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Books > Sport & Leisure > Hobbies, quizzes & games > Indoor games
"Tank War," the new supplement for Bolt Action, gives players the
option to expand their games to a whole new level - armored
warfare. Recreate such great engagements as the battle of Kursk
with the scenarios, army options and special rules found in this
book. Whether you want to add more armour to your existing armies
or build an entirely armoured force, Tank War has you covered.
Battle or befriend more than 100 weird and alien life forms in this
creature collection for the Starfinder Roleplaying Game! Every new
world and space station comes with its own dangers, from strange
new cultures to extraterrestrial predators to massive spacefaring
organisms capable of battling starships. Inside this book, you'll
find rules and ecological information for creatures from across the
known worlds, plus exotic alien gear, complete magical polymorphing
rules, and more. A robust selection of template grafts gives you
the tools you need to populate any planet with
environment-appropriate fauna, and racial rules for many of the new
species let you be the alien! Want to play an intelligent,
multi-legged centipede? An emotionless, mask-wearing mollusk? An
uplifted bear? Explore the limits of your galaxy and your game with
Starfinder Alien Archive 2!
The opening phase of the game throws up difficult questions for
those keen to study and improve their chess. Should I open with 1
d4, 1 e4, or something else? What is the best strategy as Black -
immediate counter-attack or solid development? Should I learn
numerous different systems or concentrate on a few specialist
lines? In Mastering the Opening, international master Byron Jacobs
asnwers these and other key questions. * Deals with every major
opening * Numerous test positions enables readers to guage their
progress * Revolutionary layout allows readers to absorb the key
ideas
Set in a mirror of our own world, Sigil & Shadow is a
roleplaying game of urban fantasy and occult horror in which
players take on the roles of illuminated heroes and shadowed
monsters to face the rising tide of supernatural forces. Ancient
nightmares lurk behind the closed doors of board rooms, entities
from beyond time prowl the city streets, forgotten rituals are
reborn as viral memes. Do you take a stand against the encroaching
shadows? Or do you seek their power for yourself? Powered by the
highly accessible d00Lite system, Sigil & Shadow focuses
squarely on the story rather than the mechanics - who the
characters are and what they do, not how they do it. Easy to adopt
to any mythos, campaigns can be built around a wide range of plots,
with players taking the role of anything from paranormal
investigators and monster hunters to members of occult cabals or
secret societies. The setting offered sees a modern world buffeted
by the tides of supernatural power, where beings of myth wake from
their slumber while modern cults sacrifice to pop-culture gods and
ancient cabals pursue their age-old schemes into the digital age.
The Bb5 Sicilian is a logical and practical weapon against Black's
most popular defense to 1 e4 and is an excellent choice for White
players who are fed up of constantly trying to keep abreast of the
latest developments in the Open Sicilian.
The early bishop move signals White intention to develop rapidly
and it can lead to both wild gambit play and calmer positional
waters. Significantly, this opening weapon has the seal of approval
from many of today's elite Grandmasters, including Vishy Anand,
Mickey Adams and Peter Leko, while Garry Kasparov utilized it
successfully in his famous Internet game versus 'the rest of the
world'.
Now, for the first time in many years, Richard Palliser provides a
comprehensive study of the Bb5 Sicilian and its many variations.
Using illustrative games, he examines both the crucial main lines
and the more unusual tries for White and Black, highlighting
tactical and positional ideas as well as move order nuances. A
study of this book will allow the reader to play both sides of this
opening with confidence.
*A complete and up-to-date coverage of one of the most important
Anti-Sicilian lines
*Covers both the Rossolimo and Moscow (3 Bb5+) Variations
*Written by a Bb5 Sicilian expert
Learn and master the fascinating game of Japanese Chess or "Shogi"
with this expert guide and chess set. Japanese Chess: The Game of
Shogi is the ultimate strategy guidebook for players of any skill
level to improve their game and winning strategies. Played by
millions around the world, Shogi is the uniquely Japanese variant
of chess. It is the only version in which an opponent's captured
piece can be dropped back onto the board as one's own. This makes
for extremely exciting, dynamic gameplay in which momentum can
quickly shift back and forth between players. Trevor Legett, expert
player and longtime resident of Japan, gives you all the
information you need to play the game, form its basic rules to
winning tactics. Also included in this book are: Sample game and
commentary Discussion of various opening strategies and game
positions Explanation of how to read a Japanese score Fold-out
Shogi board Sturdy paper playing pieces Japanese Chess features
everything you need to get started playing this challenging and fun
game!
"Playing at Chess is the most ancient and the most universal game
among men, for its original is beyond the memory of history."
Benjamin Franklin penned these words as an introduction to his
famous essay "The Morals of Chess." Franklin's approach to the game
was in distinct contrast to his predecessors, who seriously
advocated all the subtle treacheries of the art of poor
sportsmanship with the sole end of attaining victory. To Franklin,
however, the game of chess was not mere idle amusement but a sport
reflective of life itself-"for life is a kind of chess, in which we
have often points to gain and competitors or adversaries to contend
with"-which requires the utilization of all the finest mental and
moral qualities of which man is capable. This volume reproduces
Franklin's celebrated essay and includes an analysis of everything
Franklin ever had to say about chess. The second part of the book
contains an extensive bibliography of chess in America to the year
1859. The two sections of the volume combine to form an essential
sourcebook for the historian of American chess.
All top chess players agree that to keep your tactical muscles in
shape it's imperative to continue training, and the easiest and
most fun way to do this is by performing tactical exercises. Even
solving a few puzzles for ten minutes each day can be of utmost
benefit for the aspiring player. But where can one find the
required number of suitable puzzles to satisfy this demand?
Look no further than "The Complete Chess Workout. "In this book,
tactics expert Richard Palliser presents the reader with a massive
1500 puzzles, all checked for accuracy by the latest computer
engines. There is something for players of all levels here: many
basic tactics - forks, pins, skewers and checkmates - to appeal to
beginners and improvers, and a considerable number of brain-teasers
that will tax even the strongest of players. Palliser has
meticulously collected puzzles from practical play in recent years
- a large percentage of the exercises here will be completely new
to most readers. All the important tactical themes are covered,
while there are special sections on opening traps and endgames.
Work your way through this book, and your opponents will soon be on
the receiving end of your increased tactical powers!
*A comprehensive training manual for chess tactics
*Ideal for all levels of player
*All puzzles checked by computer engines
Together in one volume for the first time are Graeme Buckley's
Multiple Choice Chess and Multiple Choice Chess Volume Two. Are you
realising your chess potential? Multiple Choice Chess International
Master Graeme Buckley helps you to find out. Through a series of
instructive games where you must work out the next move and the
tactics and strategies surrounding it, you can assess your own
chess strength. In his second volume, Buckley repeatedly poses the
question 'What would you do here?' The reader is invited to step
into a grandmaster's shoes, work out all the relevant tactics and
strategies of the game and select a move out of a possible four
choices. A scoring system has been devised which can assess your
playing strength according to the answers you give. It's as simple
as that!
What is the best way to improve your opening knowledge? Memorizing
variations? Not really. In the first volume of Dariusz' trilogy,
the author helps you to understand the instructive patterns that
arise from the immensely popular Nimzo-Indian Defense. Packed with
plenty new ideas, his methods consider the different ways White has
at his disposal. His unique approach shows Black has nothing to
fear, on the contrary! Thinkers is convinced you will enjoy the
read!
Conventions are a vital element of bidding in bridge. Unless they
are easily and clearly understood they can be destructively
dangerous. This book contains the most common conventions you are
likely to encounter at the duplicate table, together with defensive
measures you can take, plus countermeasures against each part of
the defensive methods. Importantly, however, bridge continues to
evolve. The material in the additional chapter covers the most
recent developments in bridge bidding and will give you ideas for
inclusion in your regular partnerships.
2093, Neo York. A dystopian technological marvel, where concrete
high-rises brim with holographic neon, as gilded mob bosses, flashy
CEOs, and famous vid-stars all strive to consolidate their power
over the masses. And while the rain reflects the neon, it never
washes away the grime and filth of the streets. Welcome to a world
of synth-jazz and cybernetics, where the status quo grinds down the
hard-working man and vat-grown clone alike. Whether you're the
redemption-seeking gangster, the one good cop in a corrupt system,
or the gene-modded musician trying to make it big, you'll be trying
to get by in a city that just doesn't care. Epic fight scenes take
centre stage in this game of stylised, high-octane bloodshed. Jump
straight into the action with a unique ruleset designed to deliver
a cinematic, neon-noir experience, as the spotlight focuses on the
brutal showdowns that will define you - or leave you face-down in
the dirt. So get ready to give them hell, as the sultry notes of
the saxophone build into a crescendo of violence.
The Ruy Lopez (also known as the Spanish Game) is an extremely
popular opening and one of the oldest in the history of chess. It
has been played by virtually all the greats of the game, providing
the battle scene for many world championship clashes involving the
likes of Fischer, Karpov, Kasparov and Kramnik. Now, for the first
time in many years, Grandmaster Glenn Flear investigates the main
line of the Lopez, outlining the crucial ideas and tactics for both
White and Black. Using illustrative games, Flear studies the
fashionable and theoretical variations, plus the tricky sidelines.
This book is perfect for those wishing to play the positions with
either color.
*Written by a Ruy Lopez expert
*Up-to-date theory on the sharpest lines
*Ideal for club and tournament players
Computer role-playing games (CRPGs) are a special genre of computer
games that bring the tabletop role-playing experience of games such
as Dungeons & Dragons to the computer screen. Thisnew edition
inlcudes two new chapters: The Modern Age, and a chapter on Indies
and Mobile CRPGs. The new modern age chapter will cover, among
other topics, Kickstarter/FIG crowdfunded projects such as Torment:
Tides of Numenera and Pillars of Eternity. It'll also bring the
book up to date with major games such as Dragon Age, Witcher,
Skyrim. Expanded info in first chapter about educational potential
of CRPGs. Color figures will be introduced for the first time. Key
Features gives reviews of hundreds of games across many platforms.
comprehensive book covering the history of computer RPGs.
comprehensive index at the back, letting you quickly look up your
favourite titles
The genius and artistry behind Superbrothers and the making of an
indie video game, from inception to its highly anticipated launch.
Superbrothers: Sword & Sworcery was released in 2011 at the
forefront of an exciting era of "indie games" - with the aesthetic
of punk rock and the edge of modernist fiction, indie games pushed
gaming into the realm of the avant-garde. Superbrothers (Craig D.
Adams) was hailed as a visionary in the video game world. Now, his
long-awaited follow-up, JETT: The Far Shore, has been released for
Sony PlayStation and Epic Games Store. In the decade from inception
to launch, Adams brought author Adam Hammond along for the ride,
allowing unprecedented insight into the complicated genesis of
Jett. The Far Shore offers a portrait of the enigmatic Adams and
his team, the genius and artistry, the successes and setbacks, that
went into building the world of JETT, in which you're tasked with
scouting a new home for a humanoid people after they've decimated
their planet. To provide context, Hammond recounts the history of
indie games and how their trajectory has followed that of
independent art and literature. A riveting insider's look at one of
our most popular art forms.
Brought together in one volume as part of Everyman Chess's series
of compilation books: Play the Najdorf: Scheveningen Style by John
Emms and Play the King's Indian: A complete Repertoire for Black in
this most dynamic of openings by Joe Gallagher. The Najdorf
Sicilian is one of the most sharp, dynamic and popular openings
that Black can play and is a firm favourite amongst the world's
elite players, including world number one Garry Kasparov. From very
early on, Black unbalances the game to a reach a position in which
one can play for the win without exceptional risk. The soundness of
the Najdorf has never been questioned, but some players can be put
off by the ever-spiralling amount of theory amassed on this great
opening. In Play the Najdorf, however, Grandmaster and openings
expert John Emms condenses this mountain to produce a workable
black repertoire against all of White's possible options. The
King's Indian has always been one of the sharpest, most complex and
popular openings that Black can play; it still provides the setting
for many encounters at the elite level of Grandmaster chess.
Straight from the start, Black fights for the initiative and in
many variations, while White pursues material gains, it is Black
who has the psychological advantage of trying to checkmate the
opponent's king. Despite its many advantages, some prospective
Kings Indian players are put off by the seemingly endless amount of
theory one is supposed to learn. In Play the Kings Indian, however,
Grandmaster and life-long Kings Indian devotee Joe Gallagher has
produced a comprehensive and yet workable black repertoire against
all of Whites most dangerous possibilities.
Mission control, we are go for launch! NASA's most iconic mission
patch imagery is on display in this out-of-this-world matching
game, perfect for honing memory and introducing players to some of
humanity's notable journeys into outer space. Marvel at historic
patches that commemorate the very first Mars rovers, the Apollo 11
mission, the first mission to the International Space Station, and
more . . . just remember where you last spotted each mission
memento to win! Interstellar explorers will want to launch into
this game again and again!
Among the many treasures of the al-Sabah Collection, Kuwait, are
hundreds of chess and other games pieces dating from the 7th to the
19th centuries ce. Intricately crafted in a rich variety of
materials, including ivory, wood, ceramic, glass, jade and agate,
these tiny objects are of enormous historical and artistic
significance. They not only mark the evolution of familiar games
into their modern forms, but also evoke the imperial palaces,
military camps and herders' tents in which they were played over
many centuries, from the Sasanian period through the Islamic era in
Central Asia, Iran, present-day Iraq and northern India. The chess
pieces include both early figural sets and the more abstract forms
that later became popular throughout the Islamic world. Dice,
pachesi sets and a medieval Arabic treatise on chess complete the
collection.
As Hugh Kelsey says in his introduction, the brilliant card player
achieves his results with a combination of logic and flair. And
although many people may think flair plays a disproportionate part,
the expert player, in fact, produces his sometimes unbelievable
results almost entirely by the application of logic. LOGICAL BRIDGE
PLAY teaches you just how to apply logic to your card play in
making the correct inferences and deductions, and in assessing the
timing - the opportunity to become a master player is yours for the
taking.
This latest edition of an outstanding book contains some new tips
which reflect the changes in the game since the original
publication in 1987. Learning from bitter experience at the bridge
table is a slow, painful and often costly business. The 100 winning
tips are designed to cover specific situations in bidding, play and
defence - the sort of problems that arise over and over again in
everyday play, providing a painless substitute for experience.
'No matter how eloquently a dog may bark, he cannot tell you that
his parents were poor but honest.' Only words can do that. Words
are magic. Words are fun. Join Gyles Brandreth - wit and
word-meister, Just A Minute regular, One Show reporter, denizen of
Countdown's Dictionary Corner, founder of the National Scrabble
Championships, patron of The Queen's English Society, QI, Room 101,
Have I Got News For You and Pointless survivor - on an uproarious
and unexpected magic carpet ride around the awesome world of words
and wordplay. Puns, palindromes, pangrams, Malaprops, euphemisms,
mnemonics, acronyms, anagrams, alphabeticals, Tweets, verbiage,
verbarrhea - if you can name it, you should find it here, along
with the longest, shortest, wittiest, wildest, oldest, latest,
oddest, most interesting and most memorable words in the English
language - the richest, most remarkable language ever known.
"To be passive... is fatal to the beginner or medium player - such
players must be aggressive. He must attack, because only in that
way can he develop his imagination, which is a very important
thing." This quote comes, perhaps surprisingly, from Jose
Capablanca, a world champion far better known for his brilliant
strategic and positional play than his attacking prowess. This
emphasizes the fundamental importance of having a clear
understanding of how to build up and execute an attack. Every chess
player loves to attack. Directing one's forces towards the enemy
king, probing to create weaknesses and ultimately crashing through
with a brilliant sacrifice is always a thrilling experience.
However, attacking play must always be based on sound principles
and carried out in a forceful and logical manner. This is not
always a straightforward task. In this book, the highly experienced
author and grandmaster Neil McDonald guides the reader through all
the complexities of attacking play. Topics include: * Attacking a
king trapped in the centre. * Exploiting weaknesses to develop an
attack. * Preventing reinforcements from rescuing the king.
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