David ParlettPrice: About $15, roughly. Dice Games Properly Explained, by Reiner KniziaPrice: About $15, roughly.
The dice book
Nearly 150 dice games and variations from one of the best-known game designers, with the odds and the tactics. It is why you stop rolling at the right moment in Farkle.
“The absolute classic on dice games and strategies.” the publisher
- Good for
- Dice game fans · Anyone who wants the odds
- Skip it if
- You are happy with the handful of dice games on Pips.
Buy now ↗on Amazon
Our take
Reiner Knizia is one of the best-known game designers in the world, and this is his book on dice: nearly 150 games and variations, with the rules, the odds and the tactics. It is why you stop rolling at the right moment in Farkle.
The odds are the fun part. You will learn why some bids in Liar's Dice are safer than they look, and when pushing your luck pays off.
If a handful of dice games is enough for you, our guides cover them. If you want the whole family, this is the book.
Games it covers
All card games →- Push your luck · 2 to 8 players
Farkle
Roll six dice, bank your points, and don’t Farkle.
- Rolling for points · 4 to 24 players
Bunco
Three dice, six rounds, and a shout when you roll a Bunco.
- Rolling for points · 1 to 6 players
Yahtzee
Five dice, three rolls, thirteen boxes to fill.
- Push your luck · 2 to 6 players
Pig
One die, a pile of points, and a 1 that takes it all.
- Chance · 3 to 10 players
Left Right Center
Pass chips left, right or to the middle. Last one holding chips wins.
- Adding up · 1 to 4 players
Shut the Box
Roll two dice and flip the tiles that add up. Close all nine.
Keep reading
- Story
A short history of playing cards
How a pack of painted paper travelled from China through Egypt to Europe, lost its cups and swords, gained a joker, and ended up in almost every home.
- Buying guide
Choosing a deck
Plastic or paper, poker or bridge size, how many decks you need, and the deck we recommend for each of our games.
- Reference
The glossary
Every card game word, in plain English.
Quick answers
- Can I learn a game from a book?
Yes, but it is easier with a guide first. Start with a Pips guide, then use a book to go deeper or to find new games.
- Which book first?
Card Games For Dummies if you are new, the Penguin Book of Card Games for the widest choice, Hoyle's when you need an answer.
- Why these ten?
They are the books we would put in a friend's hands, each for a different reader. If we would not recommend it, it is not here.
Also consider
Back to the shelf →David ParlettPrice: About $15, roughly.