Sports and Fitness Recent Picks

AUGUST 2009

The underlined title links will take you directly to our catalogue.
Some featured items are linked via a book cover to enable you to read more reviews.

Play Winning Poker In No Time by Alison Pendergast
"Poker is hotter than ever and it's a good bet these days that if you're flipping through the TV channels, you'll see a poker game being played, by amateurs, professional and even celebrities. If you're looking to try your hand at America's favorite card game then Play Winning Poker In No Time is the perfect beginner's guide to teach you all the fundamentals to confidently "ante up" in a casual game with friends, at a live action casino table or even online at any one of the popular Internet poker sites.” (Amazon)

Mastering the Chess Openings: Unlocking the Mysteries of the Modern Chess Openings, Volume 2 by John Watson
“For most chess-players, opening study is sheer hard work. It is hard to know what is important and what is not, and when specific knowledge is vital, or when a more general understanding is sufficient. Tragically often, once the opening is over, a player won't know what plan to follow, or even understand why his pieces are on the squares on which they sit. John Watson seeks to help chess-players achieve a more holistic and insightful view of the openings. In his previous books on chess strategy, he explained vital concepts that had previously been the domain only of top-class players. Here he does likewise for the openings, explaining how flexible thinking and notions such as 'rule-independence' can apply to the opening too. Watson presents a wide-ranging view of the way in which top-class players really handle the opening, rather than an idealized and simplified model.
This volume, focusing on queen's pawn openings, is a book that will make chess-players think hard about how they begin their games. It also offers both entertainment and challenging study material in openings such as the Nimzo-Indian, King's Indian and the entire Queen's Gambit complex. ” (Amazon)

The Penguin Book of Card Games by David Parlett
“Whether you are a cardsharp or online-poker wannabe, The Penguin Book of Card Games has everything you will ever need to know about playing cards. From games of high skill (Bridge) to games of high chance (Newmarket) to trick-taking (Whist) and banking (Pontoon), David Parlett, a seasoned card-game specialist, gives you countless games to play. With a working description of each game, including the rules, variations, and origins of each, this book will delight, entertain, and inform both the novice and the experienced player.” (Amazon)

Understanding Chess Move by Move by John Nunn
“John Nunn is one of the most highly regarded chess writers in the world. He has carefully selected thirty modern games to help the reader understand the most important aspects of chess and to illustrate modern chess principles in action. Virtually every move is explained using words that everyone can understand. Jargon is avoided as far as possible. Almost all the examples are taken from the 1990s and show how key ideas are handled by the grandmasters of today. The emphasis is on general principles that readers will be able to use in their own games, and detailed analysis is only given where it is necessary.” (Amazon)

The Art of Darts by John Lowe
“Darts has been played around the world for more than 100 years on a competitive basis. Although the sport has gone through many transitional periods during the last century, it has progressed from a pub pastime into one of the largest global sports. Today it is a business of mega-proportions with television coverage reaching almost every part of the globe. Covering every aspect of the game, this is the first user guide for the general market, making it as useful and necessary for the obsessed amateur as for the fledgling professional. From choosing the right grip and constructing out shots to perfecting your stance at the oche, this is an essential purchase for every follower, practitioner, and lover of the beautiful sport of darts.” (Amazon)

Table Tennis: Skills, Techniques, Tactics (Crowood Sports Guides) by Jenny Heaton
“Crowood Sports Guides provide sound, practical advice that will help make you a better sportsperson whether you are learning the basic skills, discovering more advanced techniques, or reviewing the fundamentals of your game.” (Amazon)

Girls' Guide to Poker by Eliza Burnett
“The number of female contenders in the World Series of Poker increased by 400% in 2005-proof, if any were needed, that women have what it takes to be winners at this traditionally macho game. Eliza Burnett, a successful Texas Hold'em player, now gives young women all the poker savvy they'll need in this clear, thorough guide, covering everything from the basic rules to the cool lingo to how to figure the odds of filling an inside straight. Equally important, she shows women how to use their natural instincts to read an opponent's body.” (Amazon)

Mastering the Chess Openings: Unlocking the Mysteries of the Modern Chess Openings, Volume 1 by John Watson
“Watson presents a wide-ranging view of the way in which top-class players really handle the opening, rather than an idealized and simplified model. This is a book that will make chess-players think hard about how they begin their games, while offering both entertainment and challenging material for study.” (Amazon)

Harrington on Hold 'em: Expert Strategy for No Limit Tournaments, Vol. 2: Endgame by Dan Harrington
“In the first volume of this series, Harrington on Hold 'em: Volume I: Strategic Play, Dan Harrington explained how to play in the early phases of tournaments, when most players at the table had plenty of chips, and the blinds and antes were small. This book, Harrington on Hold 'em: Volume II: The Endgame shows you how to play in the later phases of a tournament, when the field has been cut down, the blinds and antes are growing, and the big prize money is within sight. Harrington shows you how to make moves, handle tricky inflection point plays, and maneuver when the tournament is down to its last few players and the end is in sight.” (Amazon)

Learn to Play Winning Chess History, Rules, Skills and Tactics by John Saunders

Previous Sports/fitness edition