Rating: 
Summary: For Players Looking to Improve
Review: Spades for Winners begins with a brief history and overview of the game of spades, and then offers a simple yet sound bidding system that is easy to understand, and just as effective as some of the more complex systems in use. The remaining 300 pages are devoted primarily to card play. Steve presents an aggressive style that is superior to the popular bagging strategy in common use. He demonstrates in easy to understand language how to get the maximum mileage from your cards. His techniques are well explained, and normally illustrated with full deal examples. Particular attention is paid to two subjects that are a common weakness of spades players at all levels, nil defense, and trump management. Bagging strategy is also covered, but the emphasis of the book is on playing aggressively to set the opposition. Spades for Winners focuses on the foundations of strong play, and is intended for the beginner to intermediate level player. Such players can expect to see their play improve significantly after reading this text. Experts too may benefit from a review of these principles. My only caution, is that this book is not to be read lightly, but should be considered a learning tool, and thus be studied appropriately. If you're a novice, or average player, aside from sitting down with an expert for one-on-one tutoring, this book is simply the best way to improve your play.
Rating: 
Summary: THE BEAT GOES ON!
Review: Steve Fleishman has announced (at his web site) a sequel to his first book (Spades For Winners".) The newest book is called "Master Spades". I thought that Steve's first book was pretty darn good, especially for those who have played extensively, before. The advanced chapters were great for improving my overall play. The first book "Spades For Winners" was an absolute beast to read.!! I had just learned the game, and the best value the first book had was to improve my bagging and counting techniues. AS FOR THE NEWBIES AND ROOKIES TO THE GAME - I RECOMMEND "How Not To Lose At Spades" or the "Win At Spades - Basic and Intermediate".
After I finished "Spades For Winners", I was exhausted - but my game was better. I play in Yahoo, and my rating is soaring. Now a second 350+ page monster ("Master Spades") is about to be born! That's more than 700 pages of spades- reminds me of "Tolstoy's - War And Peace". For those who have the money (yes, these books are pricey), and months of free time, I suggest reading Steve's books. For those who want to put Spades in its true perspective (a game of fun), play on the internet.
Rating: 
Summary: Solid, excellent Beginner/Intermediate level book
Review: The authors other book "Master Spades" is for advanced players. This book is targeted towards beginner and intermediate level players. The book covers a wide range of topics from nil bidding, covering the nil, setting the nil, how to maximize your trick taking ability, what to do if you have lots of Spades (don't go wasting them trumping), Bag avoidance (concentrate on making your bid first and setting the opps), bidding, and other topics. There are a large number of sample hands, bidding quizes, and card playing quizes. I found the book to be interesting and enjoyable, though it takes some time to work through the examples. If you're willing to invest a little time reading this book it will enable you to enjoy your Spading more because you will win more often. Its not just a list of a few tips, you need to go through the examples. Its worth the time to do so. After you've read this book and applied the techniques and played a couple of hundred games, try "Master Spades", by the same author. Its a classic, and a must read for any serious Spades player.
Rating:
Summary: Solid, excellent Beginner/Intermediate level book
Review: The authors other book "Master Spades" is for advanced players. This book is targeted towards beginner and intermediate level players. The book covers a wide range of topics from nil bidding, covering the nil, setting the nil, how to maximize your trick taking ability, what to do if you have lots of Spades (don't go wasting them trumping), Bag avoidance (concentrate on making your bid first and setting the opps), bidding, and other topics. There are a large number of sample hands, bidding quizes, and card playing quizes. I found the book to be interesting and enjoyable, though it takes some time to work through the examples. If you're willing to invest a little time reading this book it will enable you to enjoy your Spading more because you will win more often. Its not just a list of a few tips, you need to go through the examples. Its worth the time to do so. After you've read this book and applied the techniques and played a couple of hundred games, try "Master Spades", by the same author. Its a classic, and a must read for any serious Spades player.
Rating:
Summary: Solid, excellent Beginner/Intermediate level book
Review: The authors other book "Master Spades" is for advanced players. This book is targeted towards beginner and intermediate level players. The book covers a wide range of topics from nil bidding, covering the nil, setting the nil, how to maximize your trick taking ability, what to do if you have lots of Spades (don't go wasting them trumping), Bag avoidance (concentrate on making your bid first and setting the opps), bidding, and other topics. There are a large number of sample hands, bidding quizes, and card playing quizes. I found the book to be interesting and enjoyable, though it takes some time to work through the examples. If you're willing to invest a little time reading this book it will enable you to enjoy your Spading more because you will win more often. Its not just a list of a few tips, you need to go through the examples. Its worth the time to do so. After you've read this book and applied the techniques and played a couple of hundred games, try "Master Spades", by the same author. Its a classic, and a must read for any serious Spades player.
Rating:
Summary: Very Well Presented
Review: This book covers the beginner-intermediate stages of the game in a very concise, clear manner. I was very pleased with how Fleishman didn't attempt to make generalized statements which don't always holds true. His writings leave room for the advanced line of play. It seems that too many Spades authors attempt to objectify the game and make broad sweeping statements that don't always hold true. Fleishman avoided this pitfall rather well. The book starts out with a good bidding system, moves on to the different positional plays, and finishes with intermediate strategy. It's well organized, and one can tell that the author has a very in depth understanding of the game. If you're willing to put some time and effort into studying this great book, your game will improve tenfold. An excellent book! I look forward to reading his book on advanced play!
Rating:
Summary: Very Well Presented
Review: This book covers the beginner-intermediate stages of the game in a very concise, clear manner. I was very pleased with how Fleishman didn't attempt to make generalized statements which don't always holds true. His writings leave room for the advanced line of play. It seems that too many Spades authors attempt to objectify the game and make broad sweeping statements that don't always hold true. Fleishman avoided this pitfall rather well. The book starts out with a good bidding system, moves on to the different positional plays, and finishes with intermediate strategy. It's well organized, and one can tell that the author has a very in depth understanding of the game. If you're willing to put some time and effort into studying this great book, your game will improve tenfold. An excellent book! I look forward to reading his book on advanced play!
Rating: 
Summary: Interesting, but not that great!
Review: This book has some pretty decent parts. I never knew anything about the origins of the game. The bidding section is good. Duplicate sounds like a real good variation.
However, this book is just too long, and of limited value to the new - intermediate player. Steve is very long-winded in his explanations of hands. The chapter on Nils is worthless. Defensive play is scantily covered. If you have a lot of time on your hands, or your computer is broken, by all means by this book. Otherwise, save your money....
Rating:
Summary: A really helpful spades book
Review: This is really a great book for the spades player. I
never knew there was so much about spades. I have been
playing for about five years and thought it was a very
simple game and there was nothing left to learn. Wow was
I wrong. One of the things that really impresed me was
that Fleishman explained the secret of making high-level
bids. I always was afraid to bid too high but not any
more. If I had to find something negative to say it would be
that the author sometimes is way ahead of me. I didn't
use to count the cards. But now I am making the effort
and it is paying off. I advise others not to bother
with any of the other spades books they are only for
beginners. This is the one for serius spades players.
Rating:
Summary: Incomparable
Review: To sum up this book in one simple line, "Spades for Winners" is incomparable. Now there is finally a book that covers every facet of the game through expert analysis and an aggressive approach. Steve Fleishman has blown away the Spading community with a far superior exposition on Spade theory. To even try and compare other books with this cutting edge book is akin to comparing a top expert in any field with a novice. Such a comparison does not do the book justice! Fleishman begins with a simple yet superior bidding system and then progresses through beginner and intermediate play of the hand. Every hand is treated with a thorough analysis explaining each technique. Particular attention is given to trump management -- a subject that has been neglected in all other literature on Spades. The beginner can read this book without being overwhelmed. Fleishman presents Spades theory in such a way that it is easy to absorb while also providing keen analysis. If you want to learn how the very few elite players play this game, buy this book.
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