Professional blackjack player Kevin Blackwood shares his million-dollar winning strategies for mastering the odds and consistently beating the house at their own game.

Play Blackjack Like the Pros is the requisite introduction to the modern game of blackjack, including high and low stakes casino, shoe games (several decks shuffled together), online, and tournaments. Blackwood begins with the basic rules of play and then moves on to teach his proven card-counting method, broken-down into three levels: novice, recreational, and professional. He also covers camouflaging techniques (it's perfectly legal to count cards, but if the house catches you they will kick you out), money management, and team play. Blackwood includes many stories of his and other professionals' triumphs at the tables and keeps the highly technical language that bogs down most gaming books to an absolute minimum.

Play Blackjack Like the Pros is written in the style of Phil Hellmuth's Play Poker Like the Pros using easy-to-understand lessons that all levels of players can quickly benefit from.

Blackwood is one of the world's top card counters. He began with only a few hundred dollars and has won over a million playing blackjack. In Play Blackjack Like the Pros he demonstrates how to earn over $10,000 a month from just a few days work.

Blackjack is set to balloon in popularity. Ben Mezrich's book on the MIT card counting team Bringing Down the House was on the New York Times bestseller list for weeks and is being made into a movie staring Kevin Spacey. Blackjack Tournaments are growing in popularity with many of the top casinos offering large prize pools. Online Blackjack is currently a multi-million dollar industry. Blackwood keeps the highly technical language that bogs down most gaming books to an absolute minimum.

Foreword by Stanford Wong, author of Professional Blackjack and the master of modern card counting.

The King is dead. The kingdom is divided. Three factions – the Scottish, the Welsh, and the English – vie for control and, across the sea, foreign invaders prepare to take advantage of the chaos. Players must marshal their limited resources to influence this power struggle, while ensuring that the faction that rises to dominate the realm favours them above all other claimants to the throne.

Immerse yourself in a world of abstract equilibrium with 57 tiles inspired by the Modernist master Piet Mondrian. Arrange the tiles to create table-top compositions of perfect balance, large or small. Beautifully presented and with millions of possible arrangements, Make Your Own Mondrian will delight would-be Modernists of all ages.

Actual play is a movement within role-playing gaming in which players livestream their gameplay for others to watch and enjoy. This new medium has allowed the playing of games to become a digestible, consumable text for individuals to watch, enjoy, learn from, and analyze. Bridging the gap between the analog and the digital, actual play is changing and challenging our expectations of tabletop role-playing and providing a space for new scholarship. This edited collection of essays focuses on Dungeons and Dragons actual play and examines this phenomenon from a variety of different disciplinary approaches. Authors explore how to define actual play, how fans interact with and affect the narrative and gameplay of actual play, the diversity of gamers (or lack thereof) within actual play media, and how audiences can use actual play media for more than mere entertainment.

This interactive pack from the world's leading brain brand contains everything you need to sharpen your mental agility while having fun. Inside are a series of puzzles, exercises and games especially devised to inspire new ways of thinking. The book is divided into a series of self-contained courses on one particular aspect of brain power, which then direct you to related games and activities included within the rest of the pack. Work through the whole pack and you will find yourself thinking quicker, solving problems more easily, being more creative, and best of all you will have had fun along the way! This pack contains: A 72-page book * 120 cards used for a variety of different games * A double-sided game board * Playing counters * Dice

A lot of work has been done talking about what masculinity is and what it does within video games, but less has been given to considering how and why this happens, and the processes involved. This book considers the array of daily relationships involved in producing masculinity and how those actions and relationships translate to video games. Moreover, it examines the ways the actual play of the games maps onto the stories to create contradictory moments that show that, while toxic masculinity certainly exists, it is far from inevitable. Topics covered include the nature of masculine apprenticeship and nurturing, labor, fatherhood, the scapegoating of women, and reckoning with mortality, among many others.

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

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is one of the bestselling and most influential video games of the past decade. From the return of world-threatening dragons to an ongoing civil war, the province of Skyrim is rich with adventure, lore, magic, history, and stunning vistas. Beyond its visual spectacle alone, Skyrim is an exemplary gameworld that reproduces out-of-game realities, controversies, and histories for its players. Being Dragonborn, then, comes to signify a host of ethical and ideological choices for the player, both inside and outside the gameworld. These essays show how playing Skyrim, in many ways, is akin to "playing" 21st century America with its various crises, conflicts, divisions, and inequalities. Topics covered include racial inequality and white supremacy, gender construction and misogyny, the politics of modding, rhetorics of gameplay, and narrative features.

For decades, Marvel Comics' superhero group the Avengers have captured the imagination of millions, whether in comics, multi-billion dollar grossing films or video games. Similar to the chronology of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the Avengers video games first started with titles driven by single characters, like Iron Man, the Hulk, Thor and Captain America. Over time, the games grew to include more and more heroes, culminating in playing experiences that featured the Avengers assembled. This is the first-ever book assessing the video games starring "Earth's Mightiest Heroes." Featured games span consoles and platforms, from popular PlayStation and Xbox titles to an arcade game in danger of being lost to time. All video games are covered in depth, with each entry including game background and a detailed review from the author. Some game entries also include behind-the-scenes knowledge from the developers themselves, providing exclusive details on the Marvel video game universe.

In your hands lies the destiny of one of history's great civilisations. Under constant threat of attack, you must conquer new lands, oversee dramatic scientific and cultural advances, and lead your people into the era of empire. Expand too rapidly, and unrest will bring your civilization to its knees; build up too slowly, however, and you might find yourself a mere footnote of history. As one of eight radically asymmetric civilisations, you will compete to become the most dominant empire the world has ever seen.

Imperium: Classics is a standalone game that contains the Carthaginian, Celt, Greek, Macedonian, Persian, Roman, Scythian, and Viking civilisations and an individual solo opponent behaving as each nation. It is fully compatible with Imperium: Legends for players wanting to expand their pool of civilisations even further.

Who had the most commercial success in their lifetime, Ernest Hemingway or Agatha Christie? Whose work has the most adaptations, F. Scott Fitzgerald or Franz Kafka? Who courted the most scandal, Colette or James Joyce? Pit 32 of the world's greatest modern writers against each other with these beautifully illustrated cards. An ideal gift for the book lover in your life.

Do you ever wish you had a photographic memory? Imprint 25 classic photographs on your mind by matching the two halves of the image and piecing together the history of photography in the process. Featuring 25 world-famous photographers, from Anna Atkins to Martin Parr, this unique new memory game is a perfect gift for fans of photography and art. MATCH IT: A fun, simple game of matching pairs. In the format of a classic memory game, this unique photographic memory game will have you piecing together famous artworks! BEAUTIFULLY DESIGNED: Discover 50 cards imprinting 25 classic photographs on your mind by matching the two halves. EASY TO PLAY: Easy to understand instructions make it possible to start playing right away. HIGHEST QUALITY: Includes a full colour booklet with information on all 25 world-famous photographers from Anna Atkins to Martin Parr and many more GIFTS: The perfect gift for photography and art fans or simply people wanting to get to know photographers work more. Other Match It games available from Laurence King Publishing include: You Callin' Me a Cheetah?, Who Did This Poo?, Twins Memory Game, Pick a Flower, Match These Bones, Match a Mummy, Match a Leaf, Dogs & Puppies, Cats & Kittens, Do You Look Like Your Dog?, Do You Look Like Your Cat?

With this book, anyone can develop a versatile repertoire of first rate card tricks. The authors, both noted authorities on magic, present complete, easy to understand explanations of basic techniques and over 100 complete tricks. More than 120 line cuts make explanations easy to follow, so that even beginners can develop professional-level skill. 121 figures.

This expertly presented book gives all the information needed to begin playing cards, with advice on the rules and strategies of each game. The bulk of the book is 200 card games, covers fun and classic games for families and friends. Special sections on poker and bridge guide you through all the basic information needed to begin playing. For every card game there is an explanation of the type of pack required, ideal age, playing and scoring, and plenty of diagrams of sample games. This beautifully presented guide is a great resource for all card game enthusiasts. Suitable for beginners and advanced players alike, this practical book will teach you everything you need to play a variety of exciting games* Learn how to play classics such as Baccarat, Cribbage, Go Fish, Gin Rummy and Kaluki * Similar card games are grouped, so it is simple to find fun and challenging family games as well as advanced games * A special focus on poker gives rules and winning strategies, skills and tactics, with useful tips for players at all levels as well as expert guidance for professional players * Clearly explained with more than 1200 easy-to-follow photographs and illustrations

Some board games-like Candy Land, Chutes & Ladders, Clue, Guess Who, The Game of Life, Monopoly, Operation and Payday--have popularity spanning generations. But over time, updates to games have created significantly different messages about personal identity and evolving social values. Games offer representations of gender, sexuality, race, ethnicity, religion, age, ability and social class that reflect the status quo and respond to social change. Using popular mass-market games, this rhetorical assessment explores board design, game implements (tokens, markers, 3-D elements) and playing instructions. This book argues the existence of board games as markers of an ever-changing sociocultural framework, exploring the nature of play and how games embody and extend societal themes and values.

The Digital Age has created massive technological and disciplinary shifts in tabletop role-playing, increasing the appreciation of games like Dungeons & Dragons. Millions tune in to watch and listen to RPG players on podcasts and streaming platforms, while virtual tabletops connect online players. Such shifts elicit new scholarly perspectives. This collection includes essays on the transmedia ecology that has connected analog with digital and audio spaces. Essays explore the boundaries of virtual tabletops and how users engage with a variety of technology to further role-playing. Authors map the growing diversity of the TRPG fandom and detail how players interact with RPG-related podcasts. Interviewed are content creators like Griffin McElroy of The Adventure Zone podcast, Roll20 co-creator Nolan T. Jones, board game designers Nikki Valens and Isaac Childres and fan artists Tracey Alvarez and Alex Schiltz. These essays and interviews expand the academic perspective to reflect the future of role-playing.

From Banksy to Basquiat, Haring to Hockney, and Yayoi to Yoko, your favorite artists have gathered in this deck of cards. Artist Cards is a standard poker set, with the four classic suits. Each card features a different artist, with an illustration and short bio. Who needs art history class when you can celebrate the great artists, instead, with a round of cards?

Seagram and Bird's previous book Planning the Play of a Bridge Hand (ISBN 978 1897106 51 8; August 2009) was named Book of the Year in 2010 by the American Bridge Teachers' Association. It introduced the basic concepts of how to go about making a plan as declarer for beginning and improving players, and is a popular text for bridge teachers. This sequel extends the plan to more complex situations, and covers ideas such as safety plays, avoidance play, trump control, dummy reversal, and endplays. It will appeal to players who have a good grasp of the basics of declarer play, and are looking to improve from there.

Mike Sexton once asked Chip Reese, "The guys you play against are tough. What separates you from them?" Chip replied, "You're right Mike. They are tough. In fact, when they play their 'A' game, I'm really no better than they are. The difference is that they also have a 'C' and 'D' game, whereas I don't. They become weak players when they steam and just about all of them do. My edge is that I don't steam." (Life's a Gamble, D&B 2016). If you've ever wondered if the psychological aspect of poker is important, that should provide the answer. One of the greatest players of all times is attributing his success to the fact that he has better psychological control over his play than his opponents. The good news is that, actually, there is nothing mysterious about Chip's ability. To do the same you simply have to adhere to specific strategies and guidelines. This book will tell you what they are and explain why they work. These strategies, implemented into your everyday routine, will substantially increase your performance and improve your mental state. Peak Poker Performance will show you how to:* Create an unbeatable mindset* Pursue excellence during downswings* Eliminate procrastination* Improve your motivation* Master your emotionsPlus much, much more Dr. Patricia Cardner has worked with hundreds of poker players, at mid-stakes and high-stakes levels, both through private coaching and online training. With the help of Jonathan Little, Patricia moves on from her first book, 'Positive Poker' and uses the very latest research to take you to the next level so you too can achieve better results on the felt and in life.

In 1742, Edmond Hoyle published the definitive book on whist, the most popular card game of his day.

More than 250 years later, Hoyle is still the definitive name when it comes to the rules of games, from bridge to backgammon, Scrabble to blackjack. This handy reference guide has now been updated and expanded and includes rules, strategies, and playing odds for more than 250 games.

Readers will learn how to play, hone their strategies, and settle disputes with this newest edition of the classic reference guide.