pokemon that you'll have to import from an older game, the guide gives NO INFORMATION on how to get these in their respective games. Instead, they simply say "import at Pal Park." That's it. No additional information. If you want to learn where to get them in their respective old games, too bad. You're going to have to dig out your old guides.

-NO PICTURES PROVIDED FOR THE SHINY VARIANTS. Not a big deal, but it would have been nice to have pictures of these rarer versions of the creatures provided.

THE VERDICT:

If you're a big-time Pokemon gamer and you want a detailed list of species, this is a handy guide to have, but it's plagued by its shortcomings. If you can find it on sale for a good price, go for it, but don't shell out full retail for it.

Editorial Review:

Complete info! The Pokémon Pocket Pokédex Vol. 2 is the most complete volume of quick-reference Pokémon information available.
Quick and easy: Prima's Pocket Pokédex is a handy, pocket- or backpack-sized reference guide featuring all 482+8 Pokémon from each wildly popular game, including Pokémon Diamond and Pokémon Pearl, Pokémon Crystal, Pokémon Sapphire, Pokémon Ruby, and more.
Be prepared: You can look up every Pokémon and their vital statistics. Never be without the necessary info!

Go for Beginners

Kaoru Iwamoto

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 25 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

MAYBE A BIT TOO ADVANCED 4 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

I read Yasunari Kawabata's "The Master of Go" a couple of months ago, and I was so thrilled by the novel and so puzzled to know what this game was about, that I bought a 13x13 goban (the only size available in my country right now) , and I ordered immediately Cho Chikun's "Go: A Complete introduction To The Game" and Iwamoto's "Go for Beginners". I started with this book, and quite soon I had to stop: it was just a little bit too much for a real beginner, and sometimes, diagrams were hard to read because the print has some minor flaws. I gave this book four stars though, because actually it IS a great book, but the problem is: it's hard to read for someone who starts from zero. So, Once I'm done with Cho Chikun's own primer, I'll go back to Iwamoto's little book. Then, I think, I'll have the muscle to follow the explanations.

Editorial Review:

Go, an ancient, subtly beautiful game of territory, is the oldest game in the world still played in its original form. This book contains its rules, techniques, a glossary of terms, and a list of international and American Go organizations.