According to Hoyle Day 🃏

Overview

According to Hoyle Day, observed annually on August 29th, celebrates the legacy of Edmond Hoyle, an 18th-century English writer renowned for his definitive works on the rules of card games. The phrase "according to Hoyle" has become a widely used idiom, meaning "strictly in accordance with the rules" or "correctly and properly." The day serves as a reminder to uphold fairness, precision, and adherence to established rules, whether in games, work, or daily life, honoring Hoyle's lasting contribution to codified standards.

Origin and story

Edmond Hoyle (c. 1672–1769) was an English expert on games who published authoritative guides to popular card games like whist and backgammon.

His most famous work, "A Short Treatise on the Game of Whist," published in 1742, became the definitive authority on the game for over a century.

Quick facts

• DateAugust 29
• TypeGames & Fun
• Great forGame nights, Families, Puzzle fans

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Ways to celebrate

According to Hoyle Day honors Edmond Hoyle, the 18th-century Englishman whose rulebooks turned card games from guesswork into codified sport — and gave the language a phrase for doing anything strictly by the book.

Play strictly by the rules

Celebrate by:

• Picking a game you and your friends always "house-rule," and for one round, playing it exactly as written.
• Looking up the real rulebook for a game you only ever learned secondhand.
• Teaching someone a game from scratch, rules first, no shortcuts.

Learn about Edmond Hoyle

Helpful resources:

• Whist rules and history (Pagat.com)

Use the phrase correctly

• Work "according to Hoyle" into conversation today — it means strictly by the rules, properly done.
• Play a round of whist, the exact game Hoyle's rulebook was written for.

Did you know?

Hoyle's "A Short Treatise on the Game of Whist," published in 1742, remained the definitive authority on the game for more than a century after his death.

Fun facts

• Edmond Hoyle (c. 1672–1769) was an English expert on games who published authoritative guides to popular card games like whist and backgammon.
• His most famous work, "A Short Treatise on the Game of Whist," published in 1742, became the definitive authority on the game for over a century.
• The idiom "according to Hoyle" originated from the widespread trust and respect for his rulebooks, implying that something is done strictly by the book or correctly.

Sources and attribution

Whist rules and history (Pagat.com)

External links may lead to third-party websites.

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FAQ

When is According to Hoyle Day?

It is observed on August 29 each year.

What is According to Hoyle Day?

According to Hoyle Day, observed annually on August 29th, celebrates the legacy of Edmond Hoyle, an 18th-century English writer renowned for his definitive works on the rules of card games. The phrase "according to Hoyle" has become a widely used idiom, meaning "strictly in accordance with the rules" or "correctly and properly." The day serves as a reminder to uphold fairness, precision, and adherence to established rules, whether in games, work, or daily life, honoring Hoyle's lasting contribution to codified standards.

How do people celebrate According to Hoyle Day?

Play a game strictly by its official printed rules instead of your usual house rules, or read up on Edmond Hoyle's 1742 whist rulebook that started the phrase.

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