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The Ghost In My Machine

Stories of the Strange and Unusual

The Most Dangerous Games: Chertik, Chertik, Or The Little Devil Game

December 26, 2018 by Lucia

Previously: Taikatalvi.

Note: Please don’t copy/paste or republish the text of this post on other websites without permission.

According to most sources, the game known as Chertik, Chertik is of Russian origin — “chertik,” or чертик, meaning “little devil” in English. Indeed, the title of the English language version of the game is a direct translation of that word: It’s known as the Little Devil Game.

A threaded needle

I’m uncertain how far back this game goes; the Lobachevsky State University of Nizhny Novgorod’s online folklore archive has documentation of it going back to the late 1990s, but for what it’s worth, the supernatural and the occult have featured quite prominently in Russian literature across centuries, with chertiks appearing left and right — in Aleksei Remizov’s short story “Chertik,” for example, and Velimir Khlebnikov’s one-act play, also titled “Chertik.” Superstition runs deep, though, and it’s usually suggested that making a deal with the devil would be… a mistake.

[Like what you read? Check out Dangerous Games To Play In The Dark, available from Chronicle Books now!]

Chertik, Chertik is part summoning ritual, part game of knowledge. Like the Compass Game, it involves making your own variation on a talking or Ouija board and fashioning a device that functions like a planchette from a few everyday objects. But like Sara Sarita, it would also be wise not to put too much trust in your correspondent. You are talking with the Devil, after all — or at least, a devil. And devils aren’t generally known for their truthfulness or honesty.

They’re known for their lies.

As always, play at your own risk.

Participants:

  • At least one principal.

Requirements:

  • A quiet room.
  • A piece of paper.
  • A writing implement.
  • A needle.
  • A spool of thread. The thread may be any color, but red or black is recommended.
  • A small pair of sewing scissors.
  • A bow compass (optional, but recommended).
  • A candle.
  • Matches or a lighter.
  • Questions.

Instructions:

The Preparations:

  1. Begin by placing the piece of paper on a flat surface inside your quiet room and using the writing implement to draw as perfect a circle as you can on it. If you have acquired a bow compass, use it to accomplish this step. The circle should be large, but leave enough space to be able to write between the circle’s edge and the edges of the paper.
  2. Draw a small dot in the center of the circle. If you used a bow compass to draw your circle, draw this dot on the pinprick in the paper left by the compass’ needle.
  3. Around this dot, draw a small illustration of a devil. It need not be especially detailed, but the illustrated devil should have cloven hooves, a forked tail, and — of course — horns. The dot should be positioned where the devil’s heart would be — if devils had hearts, that is.
  4. Along the outer edge of the circle, write the letters of the alphabet. Using your illustrated devil to orient yourself, position the “A” at the top (e.g. above the devil’s head).
  5. Along the inner edge of the circle, write the numbers zero through nine. The zero should align at the top of the circle with the “A.”
  6. Directly above the devil’s head, write the word “YES.” Directly below the devil’s feet, write the word “NO.”
  7. Your board is now complete.

The Invitation:

  1. If the lights are on, turn them off. If there are windows, close the curtains.
  2. Place the candle near the piece of paper and light it using your matches or lighter.
  3. Using the sewing scissors, cut a piece of thread about 20 inches in length. Thread the needle, doubling up the thread before you tie the ends off with a knot. When you hold the thread at the knot, the doubled-up thread should measure about 10 inches, with the needle dangling from the end of it.
  4. If playing with two or more participants, set the needle and thread aside and join hands. If playing alone, skip this step and proceed to the next step.
  5. Speak aloud — in unison, if playing with two or more participants — the words, “Forces of darkness, I ask for your help.”
  6. If playing with two or more participants, release your hands. If playing alone, skip this step and proceed to the next step.
  7. Hold the needle to the candle’s flame. Allow its point to get as hot as you can bear.
  8. Remove the needle from the flame. Hold the thread by the knot at the end of it, allowing the needle to dangle over the piece of paper.
  9. Still holding the knot in the thread, position the needle’s point at the dot in the center of the devil illustration. You may wish to dig the point into the paper — just a bit. Be careful; don’t dig too deep.
    • NOTE: Leave a small amount of slack in the thread; the needle should not stand completely upright. It should tilt out slightly at an angle. If you were to nudge the needle’s eye gently with your finger, it should be able to rotate freely around the circle, with the point remaining secured at the center of the paper.
  10. Repeat twice, aloud — again in unison, if playing with two or more participants — the phrase, “Chertik, Chertik, come!”
  11. Ask aloud, “Chertik, Chertik, are you here?”
    • NOTE: Only one participant need ask this question; if playing with two or more participants, there is no need to speak in unison.
  12. Watch the needle.
    • If the needle remains stationary, indicates “NO,” or otherwise gives a negative or nonsensical answer: DO NOT PROCEED. Snip the thread with the sewing scissors, remove it from the needle, and hold the thread to the candle’s flame until it has burned away completely. Then destroy and dispose of the paper and bury the needle in the ground as far away as possible. You may try again another time — although it’s not recommended that you do.
    • If the needle points to “YES” or otherwise gives a positive answer: You may proceed.

The Conversation:

  1. Ask a question. Make sure you begin by addressing “Chertik, Chertik” by name.
  2. Watch the needle.
    • If it remains stationary: Ask a different question.
    • If it swings: Make note of where it stops; the letters, numbers, or words the needle’s eye points to will indicate your answer. It might spell out words or messages; it might give you certain numbers; it might indicate “YES” or “NO.” If playing with two or more participants, a second participant may record the answers on a separate piece of paper.
  3. When you are finished asking questions (see: Additional Notes), proceed to The Banishment.

The Banishment:

  1. If playing with two or more participants, set down the needle and thread in the center of the circle and join hands. If playing alone, skip this step and proceed to the next step.
  2. Speak aloud — once more in unison, if playing with two or more participants — the words, “Chertik, Chertik, be gone!”
  3. If playing with two or more participants, release your hands. If playing alone, skip this step and proceed to the next step.
  4. Snip the thread with the sewing scissors and remove it from the needle. Hold it to the candle’s flame until it has burned away completely.
  5. Turn on the lights.
  6. Open the curtains.
  7. As soon as you are able, destroy and dispose of the paper. Then take the needle as far away as you can and bury it in the ground.
  8. You may find, in the days and weeks following your game, that you have developed a certain… sensitivity to religious iconography. This is to be expected. There is also nothing to be done about it.
  9. What did you think would happen if you invited the devil to play?

Additional Notes:

You may play this game at any time or on any date. However, before beginning, all participants should remove any metal jewelry from their person. Also do not wear, carry, or otherwise allow to be present any items depicting religious iconography. Leave these items outside the room in which you have decided to play.

The length of thread need not be precisely 10 inches. This measurement is an estimate only.

If playing with two or more participants, you may choose to designate one participant as First Principal. The First Principal may take the lead in conducting The Preparations, issuing The Invitation, and beginning The Banishment, including but not limited to: Drawing the board; preparing, positioning, and holding the needle and thread; leading the incantations in The Invitation; asking, “Chertik, Chertik, are you here?” in The Invitation; and leading the incantations and destroying and disposing of all necessary items in The Banishment.

One participant should remain in charge of the needle and thread throughout the entire Conversation; there is no need to switch off participants. Any participant may ask a question, regardless of which participant is holding the thread.

Do not ask any questions without first addressing “Chertik, Chertik.”

You may ask questions for as long as you like; however, if the answers become nonsensical or cease entirely, or if you correspondent otherwise indicates that they are no longer willing to entertain you, proceed to The Banishment as soon as possible.

Concerning Your Correspondent’s Answers:

Do not take them at face value.

Your correspondent may deceive you. They may trick you. They may lie to you. They may tell you what you want to hear instead of what you need to hear.

They’ll almost certainly attempt to manipulate you into doing their bidding.

They may sprinkle their answers with seeds of truth — seeds which are quite valuable, indeed — but it will be up to you to separate the truths from the lies.

If you fail to do so… well, they’ll have you right where they want to, then.

Did you really think they would let you ask them for information without taking something from you in return?

Chertik, Chertik: FAQ.

***

Please don’t plagiarize this post. Linking to it or sharing the URL only is fine (and encouraged!), as is writing your own unique version of the game with sources cited and linked to, but copying/pasting, republishing, or otherwise reproducing the text of this piece in its entirety or near-entirety on other websites without permission isn’t.

***

Follow The Ghost In My Machine on Twitter @GhostMachine13 and on Facebook @TheGhostInMyMachine. And don’t forget to check out Dangerous Games To Play In The Dark, available now from Chronicle Books!

[Photo via moritz320/Pixabay]

Filed Under: Games Tagged With: Cherik Chertik, chertik, deal with the devil, devil, games you shouldn't play, Russia, The Little Devil Game, The Most Dangerous Games

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Kala says

    October 16, 2020 at 11:10 am

    I played this game and we didn’t read all the paper like at the vary end and when we where done we burned the paper and we had to pee but we where so 😱 scared we went together And I had to pee in the bathTub we didn’t get every thing religious out of the room and it shaterd

    Reply
  2. Kyla says

    March 11, 2020 at 2:48 pm

    A few weeks ago I played the raven man and I think I messed up the ending and the next day I had the flu for 7 days, I played this game yesterday and went to bury the needle I put it in my pocket but when I went to put it in the ground I didn’t really care at the point but today I am very sick coughing, nausea, ect. And found the needle in my phone case. Does my sickness have anything to do with not finishing these rituals the right way?

    Reply
    • Chrissie says

      July 22, 2020 at 3:08 pm

      Most likely, yes. I suggest you dispose them immediately.

      Reply
  3. SilentSong says

    June 24, 2019 at 6:51 am

    Quick sort-of question;
    I’m guessing if you have a tattoo of a cross or other religious iconography you should probably give this ritual (and any other ritual that requires you to leave such objects outside the playroom) a miss?
    I mean, if you have a tattoo of such an image and you were to become sensitive to such things it would probably drive you crazy, right?

    Reply
  4. Creepie says

    February 23, 2019 at 11:30 am

    My tip:
    Use a regular ouija board. In this game you are talking to a devil. That’s it. But if you use an ouija board you have even a little CHANCE to talk with a good spirit. Also I would be interested to know if you could call an angel if you drew an angel on the paper and said like “Gabriel Gabriel [question]” or something. Do you think that could work?
    Ps: I love this site, these are my good night fairytales XD

    Reply
  5. Chinchy says

    February 19, 2019 at 4:59 am

    I tried this today and it was shocking, I started asking it what I should do about myself then shortly after about it. I can confirm that this creature said it is from Hell, it does not believe in God (can’t blame him), and when I asked if it was strong it simply said no. As soon as I entered the room in which I left two crosses as result of the instructions (they were gifted to me by my grandmother), I had a headache. Next I burnt the piece of paper inside the candle which was held in a glass cylinder. The fire was moderate (about the size of a tennis ball), however when I went to pour water on it in the shower the flame shot out of control and after the the flame was extinguished a foam came out of it and it also cracked the glass cylinder into 3 big pieces. I left this challenge with two cuts on my hand and a burn on my forearm. Very ominous and I recommend to maybe do another challenge as even when I took safety measures in this one, I had minor injuries.

    Reply
  6. via_the_cat says

    January 24, 2019 at 10:40 am

    By “destroy and dispose of the paper”, can you burn the paper then scatter the ashes in the ocean or is there something more ideal to dispose of the objects? Also, I really love hearing about the stories!! (Most dangerous games is my favorite!)

    Reply
  7. Jia says

    January 9, 2019 at 9:28 am

    Every time I get ready to play any game, I ACCIDENTALLY read last paragraph and my self confidence melts….

    Reply
  8. Horror story fan says

    January 2, 2019 at 1:07 am

    1. Can you illustrate the board making with a diagram?
    2. Can we carry any kind of tools to hold the needle over the flame?
    3. What do you mean by religeous sensitivity? Will we become more religious, or less religious?
    4. About the picture of the devil : It’s like a bull, right?
    5. Should we not carry items decepting any religion?

    Reply
  9. Yaboi says

    December 29, 2018 at 4:12 pm

    Hey would this still work if there is someone else in the room but they weren’t participating, just watching?

    Reply
    • Michael says

      March 7, 2019 at 4:13 pm

      There’s nothing to suggest it wouldn’t work, however with games like this it’s much better not to push your luck. Who knows what might happen to them…

      Reply
  10. Kathryn says

    December 29, 2018 at 4:11 pm

    Can you play this with other people in the room? In the building? If there were people in the room or building who didn’t want to play but also didn’t want to leave, could you still play without there being adverse effects on the other people?

    Reply
    • Michael says

      March 7, 2019 at 4:11 pm

      With any of these games and rituals, it’s recommended that other living beings (family, pets etc.) who are not taking part vacate the premises before starting the ritual. Whilst there isn’t anything in the instructions demanding this, getting unwilling people involved isn’t recommended, and could be quite disastrous depending on the ritual.

      Reply
  11. Kitten-chan says

    December 29, 2018 at 12:29 pm

    I love your creepy content. You give me something to look forward to every week. Keep up the good work@

    Reply
    • Lucia says

      January 11, 2019 at 11:48 am

      Thanks! So glad you’re enjoying the site!

      Reply
  12. via_the_cat says

    December 28, 2018 at 11:22 am

    What do you mean by sensitivity? Does that mean whenever you see a picture of Jesus Christ or Mary or whoever you will feel pain, or does it mean you will feel irritated? To shorten, will the sensitivity be physical or mental? Pain or annoyance? and will you ever be able to walk into a church again?

    Reply
    • Cs13 says

      October 19, 2019 at 1:18 am

      For me, you’ll sensitive to ghost? Just like when you open your third eye?
      But, your theory might be true, since we’re playing with the devil. Devils hate those things.

      Reply

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