Edmond Hoyle (1672–1769)

Hey you, yeah, the person reading this thing. Have you ever wanted to learn how to play Whist? This book could probably help you with that. First printed in 1742, this book has been expanded to include more modern games. The first games it covers are card based games. Pinochle, Whist, Rummy, and so on. It has a method of sorting it according to categories, but I don't get the precise method. This book also covers dice games and board games. After describing the main category of the game, it show more talks about the derivations and other things. Lastly, it talks about video games, but I don't really know if that is necessary though. I mean, it talks about Freecell, Minesweeper and other stuff.

I picked up this book since it looked interesting, and because I wanted to know what a "trick-taking game" was supposed to be. In that sense, it delivered. It has a glossary at the back that tells you what a trick is, what a meld is, and so on. It also has further references for some reason, but you could probably just Google that sort of thing. show less

"According to Hoyle" is an expression you don't hear often now, but it means (of course!) according to established rules. Our paperback Hoyle reminds me of the rules of childhood card games. More importantly, it taught us (self and husband) to play Sniff, a domino game we play several times a week.

If you like to play games, whether cards like poker or canasta, chess, backgammon or cribbage, this book is a big help in either learning the rules, or helping others obey the rules!

This is the reference books on games, both card and board games: Scrabble, Poker, Bridge, Gin Rummy, Hearts, Solitaire, Dice Games, Dominoes, Roulette, Chess, Checkers, Backgammon, Cribbage, Parlor Games such as Charades--even Children's games such as Fish, Old Maid and War are here. Along with the rules there are even tips on strategy. One of those really useful reference books.