<p>The 2001 edition of <em>Hoyle's Rules of Games</em> includes rules for Bridge, Cribbage, Gin rummy, Hearts, Spades Pinochle, Chess , Scrabble,  and Canasta, all of which have tournament organizations that publish official rules. The laws of Bridge (both duplicate and rubber) have surely changes several times, most recently in 2017. Moreover contract bridge had official laws almost since it was created, and Hoyle's was never the source of those laws. I suspect that the official rules of some of those other games have been revised, at least in minor ways, since 1980.</p>
<p>In addition, <em>Hoyle's</em> includes rules for craps, Poker, and  <em>Chemin-de-Fer</em> all of which are played at casinos that have their own official rules. Poker also has official tournaments.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-08-25T18:35:25.850Z
2021-08-25T18:35:25.850Z
David Siegel
<p>It depends what you mean by &quot;<em>Official</em>&quot;.</p>
<p>None of the games in Hoyle have an &quot;official&quot; governing body to set the rules.  Or at least none of them did when it was first published.  Hoyle attempted to fill that gap.</p>
<p>Hoyle attempted to codify the rules of many traditional games that have been played for many years, often centuries.  Each part of the country playing to slightly different rules.</p>
<p>The different rules all still exist/existed and were not necessarily replaced by Hoyle, although it became common for players to agree to use his rules.  Hence the expression - still used today - of playing any game &quot;<em>According to Hoyle</em>&quot;.  Such agreement does reduce the risk of arguments over the rules during play.</p>
<p>There is no mention in my 1980's copy of Hoyle of any rules of any game changing over time.  None of the games in it could be said to date from after your 1960's version.  So, assuming your tournament runs <em>according to Hoyle</em>, I would say your copy is just as valid as it ever was.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-08-25T09:14:30.437Z
I understand that each game with international or regional tournaments likely has it's own governing body for rules. I simply meant that if, for example: I enter a causal tournament for any game, can I rely upon the rules in a '63 edition? Would there be changes to how certain irregularities are handled? Or would scoring have been modified since '63? Et cetera.
DKqwerty
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-08-25T09:16:10.253Z
My last paragraph answers that.
Chenmunka
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-08-25T09:17:42.207Z
I suppose a related question would be, "Are there any games for which tournaments (amateur or professional) typically deviate from 'Hoyle's'?".
DKqwerty
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-08-25T09:20:30.127Z
Yes, that's a different question.  Although I can't see any of Hoyle's games having professionals - but I could be wrong.
Chenmunka
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-08-25T09:23:30.993Z
Games in my book played pro that pop to mind: chess, poker, and Scrabble®…
DKqwerty
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-08-25T14:54:38.063Z
Bridge.  And my 1970's Hoyle ('s book of *card* games) definitely wouldn't have the current Laws (rubber or duplicate) in them.
Mycroft
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-08-25T08:40:14.770Z
2021-08-25T08:40:14.770Z
Chenmunka
<p>Do the rules in official <em>Hoyle's</em> books ever experience changes, major or minor?</p>
<p>For example, I have a <em>Hoyle's Rules of Games</em> from 1963: can I assume whatever content is in the book is still valid for tournament play?</p>
<p>Obviously any content added since will be missing (additional games, since-clarified irregularities, etc.), but I'd like to know if anything could now be potentially incorrect in my '64 edition.</p>

<history><edition-comparison>
Changes to rules in 'Hoyle's'?
DKqwerty
# Changes to rules in 'Hoyle's'?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2021-08-25)

Do the rules in official *Hoyle's* books ever experience changes, major or minor?

For example, I have a *Hoyle's Rules of Games* from 1963: can I assume whatever content is in the book is still valid for tournament play?

Obviously any content added since will be missing (additional games, since-clarified irregularities, etc.), but I'd like to know if anything could now be potentially incorrect in my '64 edition.

**Tags:** history, edition-comparison


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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2021-08-25. Score: 2

The 2001 edition of *Hoyle's Rules of Games* includes rules for Bridge, Cribbage, Gin rummy, Hearts, Spades Pinochle, Chess , Scrabble, and Canasta, all of which have tournament organizations that publish official rules. The laws of Bridge (both duplicate and rubber) have surely changes several times, most recently in 2017. Moreover contract bridge had official laws almost since it was created, and Hoyle's was never the source of those laws. I suspect that the official rules of some of those other games have been revised, at least in minor ways, since 1980.

In addition, *Hoyle's* includes rules for craps, Poker, and *Chemin-de-Fer* all of which are played at casinos that have their own official rules. Poker also has official tournaments.


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### Answer by username_2 on 2021-08-25. Score: 2

It depends what you mean by "*Official*".

None of the games in Hoyle have an "official" governing body to set the rules. Or at least none of them did when it was first published. Hoyle attempted to fill that gap.

Hoyle attempted to codify the rules of many traditional games that have been played for many years, often centuries. Each part of the country playing to slightly different rules.

The different rules all still exist/existed and were not necessarily replaced by Hoyle, although it became common for players to agree to use his rules. Hence the expression - still used today - of playing any game "*According to Hoyle*". Such agreement does reduce the risk of arguments over the rules during play.

There is no mention in my 1980's copy of Hoyle of any rules of any game changing over time. None of the games in it could be said to date from after your 1960's version. So, assuming your tournament runs *according to Hoyle*, I would say your copy is just as valid as it ever was.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: I understand that each game with international or regional tournaments likely has it's own governing body for rules. I simply meant that if, for example: I enter a causal tournament for any game, can I rely upon the rules in a '63 edition? Would there be changes to how certain irregularities are handled? Or would scoring have been modified since '63? Et cetera.  
> **username_2**: My last paragraph answers that.  
> **username_0**: I suppose a related question would be, "Are there any games for which tournaments (amateur or professional) typically deviate from 'Hoyle's'?".  
> **username_2**: Yes, that's a different question.  Although I can't see any of Hoyle's games having professionals - but I could be wrong.  
> **username_0**: Games in my book played pro that pop to mind: chess, poker, and Scrabble®…  
> **username_3**: Bridge.  And my 1970's Hoyle ('s book of *card* games) definitely wouldn't have the current Laws (rubber or duplicate) in them.  

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