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

Previously: Taikatalvi.

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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.

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.

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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.

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[Photo via moritz320/Pixabay]