author
R. F. (Robert Frederick) Foster
1853–1945
Best known for turning card tables into classrooms, this prolific American writer produced shelf after shelf of lively guides to whist, bridge, and other indoor games. He also promoted memory training, blending practical instruction with an entertainer’s knack for making rules and strategy feel approachable.
1 Audiobook
About the author
Born in 1853 and based in New York City, R. F. Foster became one of the best-known American writers on games. He wrote under the name R. F. Foster and produced more than 50 nonfiction books, many of them focused on how to play card, dice, and board games well.
Foster is especially remembered for his writing on whist and bridge, where his manuals helped explain both the official rules and the finer points of successful play. His books were practical, busy, and designed for ordinary players who wanted clear guidance rather than lofty theory.
Alongside his games writing, he was also known as a promoter of memory training. He died in 1945, leaving behind a body of work that captures a time when game books were an important part of social life and home entertainment.