Rating: 
Summary: "After all of his bragging, Fleishman has a winner"!
Review: "Master Spades" is so cool. I must admit, I was very doubtful about Steve's ability to write another awesome book on the game of Spades - especially after his first book "Spades For Winners". He really does not need to have his friends telling us how great he really is...However, Dustin is my hero!
Just pick up a copy of "Master Spades" and you will soon tremble with excitement. My Mom was very angry at me for spending all of my free time reading this new book. I just could not put this book away. After giving up seven weekends and many more hours after school, I went to Yahoo and played Spades during my Spring School break. I climbed to # 3 on one of their ladders, and gained more than 400 rating points. Then I went into "FlipSide" and crushed the best of those players, as well..
Although I failed three subjects and was grounded for two months, my parents still let use my computer, and Spades is now my game. I am hooked!! "Master Spades" has turned my life around. I know that if I go to college, I will be the King of Spades. And I can hardly wait to attend a SpadesParty event and win some big time cash!
Baseball, coin collecting, ESPN, and meeting girls have taken a back seat to playing Spades. Thank you Mr. Fleishman for making me the expert who I am....This is better than shooting down MIGS in an action game site, or playing "Dungeons and Dragons"... You must buy this book and become a pro - just like me.....
Rating: 
Summary: "The Battle of the Books"
Review: "Master Spades" is the most recent effort by Steve Fleishman. His first book, "Spades For Winners" was very well written, and was touted at his site as the "Complete" Book on Spades. If that claim was true, then why did we need another voluminous edition on what is a relatively simple card game?
Dustin Stoudt, the self-proclaimed "guru" of Spades clearly states that "Master Spades" is the "Bible" of Spades, and the best thing that happened to the game since sliced bread! His reviews and general claims of 'perfection' for Fleishman's works and publications continue ad nauseum - especially on the Internet.
As of this date, there are only three authors who have written about Spades. - And their books are forever linked with mutiple reviews - some good, some fair, and some quite negative. Fleishman has many supporters - a small number of whom have taken delight in "bashing" the competition, while praising "Spades For Winners". The other two writers have chosen to let their books speak for themselves.
... I hope that "Master Spades" will be reviewed on its own merit, and not promoted by slamming the competiton.
The more information that is out there for the players of Spades benefits everyone...
Rating: 
Summary: Who Let The Dogs Out?
Review: "Spades For Winners" was a decent book, and very helpful for the experienced player. Three hundred and forty pages was very long, but the book was still OK. Now we get "Master Spades", and the Hounds from Bayonne, New Jersey are howling. The second Fleishamn book is boring beyond belief, and another never-ending three hundred plus pages of pure confusion. Woof woof woof! The Baja Boys advise you to save your money, or to invest in a basic Hoyle book - which will cost you [very little], and do a good job of teaching you the game of Spades....
Rating:
Summary: Great Book for Professionals! (Only)
Review: "Master Spades" by Steve Fleishman takes the game of Spades to a higher level. The analysis is clear and sharp, and the Trump Management chapter is tremendous. If you have played Spades for a very long time, this Book is for you. - And your partner should also read Master Spades, as well, or you will be "lost in the storm"!
HOWEVER, "Master Spades" is virtually worthless for the beginner and intermediate player. Even if you buy the predecessor volume ("Spades For Winners"), you will be absolutely croaked with the abundance of "technicalese", and thye hundfreds of "Bridge" like hands! I suggest that you read one of the other "general" Spades Books out there - esp. "How Not To Lose At Spades". This is a great learning and teaching tool for the Novice/Intermediate player. THEN - you can move on to "Master Spades" (bypassing "Spades For Winners")....
STILL, Steve has a great book "Master Spades" for the truly advanced player, and well worth your time and investment..
Rating: 
Summary: A Beautiful Cover!
Review: "Master Spades" has a truly beautiful cover. It is almost iridescant and has wonderful graphics. As for the contents, I have played spades for six years, and I was absolutely bummed/ flustered when I saw the material presented. My degree in journalism was useless, and I soon gave up on this book. Still, "Master Spades" makes for a great Christmas/Birthday gift, or a book-end. (Use the "Spades For Winners" book as the other bookend).
Rating:
Summary: Best Spades Book I have Ever Read
Review: "Steve's book might be OK for the expert - but I am not an expert."Then why may I ask, are you reading "Master Spades?" Reading Master Spades before you understand all of the fundamentals is akin to reading a book on quantum mechanics before understanding the elementary principles of science. This book is written ONLY for the experienced player hoping to become an expert. Giving a book a poor review simply because you don't understand it is just plain silly. Not all books are intended for the uneducated. Reading Spades for Winners first is mandatory! A warning is given in several places -- "For those who wish to advance their skills at this very popular card game, Master Spades is written for intermediate and advanced Spades players who seek the status of true expert." "Also, beginner and intermediate level players would do well to read Fleishman's other book Spades for Winners first, as the concepts presented here are "top-flight," and will overwhelm those without a firm foundation. That said, if you're serious about becoming an expert, this book is nearly mandatory reading." And yes, if you aren't an experienced player, this book will go way over your head! This is college-level reading material intended for the serious Spades player. If you want to read something that is written for the 3rd grade level reader, try "how not to lose at spades." Make sure that you then read "Spades for Winners" so that you get a better understanding of the fundamentals. - Dustin
Rating:
Summary: Ralph Cormier
Review: "Steve's book might be OK for the expert - but I am not an expert." Then why may I ask, are you reading "Master Spades?" Reading Master Spades before you understand all of the fundamentals is akin to reading a book on quantum mechanics before understanding the elementary principles of science. This book is written ONLY for the experienced player hoping to become an expert. Giving a book a poor review simply because you don't understand it is just plain silly. Not all books are intended for the uneducated. Reading Spades for Winners first is mandatory! A warning is given in several places -- "For those who wish to advance their skills at this very popular card game, Master Spades is written for intermediate and advanced Spades players who seek the status of true expert." "Also, beginner and intermediate level players would do well to read Fleishman's other book Spades for Winners first, as the concepts presented here are "top-flight," and will overwhelm those without a firm foundation. That said, if you're serious about becoming an expert, this book is nearly mandatory reading." And yes, if you aren't an experienced player, this book will go way over your head! This is college-level reading material intended for the serious Spades player. If you want to read something that is written for the 3rd grade level reader, try "how not to lose at spades." Make sure that you then read "Spades for Winners" so that you get a better understanding of the fundamentals. - Dustin
Rating:
Summary: Thorough and Detailed
Review: Dont bother reading this if you dont want to invest the time going through the examples. Its a bit of work, and many of the finer points will be missed by beginners. If you have some experience (say 100+ Spades games played) and want to improve this book is INVALUABLE. Its helped my game a lot. Steve discusses many advanced concepts (I never heard of the 5-5 before or though much about it). This will noticeably improve you game.
Rating:
Summary: Best Book for Advanced Techniques
Review: Fleishman is the definitive source for advanced spades play. Don't read this book if you're a beginner or just want to play for fun. But if you can handle advanced spades techniques, this is a great place to start.
Rating:
Summary: Oh My God! Help me! I am drowning!
Review: God save us from the rambling wreck from Georgia Tech. Steve, who is a good player, just can't teach Spades. He is so wrapped up in his world of technical jargon, that he loses track of the beginner and newbie player.
Steve's book might be OK for the expert - but I am not an expert. His Site, "Master Spades" has some nice tips for the newcomer to Spades -
But - this book is just too much. PS For a great site for new players, check out the Beginner's area in Yahoo!
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