"According to Hoyle… "
A lot of those old time poker players out there have heard the phrase “according to Hoyle…” to describe playing by the rules. But what is the origin of this odd phrase, and how has it accumulated it meaning?
The historical roots of the term can be traced back to Edmond Hoyle, who wrote the very first record of gambling rules later to be used at the casino. Published in 1742, his guidebook offered the first standardized set of rules for players to refer to while in gaming. Most of the rules since then are actually still in use because poker games reach back until then. Modern players may be a little startled by the way that games are described, because some games have had small alterations or name changes.
The phrase “according to Hoyle…” has entered into the lexicon because players still recognize that poker is a historical game. It’s kind of homage to the roots of the game to keep the name of the author of the first guidebook in common use. The phrase is most commonly used by older players who learned the historical context of the game. Modern payers often miss the historical roots of the game in favor of the lure of easy money. It’s worth a moment to learn the meaning of phrases before you try to embrace the poker culture.