Foster's Complete Hoyle: An Encyclopedia of Games
Including all indoor games played to-day. With suggestions for good play, illustrative hands, and all official laws to date
"Foster's Complete Hoyle: An Encyclopedia of Games" by R. F. Foster is an exhaustive reference work on indoor games, likely written in the early 20th century. The book serves as a comprehensive guide that catalogues a multitude of games, offering systematic instructions and rules that can enhance players' understanding and enjoyment of both new and traditional games. It aims to provide clarity on the official laws governing these games, alongside suggestions for good play and illustrative hands. The opening of the work establishes its authority by discussing the historical significance of the term "Hoyle," which has come to embody the ultimate reference for game rules. Foster emphasizes that the rules of many popular games, particularly card games, vary widely among localities and that his compilation aims to offer a standardized set of rules. By tracing the development and variations of various games, he sets the stage for a systematic presentation of games, beginning with foundational insights into the whist family, thereby enabling readers to grasp both the diversity and the common principles underlying indoor gaming.