Previously: The Doors of Your Mind.
Not to be confused with the excellent Ichor Falls short story “The Gambler,” The Gambler’s Game is neither as long as many of the other games and rituals we explored, nor as involved: All it requires is a pack of cards and an hour or so of your time. But although the game is short and sweet, the stakes are high; what would be the point of playing if they were not?
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It’s common knowledge that the Devil loves to gamble; however, it hasn’t been confirmed whether the Gambler of this game is he — or whether the name of the game might refer to the player him or herself instead. Whoever or whatever your opponent may be, though, be warned: He plays for keeps.
As always, play at your own risk.
Players:
- 1 principal.
Requirements:
- A pack of playing cards.
- A quiet room.
- A table.
- Two chairs.
Instructions:
- Begin whenever you feel the need.
- Take up your pack of playing cards, go to your quite room, and seat yourself at the table. You should be facing the second chair across the table.
- Shuffle the cards. Shuffle them thoroughly, and shuffle them well. Do not attempt to mark or stack the deck; cheating will not be tolerated.
- Choose your game and deal yourself a hand.
- Begin the game by facing the second chair and saying the words, “Let’s play.” You may feel a slight chill; if you do, do not be concerned. If you do not, however, do not proceed.
- Deal the Gambler his hand; then play your first move. When it is the Gambler’s turn, you must help him play by laying down cards randomly from his hand. Do NOT look at his hand before it is on the table. Again, cheating will not be tolerated.
- Play the game to its conclusion, alternating turns as required.
- If you win: Take the top card of the deck and draw its edge across the pointer finger of your right hand. If you draw blood, that hand will henceforth have the power to win any gamble, whether it’s a throw of the dice or the luck of the draw. Use it wisely, and sparingly.
- If the Gambler wins: He will claim his prize — and before you ask, no, there is nothing you can do to dissuade him from doing so.
Additional Notes:
Any game will do, although Blackjack is preferred. It should be noted that games whose outcomes rely solely on luck make poor choices, indeed.
If possible, use a new and previously unopened pack of cards; the Gambler is mistrustful, and he may not look kindly upon an old or well-worn deck.
Should the Gambler win, he will not be quick about claiming his prize; nor will it be clean. You have only yourself to blame, however. After all, you were the one who decided to tempt fate.
A Word of Advice:
It is NOT recommended that you play this game.
There’s a reason you don’t come across many people with lucky hands in this world.
***
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Cas says
March 31, 2015 at 10:48 pmIs it possible to use a deck of a specific game?
KeeganTheFabulous says
May 24, 2015 at 8:29 pm“If possible, use a new and previously unopened pack of cards; the Gambler is mistrustful, and he may not look kindly upon an old or well-worn deck.” By analogy, if you use a specific pack, the Gambler will think you a cheater. So stick with a generic pack.
Linivier says
May 27, 2015 at 11:00 pmOkay but what if you accidentally look at his cards? Is there a way you can truthfully say that you didn’t mean to, and start over? Would you be able to apologize? Does he automatically win?
KeeganTheFabulous says
June 3, 2015 at 3:50 amThe cards should all be facing down, to begin with, unless the rules of the game state otherwise; and when you’re playing with the supernatural and the unknown, playing by the rules will be your one lifesaver. If you accidentally see the Gambler’s cards, I’d unfortunately have to guess that you’re screwed.
A Random Person says
July 13, 2017 at 4:39 pmHow can you “accidentally” look at his cards?
Aloe says
May 17, 2018 at 1:25 amTry giving him another card. It should work, but by any means be careful when giving his hand.
roy says
June 20, 2015 at 1:33 amWhat if you are playing blackjack with him, does he only get two cards? Or should you look at his cards aND play for him? How do you know if he wants a “hit”?
Alana says
August 15, 2015 at 5:00 pmSo what happens if you don’t feel the chill? Why is it bad of you don’t? Wouldn’t it just meant that nothing entered? That no one was playing with you?
Des says
October 4, 2017 at 12:11 pmThat mean they don’t want to play
samara says
August 22, 2015 at 1:38 amwhats the reward the gambler gets?
Corvo Attano says
September 9, 2015 at 5:11 pmYou die i am guessing
Samuel says
September 17, 2015 at 4:06 pmYour life. It seems his reward is killing you at any time, in whatever way he wants.
Jules says
May 26, 2016 at 10:13 amLikely your soul.
A Random Person says
July 13, 2017 at 4:38 pmMost likely, you.
IndieDud says
August 1, 2017 at 6:51 pmMost likely, your life. Or maybe things, like fame, money, health, knowledge. Nobody knows.
Des says
October 4, 2017 at 12:14 pmHe’s a ghost so maybe not money or physical objects
skyvelxx20 says
September 1, 2016 at 6:23 pmWHATEVER YOU DO, DON’T PLAY WAR WITH HIM!!!! I SPEAK FROM EXPERIENCE!!!
Tigerheart says
January 25, 2017 at 5:13 pmWhat happened? Did he touch you?
Lady-Grim says
January 27, 2017 at 10:30 amOf all the games you could have chosen… You played war? Well, how did that work out for you?
sutetanjay says
November 21, 2016 at 6:20 pmYou should drink liquid luck before play this gameXD
RD says
March 27, 2017 at 3:22 amCan I play UNO with him?
A Random Person says
July 13, 2017 at 4:37 pmI was thinking the same thing… but then i thought about trash…
Whitney says
May 9, 2017 at 9:10 amCan someone help me understand these rules better.
6. Deal the Gambler his hand; then play your first move. When it is the Gambler’s turn, you must help him play by laying down cards randomly from his hand. Do NOT look at his hand before it is on the table. Again, cheating will not be tolerated.
7. Play the game to its conclusion, alternating turns as required.
And is it possible to play with more than two people, like inviting a friend to play as well.
lucy fir says
June 5, 2017 at 6:59 pmI won. however, I recommend you BURN the pack of cards you used, as I feel a little odd when using them
Iil uci fer says
June 8, 2017 at 3:46 amSo is your hand now blessed?
Chogiwa says
June 17, 2018 at 9:25 pmDoes it work? Do you have lucky hands now?
IndieDud says
August 1, 2017 at 6:53 pmWait, can you bring things that make you luck like four-leaf clover or rabbit feet or ace?
Broadway trash says
August 13, 2017 at 4:28 pmThat might be considered cheating
ash says
September 18, 2017 at 4:31 pmif you “do not proceed” should you just leave the room alone till the next day? or burn the playing cards or something like that?
ash says
October 1, 2017 at 12:00 amwhat if i do the small radio, the dark reflection ritual AND the man in the fields ritual before doing this and play a game totally reliant on luck? wouldn’t i win?
what if i “play” dry bones/11 miles and make my wish to win this game?
are those things considered cheating?
One_Blue_Glove says
October 22, 2017 at 12:12 pmI’m sure otherworldly spirits know each other, so he may sense you’ve played those games before. Plus, that would be like telling the dealer of the game (in this case, luck) to lean towards you, so he’d probably see it as cheating.
Rhiannon says
January 6, 2018 at 10:30 pmIf I don’t feel a slight chill, it’s means he’s not there, right? So I could, theoretically, play a nice card game against myself with no repercussions and no entities present?
basil says
January 22, 2018 at 3:04 pmWhat if i don’t draw blood?
Sya says
March 7, 2018 at 7:53 amThen there is no prize, but at least you are alive.
Should have chosen a different game, he was so bored through it he didn’t even bother to give you luck.
Ned Winston says
May 2, 2018 at 11:58 amWhat if an outside force (whether it be a draft of some kind, a fan, anything that can move light objects) flips the gambler’s deck around and I look at them? Does that suffice as cheating or at losing condition?
Michael says
June 4, 2018 at 4:20 amI think that this is not cheating.
A person says
May 5, 2018 at 2:50 pmCan you win this and then play the dice game, or would it be cheating?
Michael says
June 4, 2018 at 4:19 amCan you play Durak with the Gambler?
Jothulhu says
June 29, 2018 at 3:20 pmAs I read this, I heard the sound of a deck shuffling several times in the next room over.
IT'S YA BOI says
June 30, 2018 at 5:55 amif you are playing blackjack with him, does he only get two cards? Or should you look at his cards and play for him? How do you know if he wants another card/hit or if he wants to not get another card/stay?
the hierophant says
August 4, 2018 at 8:53 amI really liked this (and the whole website, found it recently!) but this would actually be ridiculously easy to win if you played blackjack seeing as your opponent can’t hit or call. I’m assuming I must be missing something. would you get some sort of signal perhaps? maybe tell him to like knock once for a card and twice to stop? otherwise you’d have just about a guaranteed win against your opponent and this would be TOTALLY worth it to play.
3##3 says
January 16, 2019 at 3:07 pmYour life is mine.