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Today, “Russian roulette” is understood not only deadly dangerous game with a revolver, but also any adventure that may end for her traders tragically.
However, initially – this is still a game in which the drum one revolver was placed (two, three, up to one empty chamber clips) a cartridge, after which each participant in this deadly show tested his fate. He rotated the drum, and then “shot” himself in head (most often in the temple, although it could be in the mouth), thereby showing his courage or for some other purpose, for example, so peculiarly often a duel took place, where as a judge (to whom to stay alive) fate was chosen.
As we already mentioned, in a drum that could be from 6 or 7 cameras, most often one cartridge was inserted, but for the most desperate and the ratio of 5 rounds in a six-chamber revolver was quite acceptable “game.”
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Sometimes the conditions of Russian roulette were facilitated, say, by shooting desperate daredevils should not have in the head, but in the leg or arm. Another option – do not spin the drum every time before the “shot” (just before the start of the game). This is a shortened Russian roulette, since it was possible to shoot at most 6 or 7 times (in depending on the number of drum chambers).
No one still knows who came up with such a deadly the game. Allegedly, they began to call it “Russian Roulette” only in 1937 years after the American edition of Collier’s Weekly printed a note by a French soldier recounting in her about this fantastic game which officers “had fun” Russian army – this he observed during the First World War. From here and the name is “Russian”, but why “roulette” is probably understandable to each.
However, when Russian roulette appeared in reality, is unknown. True, in Russia something similar was described back in the beginning of the XIX century, when there were no drum revolvers at all. For example, the hero of the novel “Fatalist” by M. Lermontov is the same doing a deadly trick with a single-shot flintlock pistol, in on the assumption that he often misfired. Prototype A. Russian Green also describes “Russian roulette” in his story “Zurbagansky shooter. ”
When and where did Russian roulette appear?
According to one version, Russian roulette appeared at the turn of the XIX and XX centuries, and first in hard labor, where in this deadly show the guards allegedly forced the prisoners to play, while doing bids.
According to another, more humane version, such a game was born in Russian army with the advent of drum pistols – revolvers. As if officers during breaks between battles with the enemy like this demonstrated their boldness and contempt for death. Dead in this the case was attributed to combat losses. High command fought with Russian roulette in all possible ways, up to demotion officers in the rank and file, but this did not help, as in the case of the struggle against duels – a desperate Russian soul is really not very afraid of the deadly …
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Some researchers generally deprive Russia so piquant highlights in her story, proving that such deadly fun were distributed in many countries (for example, in the USA) among officers and even civilians. However, in a generalized form, it has become still, “Russian roulette”, and, it seems, for a reason.
By the way, today they don’t call “Russian roulette”, for example, driving at tremendous speed along the oncoming lane of the highway, or when two cars fly towards each other, counting on who of drivers, nerves will not survive faster. Just such a “roulette” shown in the American action movie “Red Heat”, where this fight Russian KGB specialist easily wins, whose role is excellent performed by Arnold Schwarzenegger. Judging by the movie, the Americans are fine understand who could come up with “Russian roulette”. Only ours human…
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