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The Russian Roulette
Russian Roulette is perhaps the most dangerous form of gambling known to man. With the player's life on the line, with or without cash on the side, how can it not be?
Russian Roulette is played using a revolver with a cylinder of six chambers. To say that it is far from the traditional roulette table found in casinos is an understatement but the terminology has been adapted anyway because there is a wheel-like apparatus involved in the game. A single bullet is loaded into one of the chambers and the cylinder is spun rapidly before being closed to make sure the players do not know which chamber contains the bullet. As the player places the revolver against his temple and pulls the trigger, he has a one to six chance of living or dying.
The origin of the lethal game can be traced to Russia, hence the name Russian Roulette. One version traces the origin to a group of Russian prisoners whose lives were made the object of their prison guards' whims. The guards bet on the outcome as the prisoners were threatened to participate; if they play, they have a one to six chance of living but if they do not they will be executed immediately. The second version tells the story of a group of manic Russian soldiers who conjured the game as a means to pass time, release tension and demonstrate their unwavering "courage".
Given the nature of the game, there is hardly any documented evidence of the game being played. Russian Roulette, if ever it is actually played, is carried out in utmost secrecy. Urban legends associate the game with organized crime. Other modern myths include secret societies consisting of respectable men within the community who indulge in taboo activities ranging from hunting down human targets to playing Russian Roulette. Some accounts reveal that the game is played as a way to demonstrate a new member's willingness to kill or die for their "brothers" in the fraternity or gang.
Russian Roulette is a favorite fixture in movies and crime or suspense series. It is frequently depicted or included in modern literature. It is also one of the most popular metaphors for situations that are extremely dangerous to the point of being suicidal.
Russian Roulette is considered by some as the ultimate form of gambling. For some players, it will be the last game they ever play if they lose.