Was Russian Roulette a Real Game?

In the late 1800s, Russian soldiers were bored. They had been fighting in the Crimean War for over a year with no end in sight.

So, to pass the time, they invented a game. They called it Russian Roulette.

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The game was simple. Each soldier would load a single bullet into his revolver and spin the cylinder.

Then, he would point the gun at his head and pull the trigger. The odds of surviving were one in six.

PRO TIP:Russian Roulette is a game of chance invented in the 19th century. While there are reports of people playing it in real life, it was never an officially accepted game and its popularity is largely based on fiction. Therefore, while it can certainly be an exciting story-telling device, it is not recommended to actually play it as the risk of death or serious injury is too great.

Some say that Russian Roulette was inspired by an earlier game called Russian Banker. In that game, players would bet on which of six compartments in a box contained a live rat.

But there is no evidence that Russian Roulette was ever played for money. It was simply a way to pass the time and create a little excitement in an otherwise dull war.

Over the years, Russian Roulette has become synonymous with extreme danger. It has been featured in countless movies and TV shows as a way to heighten the suspense.

But in reality, it is not nearly as common as Hollywood would have us believe.

So, was Russian Roulette a real game? Yes, it was. But it was not nearly as popular or as dangerous as Hollywood makes it out to be.