This is a fictionalized account of the life and career of world chess champion Alexander Alekhine. Born into Russian nobility, Alekhine lost his family and nearly his life to the Bolsheviks before becoming the worlds most powerful chess player. The coming of World War II placed the chess master in a difficult position, forcing him to collaborate with the Nazis and to produce anti-Semitic materials. Desperate to win back his credibility after the war, Alekhine was preparing for the redemptive title match at the time of his sudden death. Alekhines life was marked by alcoholism, fits of depression, scandalous affairs, marriages of convenience, painful compromises, and his battle to become "the Greatest." The novel is told as fiction but is based on the actual people and events that were part of his triumphant career and troubled life.

Beauty is in the eye of the Beholder with this officially licensed miniature figurine. * FIGURINE WITH LIGHT: A one-of-a-kind 3-inch figurine of the popular monster: the Beholder with a glowing eye * BOOK INCLUDED: Learn more about this iconic monster in this fully illustrated 32-page miniature book * PERFECT GIFT FOR D&D FANS: Display on a shelf, desk, or bookcase and show off your love of Dungeons & Dragons * OFFICIALLY LICENSED: Authentic Dungeons & Dragons collectible

Fifty thoughtful and playful questions about the past, present, and future will inspire great family conversations.

A snarling dog can sense our fear, no matter how much we try to conceal it - and so can an expert poker player studying us from across the table. In each case we betray ourselves through cues so slight we're often completely unaware of them: the beat of the pulse at our neck, the blink of an apparently steady eye, an ever-so-slightly elevated tone of voice...In the jargon of poker, such giveaways are called "tells", and they can be worth a lot of money to the player who knows how to use them. Surprisingly, there's still only one book published that explains how to use them in detail, and that book is 20 years out of date. Hence, "Ultimate Guide to Poker Tells".

The game of chess was wildly popular in the Middle Ages, so much so that it became an important thought paradigm for thinkers and writers who utilized its vocabulary and imagery for commentaries on war, politics, love, and the social order. In this collection of essays, scholars investigate chess texts from numerous traditions - English, French, German, Latin, Persian, Spanish, Swedish, and Catalan - and argue that knowledge of chess is essential to understanding medieval culture. Such knowledge, however, cannot rely on the modern game, for today's rules were not developed until the late fifteenth century. Only through familiarity with earlier incarnations of the game can one fully appreciate the full import of chess to medieval society. The careful scholarship contained in this volume provides not only insight into the significance of chess in medieval European culture but also opens up avenues of inquiry for future work in this rich field.

The most fun you can have learning Texas Hold'em (and we ain't bluffin') Playing Texas Hold'em is about the most fun you can have with two cards in your hand. Navigating the slang, rules, and intricacies of the game can be challenging, though. With Texas Hold'em For Dummies, 2nd Edition, you'll learn the tricks you need to know to win your first online or in-person game. From ranking the various poker hands to applying betting strategies, this book helps you build the skills necessary to achieve poker room success. In Texas Hold'em For Dummies, you'll learn to: Improve your chances at casinos and in online poker rooms Participate in a poker tournament with confidence Bluff, bet, raise, and fold in the right way at the right times The perfect handbook for beginning poker players who want to play in-person or online, Texas Hold'em For Dummies is also an essential companion for more experienced players looking to brush up on the fundamentals and improve their skills.

Time: Depends how long you last! Number of players: 2 Includes: 52 playing cards, plus an instruction card Ages: 18+ Assembly required? No Batteries required? No Warning: Not suitable for persons under 18 years. For adult use only. Who cares about winning? In this game, it's the taking part that counts... This X-rated version of the classic game of Snap is all about speed, spontaneity and paying close attention to the sex positions on the cards. It'll leave you and your opponent gagging for more.

Help your kids get off their screens and get moving! For kids aged 4-11 to help them learn why being active is good for you and instil healthy habits that will last a lifetime On your marks, get set... it's time to get busy! We all know that being active is an important part of a healthy lifestyle, and it can be brilliant fun too! Busy Bodies contains 52 illustrated cards each with a simple challenge or sporty activity to get kids moving and thinking about their physical and mental health. Each card also contains an interesting fact to help kids learn why different activities can be good for you. The set includes a 16-page booklet with useful tips for parents and carers with information on how much exercise is expected of the age range, a chart showing the different types of exercise grouped into the main categories - strength-building, heart health, coordination and agility, flexibility - and recipes for some healthy post-activity snacks.

Stop negative thoughts, assuage anxiety, and live in the moment with these fun, easy games from improv expert Clay Drinko. If you've been feeling lost lately, you're not alone! Even before the Covid-19 pandemic, Americans were experiencing record levels of loneliness and anxiety. And in our current political turmoil, it's safe to say that people are looking for new tools to help them feel more present, positive, and in sync with the world. So what better way to get there than play? In Play Your Way Sane, Dr. Clay Drinko offers 120 low-key, accessible activities that draw on the popular principles of improv comedy to help you tackle your everyday stress and reconnect with the people around you. Divided into twelve fun sections, including "Killing Debbie Downer" and "Thou Shalt Not Be Judgy," the games emphasize openness, reciprocation, and active listening as the keys to a mindful and satisfying life. Whether you're looking to improve your personal relationships, find new meaning at work, or just survive our trying times, Play Your Way Sane offers serious self-help with a side of Second City sass.

The original, award-winning Wizard Card Game with new, large index design. No ordinary deck of cards; an extraordinary game of strategy.

Historically, marbled paper has been used for decor projects from book-binding to wallpaper and everything in between. This Florentine Black and White pattern is a mesmerising design, classic for Playing Cards. This box looks just as beautiful on the mantle or desk. Standard deck of 54 playing cards including 2x joker cards Full-colour, richly -printed artwork on embossed, blue-core card stock Giftable flip-top box with magnetic closure Box measures: 95 x 68 x 25mm.

Classic Fantasy brings Old School dungeon crawls to the Mythras rules. This book contains everything you need to emulate the fun of class and level-based adventuring, against the classic coterie of monsters, with the classic armoury of spells! If you've ever wanted to convert those old dungeon modules to a d100 system, then Classic Fantasy is for you.Packed with information and new rules additions, Classic Fantasy features a different approach to character creation based on classes such as the bard, cavalier, fighter, magic user, paladin and thief. Choose your race - human or demi-human - and then customize according to class, race and personal preference. If you're a magic user or cleric, the new magic rules for Arcane and Divine spells take the old staples such as Magic Missile, Charm, Fireball and more, and tailor them for the nuances of the Mythras system.For the more combat-oriented, the Classic Fantasy rules provide detailed miniatures-based combat adaptations for the traditional battle-board, complete with guidance on facings, positioning, and handling detailed movement.And of course, no book like this would be complete without monsters to kill and treasure to take! All the old favourites are accounted for, from Basilisks to Displacer Beasts, Grey Ooze to Gelatinous Masses, Kobolds, Gnolls, Hobgoblins and more. Forty pages of treasure and magic items helps you equip even the deepest dungeon with enough loot to satisfy the keenest adventuring party.

With 32 pegged chess pieces and a gamebook that a) teaches you how to play and b) makes you look smart, this chess set by Brass Monkey is perfect for newbies and experts alike. Bonus: everything stores away into the box (that is also the game board), so it's perfect for traveling. * Features unique 'peggable' style chess pieces that fit (and stay put) in the holes of the included chessboard. * Perfect for traveling (or playing during deep-sea fishing expeditions). * Includes a gamebook that teaches beginners how to play...and gives experts something to make fun of. * Everything (including the chessboard) packs away into the display-worthy box. * Box measures 7.8" square (by 2.8" deep if you're curious).

Chess - Crowood Sports Guides is the perfect tool for anyone wanting to improve their performance, from beginners learning the basic skills to more experienced participants working on advanced techniques. Standard chess rules and basic notation is covered as well as how to use each piece effectively; tactics and strategy; how to plan for success; the three phases - openings, middlegames and endgames; advanced techniques - analysing a position, opening repertoires, when to sacrifice, key endgame principles; hints and tips for developing chess further and finally using computers for analysis and preparation.