Heads or Tails

For the next two weeks,even the disapproving gods will smile indulgently on frenetic gambling.

Written by Leher Kala

October 29, 2012 01:53 AM IST

4 min read

For the next two weeks,even the disapproving gods will smile indulgently on frenetic gambling. Indian festivals unlike our puritanical religions have their own small windows of decadence; unabashed consumption of bhang during Holi and wild gambling during Diwali. Though a game of dice has led to the loss of a kingdom and a wife,traditionally,Lakshmi the goddess of wealth is supposed to shower riches on the card players households for the rest of the year,or so the legend goes.

Ive never had much of a head for cards. I started bridge last year with a great amount of enthusiasm,spurred on by the fact that guys like Bill Gates and Warren Buffett are hooked to it and that it prevents Alzheimers. But,after the fourth class,I still hadnt understood a thing. Friends who play regularly tell me its the most engrossing game ever invented,but I have yet to take to it. (I havent ruled out trying it again.) But any half wit can master teen patti or flash,the game of choice during Diwali in India. Every player is dealt three cards,three aces being the best and a combination of two,three and five being the worst. Unless youre playing muphlis,or lowest to win. Its not rocket science,and I dont know why any of us continue with such a silly game. Still,maybe its the silly season,and I continue to play it twice or thrice a year,more for nostalgic reasons than anything else.

There was a time when we played every night,arguing madly over every round and every variation,for weeks before Diwali. The stakes were low enough to be comfortable but not so low that it didnt pinch when you lost. Everyones characters and weaknesses were laid bare on the table,theres no better way to figure out people than to observe them gambling. Lately,or maybe weve just grown older,but I sense that cards,at least teen patti,is in danger of fading away. There are,of course,many glittering cards parties that continue to have lakhs,if not crores,exchange hands. But theyre substantially fewer than before. Earlier,one heard the occasional,unsubstantiated rumour of so-and-so losing a crore,somebody else a car and Im sure it happens. But surrounded as we are by political scams of gigantic proportions and an explosion of wealth,the sums one gambles with seem so trifling and petty that its no longer worth the effort. Many teen patti stalwarts have moved to trendier games such as poker,bridge and roulette,and some disparagingly refer to teen patti as a ladies kitty party game. Serious players whove converted to poker have reason for switching,besides being just plain bored. The scope for cheating is very little in poker,since you can lose with aces,unlike in flash. There are always some dubiously lucky people lurking around high stake card tables who miraculously manage ace pairs,every time.

I look forward to my annual game,usually on chhoti Diwali,and despite my 20-odd seasons of playing,I remain one of those annoying people who picks up their cards first,spoiling everyones blind fun. I go with an amount Im fine with cheerfully losing,which usually happens in the first one hour,and then Im at a loose end. I guess there is some level of skill involved,because on my table,usually the same people win and lose every year. I enjoy the dizzying rush of winning a hand or two. Its enough to keep me involved till the next year.

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Bill Gates Diwali Lakshmi Warren Buffett