Why Is Russian Roulette Called Russian Roulette?

Russian roulette is a deadly game often used to settle disputes or relieve boredom. The game is simple – each player takes a turn spinning the cylinder of a revolver loaded with a single bullet, then points the gun at their own head and pulls the trigger.

The odds of surviving are slim – out of six possible outcomes, only one will result in the player surviving.

The game is said to have originated in Russia in the early 1800s, though there is no definitive proof of this. It gained popularity in the West after being mentioned in a short story by Georges Surdez in 1937.

The story, titled “The Red Death,” tells of a group of Russian officers who while stationed in Paris during the 1820s, pass the time by playing Russian roulette.

The game became known as Russian roulette because of its supposed origin, but also because of its similarity to another deadly game that was popular at the time – duelling. In both games, participants put their lives at risk for the sake of entertainment or to resolve a dispute.

While Russian roulette is now mostly relegated to fiction, there have been some documented cases of the game being played for real. In 2013, for instance, a 21-year-old man in Russia died after playing Russian roulette with friends.

And just last year, a man in Oklahoma was arrested for playing the game with his girlfriend (she survived).

So why is Russian roulette called Russian roulette? There are two possible explanations: either because the game originated in Russia, or because it resembles another dangerous game that was popular at the time – duelling. Whatever the case may be, Russian roulette is a deadly game best left to fiction.