Always wanted to play chess but haven't much time to learn? This dinky little book will show you how - in just 10 minutes. Covers all the pieces and how they move, plus simple tips and tricks. Informative chessboard diagrams and quirky illustrations help the information stick. Most people think chess is a difficult game to learn. But that really isn't the case. By the time you've read this helpful little book, you'll have absorbed all the information you need to know to go off and play your first game. In clear, simple, humorous text, backed up with useful chessboard diagrams and illustrations, the author shows you round the board, introduces the pieces and how they move, and lets you into the secrets of special moves such as castling. It finishes off with some invaluable advice on how to marshal your troops and win the game: why you need to avoid the sides of the boards, and how to see every threat as an opportunity, and every opportunity as a a potential minefield. Armed with the information in this book, you'll become a real chess player - in super-quick time!

The classic board game backgammon has been called 'the perfect combination of skill and luck'. It may look complicated on first glance, but this absorbing, fun game really couldn't be simpler. This helpful little book gives you all the information you need to go off and play your first game. In clear, easy-to-follow text, backed up with helpful board diagrams and illustrations, the author shows you around the board, explains how to set up your checkers, the basics of running, blocking and hitting, and an impressive array of handy tips and hints to help you win the game. It also covers how backgammon notation works, how to score and the best places to play backgammon online. Armed with the information in this book, you'll become an expert backgammon player - in super-quick time!

Poker has never been more popular. It's played in all sorts of places - in serious international tournaments, at the casino, socially with friends and, of course, online. If you don't know how to play it, you're missing out, and here's where this book comes in! It gives you all the information you need to go off and play your first poker game. In clear, easy-to-follow text, backed up with helpful diagrams and amusing cartoons, and concentrating on the most popular poker variant, Texas Hold 'Em, the author shows you how to set up a game, how to bet (when to raise and when to fold), the values of the different hands, and the different versions of poker you can play. It also covers the essential psychological skills used by the best players. Armed with the information in this book, you'll become an expert poker player - in extra-quick time!

*Fancy yourself as a bridge player? This essential little book will show you how - in just 10 minutes. *Introduces the basic rules and techniques for bidding, declarer play and defence. *Useful bridge-table diagrams and quirky illustrations help the information stick.Bridge can sometimes look incredibly complicated and opaque. But that really isn't the case: it is a very easy game to learn. By the time you've read this invaluable little book, you'll be equipped with all the knowledge you need to take your partner and play your first game. In clear, easy-to-follow text, backed up with useful diagrams and illustrations, the author shows you exactly how bridge works, including bidding, defence, declaring and trumps. The book then goes on to more advanced strategies, including how to use your opponent's bidding to your advantage, and discusses the finer points of etiquette and conduct during a bridge game. Armed with the information in this book, you can go on to become a star bridge player - in double-quick time!