Devil's Cards

Playing cards are said to have been invented by the devil. No one knows when and where the first deck appeared, but soon gambling took over the whole world, clouded the minds of millions, and spawned conflicts and wars. And how many ways of cheating did clever card sharps come up with—there’s no counting! For two hundred years, Russian writers have been trying to find answers to timeless questions: what makes people bet all their money—right up to the last penny—their honor, freedom, and sometimes even their life? азарт? Greed? The desire to test fate? Why do gamblers who hit the big jackpot end up losing it all—down to every last crumb? Is it true that seasoned players are willing to commit the most terrible crimes just to win? Listen to the most interesting stories filled with superstitions and devilry, psychology and delusions, love entanglements and the shattered pieces of hope.