Russian or hussar roulette is an extreme game in which one of the participants can die from a fatal shot. It is believed that Russian roulette was widespread in Russia, but there is practically no documentary evidence of how people played this extreme game.
In Lermontov's novel A Hero of Our Time, a bet was described that vaguely resembled this game. The first written mention of this term dates back to January 30, 1937, when an article by George Surdez “Russian Roulette” appeared in the American magazine Collier’s Weekly. It described how, around 1917, Russian officers, disappointed in life, unexpectedly took out a revolver, took out only one cartridge from it, and then, spinning the drum, put the muzzle to the temple and pulled the trigger. The odds of it ending in death were five out of six.
How the game Russian roulette appeared
No one can give an exact answer to this question. There are three common versions of the appearance of this deadly game:
- Russian roulette was invented by prison guards at the end of the 19th century. Allegedly, the prisoners were given a pistol with one cartridge. The game continued until it ended in someone's death. The overseers made bets and bets on the prisoner who, in their opinion, should come out the winner.
- This game was invented by officers of the Russian army. By playing Russian Roulette, they demonstrated their courage and fearlessness.
- According to the third version, this game was conceived as a spectacular trick. The drum of the revolver was thoroughly lubricated. It turned out that under the weight of one cartridge, he scrolled and was always at the bottom. This is how the picture is presented: the amazed lady faints after, in front of her eyes, an officer, in a fit of passion, decides to try his luck and put his life on the line.
Russian Roulette Rules
One cartridge is inserted into a six-shot revolver, then the drum spins up. The muzzle of the pistol is placed against the chest or head and the trigger is pulled. If the participant remains alive, then the game continues. The revolver is transferred to the next one.
There are variations of these rules. For example, not one, but several cartridges are inserted into the drum.
There are more humane rules when the barrel of a pistol is placed on other parts of the body, the injuries in which will not be fatal.
How Russian Roulette is played today
The most popular Russian roulette is among people prone to suicide. In particular, the organizers of the Darwin Prize, which is awarded posthumously to people who have died the most ridiculous death, argue that Russian Roulette is one of the most original methods of suicide.
An unusual incident occurred in Cambodia. On March 22, 1999, three peasants in a bar were playing a kind of Russian roulette: they alternately pressed their feet on an anti-tank mine that was under their table. In this game, it was not possible to identify the winner: a powerful explosion caused such destruction that none of the participants in this game was ever found.
