Oliver Roeder

Seven Games (2022) by Oliver Roeder. Yet another book on the history and nature of a group of like items and how they impact humanity. Usually I have paged through these, generally liberally peppered with photographs of the things in question, and appreciated the beauty and nature of the items. It was also how they linked together to form something more than the separate parts that fascinated me. Things that made New York unique, or the Civil War top 100 items, or whatever. But this is different as it celebrates not the physical aspect of the games portrayed but the ideas and thoughts surrounding these seven games.
There are paragraphs detailing the history of each, giving some dates and locations of origin and famous players and some of the top games. Mr Roeder also provides illumination onto his involvement with them and why they fascinate him. Be it Chess or Checkers, Go, Poker, Backgammon, Scrabble or Bridge, the details of the history fascinate. But the gist of the book is how AI and the world of the computer has changed everything for the players of these games. There is a world of professional players out there and they have seen their dominance of a set game fall to the glory of the computer, be it Watson or any of the various game specific programs. Some players have fallen away from their games but a majority have embraced the new technology to better their understanding, and hence their play, of their beloved game.
It is pointed out early on that games are not just mere toys or diversions in their ability to transfix us. They are now and always have been safe training methods for individuals to hone their abilities for the real world. Generally it is the brain that gets the training. These are tables games and as such require little or no physical strength or ability. But to be a good player you have to devise strategies and ploys to win. Ask any good poker player and they will explain the game is far more than the hands you are dealt.
Each of the seven chapters has unique strategies involved; therefor there are different methods of thought that cohabitates with the game. I have played Chess and Checkers most of my life, not a big fan of Poker, love Scrabble (but I am a bit of a showoff), discovered Backgammon while in the military or all places, had my mind blown by Go, and never played Bridge, so as a consequence I found the book fascinating. It has been several months since I received this book through Goodreads, and I used the time to get reacquainted with my past and revel in the details Mr. Reorder had provided of his own Game quest.… (plus d'informations)