Leisure

Fan Tan is a card game in which the object is to be the first to play off all your cards. Learn how to make sure your opponents are left holding the bowl of chips.

By Karolyn A. Schalk

For many people, Klondike is synonymous with solitaire. Why it has been such a popular card game is a puzzle, since you don't end up a winner very often. Learn how to play Klondike solitaire.

By Karolyn A. Schalk

Vanishing Cross is a popular solitaire card game in which the object is to build a 13-card sequence for each suit, using the standard deck of 52 cards. Learn how to beat the deck and win the card game of Vanishing Cross.

By Karolyn A. Schalk

Pinochle was developed in Europe from the card game Bezique. Since then many different and exciting variations of Pinochle have been created. Learn about Pinochle, Partnership Pinochle, Two-Handed Pinochle and Cut-Throat Pinochle.

By Karolyn A. Schalk

The world of card games has its own distinct language. Some terms and games are commonly known while others are more obscure. Read this article to find out the definitions of many card game terms, so you'll feel like a pro at the card table.

By David Galt

Italian Canasta is a variation of classic Canasta, but in this version each player receives 15 cards. Learn how to conquer your opponents by being the first team to earn 12,000 points.

By Karolyn A. Schalk

500 Rum, a popular version of Rummy, can be played by two to six players. Learn how to be the first player to score 500 points and win this card game.

By Karolyn A. Schalk

Knock Rummy is a version of the ever popular Rummy card game. Learn how to be the first player to knock and stop play when your deadwood (unmatched cards) count is less than your opponents'.

By Karolyn A. Schalk

Partnership Pinochle is a trick-taking game played with a 48-card deck. Read on to find out how to win the game by being the first team to score 1,500 points.

You've almost certainly seen sudoku puzzles on bookstore shelves this year. They've quickly grown as popular as crossword puzzles, if not more so. Find out what a sudoku puzzle entails how to go about solving one and where the concept originated.

By Julia Layton

Bet on this: There are tricks to this trade and plenty of odds to beat, so get educated before you pull out your wallet.

By Ed Grabianowski

The first online gambling Web site opened 10 years ago, and paved the way for the hundreds of gambling sites that now exist on the Internet. But what is the appeal? Learn about the legality of online gambling and find out what it's like to gamble online.

By Ed Grabianowski

When people hear the word astrology they often think of future predictions or fortune telling. What is astrology and where did it originate? Find out in this article.

By Ed Grabianowski

Each sign of the Zodiac has a particular meaning. They are grouped by one of the Earth's four elements: earth, fire, water and air. What do these signs represent?

By Ed Grabianowski

Astrology holds that the relative positions of stars and planets have influence over the lives of human beings. Believers call it a science, while non-believers call it nonsense. Learn the basics of astrology.

By Ed Grabianowski

If you've ever stepped foot in a casino, you've undoubtedly noticed the craps tables -- that's where all the cheers are coming from. Craps is an exciting game because it's very hands-on for the players, but it's also quite complex.

By Lee Ann Obringer

Blackjack (also known as "21") is one of the most popular casino games, at least partly because the rules are easy to grasp. There's one aim: Get as close to 21 as possible.

By Ed Grabianowski

Once a game reserved for gun-wielding tough guys in dimly lit smoke-filled back rooms, poker has made an amazing transition to the mainstream. Now there are weekly poker games in homes all over the United States, along with a nationally-televised World Series of Poker.

By Ed Grabianowski

Slot machines may be computerized now, but they're still the most popular gambling attraction at many casinos. While we can't tell you how to improve your chances, we will explain how the machines are constructed and how to calculate the odds of winning.

By Tom Harris

Ever wonder how to calculate your chances of winning all that money? Does it seem strange that a $10 million jackpot turns into a $2.5 million payout? Get the lowdown on the lotteries -- from the odds to the payoffs.

By Karim Nice

I recently visited a big city, and I saw some "three card monte" and "shell games" on street corners and in the subway. I know these games are a scam, but I can't figure out the trick. How do these games work? Is there any way to win?

The Cave of Magic is a classic card trick that demonstrates some principles of magic tricks in general. Like many others, this trick relies on the power of suggestion and the brain's tendency to ignore fine detail. Learn more about the Cave of Magic.

In almost every deck of cards are a pair of relatively useless but well-decorated cards -- the infamous jokers. Where did these cards come from and why do they continue to put jokers in a deck of cards?