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Play According to Hoyle: Hoyle's Rules of Games
paperback: 264 pages Publisher: New American Library; 2nd edition (May 2002) Language: English ISBN-10: 5550136422 ISBN-13: 978-5550136423 Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.2 x 0.8 inches
246 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1946
275 people are currently reading
391 people want to read
About the author
Albert H. Morehead
62 booksAlbert Hodges Morehead, Jr. (August 7, 1909 – October 5, 1966) was a writer for The New York Times, a bridge player, a lexicographer, and an author and editor of reference works.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
September 5, 2015
If you want to play card games you pick up a deck of Hoyle or Bicycle cards. If you want to learn about card games you go to the expert: HOYLE's RULES OF GAMES BY ALBERT MOREHEAD. I love solitaire! I play every day but I wanted to learn more versions than the standard of Solitaire & Spider so I went to the expert, well the expert is dead,but I went to the next best thing,this book. Not only does it give you instructions on card games but games of the retro group including Cribbage, Chess,etc. Dont miss this great reference book.
August 29, 2025
I learned better how to play poker and other games.
August 23, 2011
It is what it says it is on the cover, it's laid out the way you think it ought be, it has a table of contents that is, again, exactly what it ought be, understated illustrations, condensed histories of each game at the beginning of its description/example . . .
It is what you think it is, and that is why it is wonderful. It has a sincerity and authority that I still can't understand why contemporary instructional books react so cynically against, ("for dummies," "This isn't your average how-to book . . .").
This book is a classic on par with Kodak's books on photography.
The older editions cost like 2 bucks if you spend any time in used bookstores, and those are the best ones, from a purely aesthetic standpoint. But smell and touch are far more important in reading this book than any fashion appeal the cover might have.
It is what you think it is, and that is why it is wonderful. It has a sincerity and authority that I still can't understand why contemporary instructional books react so cynically against, ("for dummies," "This isn't your average how-to book . . .").
This book is a classic on par with Kodak's books on photography.
The older editions cost like 2 bucks if you spend any time in used bookstores, and those are the best ones, from a purely aesthetic standpoint. But smell and touch are far more important in reading this book than any fashion appeal the cover might have.
September 14, 2013
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.
February 1, 2012
Both DH and I grew up with Hoyle in our house. It's a must own! We actually have 2 copies here - so we don't rush the other person who must also look at the rules. We do love playing all kinds of games and Hoyles is the definitive reference.
September 13, 2012
Essential for resolving arguments! Excellent for teaching new games.
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July 10, 2023The settler of disputes in my home whenever we had guests over, because cards inevitably were played. That consistency of experience is quite fractured now that you just can't rely on a group of strangers to share a common form of friendly competition (which is such a great way to get to know people). Even among fairly similar social groups, there is rarely a shared game that is understood enough that everyone could play it from memory with only the scaffolding (a deck of cards). Computers cover all the rules for us and most of the time people in a social setting don't all play the same interest. Not so with cards back in the day. You were just expected to know as common social courtesy!
The richness of each individual game and the histories were quite overwhelming in the most wonderful way. I could only focus on so many. I loved reading about Gin Rummy that I played with my grandmother. How explosive its popularity was when she was a younger adult, which parts of the world gravitated towards each variant, and how often everyone from her generation would sit down and show their mastery at Gin or Canasta.
I don't think this book will survive. Having an app with tutorials is just too superior. It hasn't had a new edition in ages and people give me blank stares when I bring up the proposal of card games at parties most of the time. But every so often you see a smile creep across someone's face when you mention Poker or Cribbage because they know the games too, you click, and suddenly everyone is trying to learn alongside your little camp, until the next time everyone wants to show off their new proficiency or mastery.
Read this book to appreciate the richness of such a simple alphabet of game systems. I dare you to commit to a mastering a game or two in this book!
The richness of each individual game and the histories were quite overwhelming in the most wonderful way. I could only focus on so many. I loved reading about Gin Rummy that I played with my grandmother. How explosive its popularity was when she was a younger adult, which parts of the world gravitated towards each variant, and how often everyone from her generation would sit down and show their mastery at Gin or Canasta.
I don't think this book will survive. Having an app with tutorials is just too superior. It hasn't had a new edition in ages and people give me blank stares when I bring up the proposal of card games at parties most of the time. But every so often you see a smile creep across someone's face when you mention Poker or Cribbage because they know the games too, you click, and suddenly everyone is trying to learn alongside your little camp, until the next time everyone wants to show off their new proficiency or mastery.
Read this book to appreciate the richness of such a simple alphabet of game systems. I dare you to commit to a mastering a game or two in this book!
October 17, 2020
For a book with a name that is synonymous with difinitive, this is a very disappointing rule book.
Generally good, and sure to facilitate hours of fun, but lacking in some basic details, or containing contradictory details for some games. It is as if some of the games weren't even played by the authors. Some games are explained very clearly and with helpful details, and some games are explained with rules that aren't actually workable.
Overall, a helpful reference, and great for introducing you to new card or dice games.
Generally good, and sure to facilitate hours of fun, but lacking in some basic details, or containing contradictory details for some games. It is as if some of the games weren't even played by the authors. Some games are explained very clearly and with helpful details, and some games are explained with rules that aren't actually workable.
Overall, a helpful reference, and great for introducing you to new card or dice games.
January 13, 2021
All in all a fun and handy book that delivers what it promises: loads of rules of games - cards, board, dice. A little bit disappointing is the absence of International Draughts. We do not play it on a Chess board here, as the book suggests.
Also there's no mention of Colour Whist or Suit Whist, which is very popular here in Belgium.
Pleased to see there's an elaborate 4 pages about Russian Bank, which I played in my high school days. That alone is a big plus for me and worth some stars.
Also there's no mention of Colour Whist or Suit Whist, which is very popular here in Belgium.
Pleased to see there's an elaborate 4 pages about Russian Bank, which I played in my high school days. That alone is a big plus for me and worth some stars.
September 24, 2024
When I was a kid I read and re-read this book - - just loved the opening illustration and brief history of each type of game. This copy of later version found in a bookstore at Gippsland! (2/9/10 - legacy review but still current.
December 27, 2020
Great reference for card games
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June 10, 2025I did read this but sure didn’t intend to put it on Goodreads. lol I did find some rules in a few games I didn’t know.
September 19, 2018
By far, this is the best rule book I own, and a hard copy is the way to go, rather than digital. I particularly like that this rule book has several versions of backgammon, which is a great reference for playing it. Yay!
July 23, 2016
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 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.
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.
January 18, 2008
Ok, I didn't read the entire book word for word because let's face it that would have taken a long time. But the rules to the games that I did read were really interesting. It actually gave rules and where the games came from, and I found it to be really interesting.
April 5, 2009
I will continue to return to this book whenever I find myself with a deck of cards and lots of spare time. Well-organized and very concise with regards to rules. Who would have known that so many rules could be so much fun?
February 25, 2009
Play According to Hoyle: Hoyle's Rules of Games by Albert H. Morehead (2002)
Want to read
July 12, 2010Been playing cards and games for a while now..lol. Really need to learn some of the proper rules.
April 16, 2011
Just remembered I read this one time
October 15, 2011
Saying I have read this is a bit of a lie. More like dip into it if and when I need to!
July 9, 2012
I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/11239725
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/11239725
September 6, 2012
Great resource for the rules of games.
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June 13, 2013I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/11768933
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/11768933
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June 29, 2010reference,non-fiction,cards,games
700-799-arts-rec
April 8, 2019795.4
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews