Around the middle of the 18th century, this Englishman wrote a book of rules and instructions for indoor games, especially card games. Who was he?

In the 1740s, an English gentleman began tutoring members of high society in the popular card game of whist. To aid his students, he compiled his notes into a manuscript which he later published in 1742 as "A Short Treatise on the Game of Whist." This book was the first of its kind to scientifically analyze a card game and provide a standardized set of rules, quickly becoming an immense success. He soon followed this with treatises on other popular games of the era, including backgammon and chess.

His work was so influential that he became the ultimate authority on the rules of indoor games. This led to the coining of the popular phrase, "according to Hoyle," which signifies a strict adherence to the correct rules and procedures. The expression became so widespread that it is still used today to denote playing anything by the established rules. His name became synonymous with any official guide to games, and to this day, many modern rulebooks are published under the "Hoyle" brand.

The enduring legacy of his work is a testament to the clarity and structure he brought to recreational pastimes. His codification of rules transformed casual games into more structured pursuits and his influence was so profound that even though he died long before poker was invented, he was inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame as a charter member in 1979. This honor recognizes his foundational contributions to the principles and sportsmanship of gaming.