The Penguin Book of Card Games, by David ParlettPrice: About $15, roughly.
The world reference
More than 250 games from all over the world, each in a page or two: the goal, the deal, the play and where it comes from. It is where you go when you want to play something nobody at the table has heard of.
“The authoritative up-to-date compendium, describing an abundance of games to be played both for fun and by serious players.” Penguin
- Good for
- Curious players · Anyone past the basics
- Skip it if
- You want long tactical advice for one game: each entry here is short.
Buy now ↗on Amazon
Our take
David Parlett is one of the most respected writers on card games alive, and this is his compendium. More than 250 games, from Bridge to Newmarket, with the rules, the variations and a note on where each came from. It covers games from all over the world, not just one country.
That is its strength and its limit. Each game gets a page or two, which is enough to play, and not enough for the long tactical talk. Think of it as the book you open when you want to know what other people are playing, and then play it the same night.
If you liked a guide on Pips and want another hundred like it, this is the one book to own.
Games it covers
All card games →- Trick-taking · 4 players
Whist
The classic partnership trick game. Win the most tricks with your partner.
- Trick-taking · 4 players
Euchre
A fast partnership game with 24 cards and two powerful jacks.
- Trick-taking · 4 players
Hearts
Avoid the hearts and dodge the queen of spades.
- Trick-taking · 3 to 7 players
Oh Hell
Bid exactly how many tricks you will take. Not one more, not one less.
- Shedding · 4 to 7 players
President
Beat the last play, empty your hand, climb from beggar to president.
- Shedding · 3 to 8 players
Cheat
Play cards face down, claim what they are, and call out the liars.
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 →
Albert H. Morehead and othersPrice: About $15, roughly.