Hoyle's Rules of Games, by Albert H. Morehead and othersPrice: About $15, roughly.
The American rulebook
The book people mean when they say "according to Hoyle". It settles arguments: precise rules, tactics and what to do when someone plays out of turn, for the games American tables play.
- Good for
- Settling disputes · Gin Rummy, Canasta, Cribbage, Poker
- Skip it if
- You are learning your very first game: the rules are exact, not gentle.
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Our take
'According to Hoyle' means 'by the book', and this is the book: exact rules, tactics, and what to do when a player breaks them. It is written for the games American tables play, so it is strong on Gin Rummy, Canasta, Cribbage and Poker.
It is a reference. You will not read it cover to cover, but you will reach for it when two players disagree about a rule, and the argument will end.
If you are brand new, start with a friendlier book or with the Pips guides. Keep this one for the day you need it.
Games it covers
All card games →- Rummy · 4 players
Canasta
Two decks, four jokers, and melds that grow into canastas.
- Rummy · 2 players
Gin Rummy
Two players, ten cards, knock when you are ready.
- Adding up · 2 players
Cribbage
Count to 31, score fifteens and pairs, peg your way round the board.
- Comparing · 2 to 7 players
Blackjack
Get closer to 21 than the dealer without going over.
- Poker · 2 to 10 players
Texas Hold’em
Two cards of your own, five shared, one best hand.
- Rummy · 2 to 6 players
Rummy
Draw, discard and lay down sets and runs.
Keep reading
- Story
A short history of playing cards
How a pack of painted paper travelled from China through Egypt to Europe, lost its cups and swords, gained a joker, and ended up in almost every home.
- Buying guide
Choosing a deck
Plastic or paper, poker or bridge size, how many decks you need, and the deck we recommend for each of our games.
- Reference
The glossary
Every card game word, in plain English.
Quick answers
- Can I learn a game from a book?
Yes, but it is easier with a guide first. Start with a Pips guide, then use a book to go deeper or to find new games.
- Which book first?
Card Games For Dummies if you are new, the Penguin Book of Card Games for the widest choice, Hoyle's when you need an answer.
- Why these ten?
They are the books we would put in a friend's hands, each for a different reader. If we would not recommend it, it is not here.
Also consider
Back to the shelf →
David ParlettPrice: About $15, roughly.