“They won’t kill, but they will punish. What do they do in a Russian prison with card debtors? Lost at cards in the zone

Games are a very common means of breeding in the criminal world. Skillfully playing on feelings of importance and significance, an experienced scammer leads the victim into the game for a long time, causing him to lose his vigilance. All about prison games and the criminal world.

Let's talk about such an interesting topic as games. Since there is more than enough time in prison, games occupy a significant place in the lives of prisoners. If we also take into account that the vast majority of those there are in a difficult mood, then games serve as both a distraction and an outlet for them. There are several well-known ways to do this - talking, reading, handicrafts - an ordinary person cannot be happy with himself. But games, of course, come first.

There are two options for games - “without interest” and “with interest”, i.e. the first involves simply passing time, the second involves betting on the game.

Games are a very common means of breeding suckers. Skillfully playing on feelings of importance and importance, an experienced scammer leads the victim to the game for a long time, often losing to him, lavishing praise or teasing, forcing him to lose his vigilance and bet everything he has and even more on the game, and then delivers the decisive blow.

If a person has nothing to pay with, he can turn into a slave - a “horse”, he can work his ass off, forever going into the caste of roosters, he can be faced with the need to perform any task, including murder. A gambling debt is a debt of honor, and those who refuse to pay it can be killed, maimed, or raped with impunity.

In prisons and zones with a predominance of human concepts, the beholders usually set the upper scale of rates. For prisons it is usually about 200 dollars, for zones - 1-2 thousand. Such measures are usually taken by unspoken agreement between the operatives and the thieves, the former of whom solve their problems in this way with the hands of others.

A very common way to punish or simply throw a person on order is to drop the victim for a certain amount, even a small one, but enough for him to ask for help from outside. Usually, a real period of time is given for payment, during which relatives or friends could add up the required amount - everything is “in accordance with the rules”. But then the operation is already starting to work - either the letters don’t arrive, or for some reason someone can’t get a pass because of some trifle, or the money is siphoned away... The payment deadline passes - and the person is in margarine. The debt immediately increases several times, or “legal” physical violence begins, or the operator recruits a new agent, promising help...

Often there is a conceptual rule - you can’t bully (play for fun) with a person who has been in the camp for less than 1 year. In prison (pre-trial detention center) - there was once a period of three months, but now it is usually not respected. Playing for fun, among other nuances, is economically beneficial for the elite - the shpili (players for fun) usually pay at least a quarter of the winnings into the common fund.

There are still a lot of options designed for a sucker, for a person who has not had time to get comfortable in prison. The most common of them is that a beginner is offered to play something. When he loses, he is told that the game was for, say, $100. He says that he didn’t play for anything, to which he hears - “But I played out of interest - I don’t know anything” - turns to the hut - “Has anyone heard that he sat down to play without interest?” Nobody, of course, heard...

Or - “What are we playing for?” - “No matter what.” Losing - “Pay 200 bucks.” “We played for nothing...” - “And for me, 200 bucks is nothing.” Despite the apparent comedy, everything is very serious. If you manage to evade the fee, it is often with a seriously damaged reputation.

Another option is “just play.” At the end - “And you know that in prison it’s “just” an ass. You lost your point."

Therefore, if you sit down to play, in any case you must announce: “We are playing without interest.” This is a universal formula - and hear the consent of your partner. And the advice is not to play for fun at all, but if you really can’t do without it, then at least in the first weeks of being in the cell.

There is another option - “sports interest”. They play squats and push-ups. It often turns out that the loser cannot perform, for example, several hundred push-ups in two hours, and then they announce that the loss will be “replaced” with something material - money, food. This option is often considered limitless, but it works among young animals.

The games where it is easiest for a sharper to work are cards, all games with dice. Cards are prohibited in prisons, and playing them is severely punished. But, as you understand, this stops few people. Probably, the ban on cards was introduced based on the high possibility of using cheating techniques, to prevent the exchange of experience, or maybe this is just an old ideological glitch.

Maps are usually made by hand. By the way, the stos (decks) made using all the technology are very beautiful. They are glued from newspapers with bread paste, they are leveled and sanded for a long time, drawings are applied (at the same time, secret marks) - thus, one deck can take up to 3 days of work.

By the way, card games can be played with dominoes - for example, in poker, which is often done.

If you are not a professional gambler, never sit down to play cards in prison for fun. And without interest they don’t play cards there - there’s no point in taking risks. And a non-professional will never risk keeping the cards - so if you are offered to play, you can be sure that you are under attack.

All other board games are permitted - chess, checkers, dominoes, backgammon (shyshbesh), dice (zary, zariki), as well as sea battle :) But, of course, all of them can be used with no less success for playing for fun.

The most honest games in this regard are chess and checkers, where it is difficult to adjust anything. Games where three or four people participate - for example, dominoes - are already more dangerous, since it is possible to communicate with secret signs and influence the outcome of the game.

One more piece of advice right away - if someone is playing, under no circumstances should you not only suggest, but even discuss the game next to the players. If the game is even more interesting, the loser can always demand that the tipper pay, no matter which side he gave the tip to or simply dropped a word.

Games with dice, among which the most popular are backgammon (shyshbesh), are quite dangerous in terms of cheating. Firstly, there are several simple techniques for picking up chips, and secondly, most importantly, a specialist with a high degree of probability can throw out the number he needs. To reduce this probability, they use either a glass in which the dice are “shaken”, or special methods of throwing stones - for example, from under a table, or by hitting an obstacle. Although this works, it is not always reliable.

Most people still play in prison to kill time. And the most popular game is backgammon. You can play them all day long, until you are completely stupefied, switching to full automation, while still getting a lot of pleasure.

Despite its apparent simplicity, this is a very interesting and instructive game. Having somehow realized that I didn’t like playing uselessly, just to kill time and distract from pain, I found in backgammon an inexhaustible reservoir for internal practice. Chess and checkers are purely intellectual games. Here, whoever is smarter and has more experience wins. You can train, analyze, grow, but the goal? If you win, it’s only thanks to yourself, because you’re smart, because you’re the best...

Purely probabilistic games - poker with dice, for example, is devoid of almost completely intellectual component, and everything depends on chance - are also of little interest.

In backgammon, these two components are harmoniously merged - you must do everything you can - the best move, calculate the combinations, very quickly, at the levels of intuition, and then surrender to the will of fate - as the stones fall. A very good model for our life: “do what you must, and come what may”

Since I began to approach the game in this way, I began to get a lot of pleasure and benefit. In general, these two components are present in any other game, but in backgammon they are very well balanced. Among similar games, I would also mention preference, but in prison it is simply not available.

To achieve mastery in backgammon, you need to learn just two of these components - to act in the best way for a given situation and at the same time to be submissive to fate. Distinguish between what can (and should) be changed and what cannot be changed. Live fully and be humble at the same time. Don’t fall into despair when faced with “undeserved” life difficulties, don’t take credit for the results of victory, accept your fate, be able to lose in winning situations... you can learn a lot with this approach. In such a game model of the world, it becomes possible to see yourself and your reactions to situations, your weaknesses - your irritation, anger, despair, pride... And seeing is already half the way to liberation from them.

So you can learn to live, learn to love, always and in everything - if you have the desire...

Let's talk about such an interesting topic as games. Since there is more than enough time in prison, games occupy a significant place in the lives of prisoners.

If we also take into account that the vast majority of those there are in a difficult mood, then games serve as both a distraction and an outlet for them. There are several well-known ways to do this - talking, reading, handicrafts - an ordinary person cannot be happy with himself. But games, of course, come first.

There are two options for games - “without interest” and “with interest”, i.e. the first involves simply passing time, the second involves betting on the game.

If a person has nothing to pay with, he can turn into a slave - a “horse”, he can work his ass off, forever joining the caste of roosters, he can be faced with the need to perform any task, including murder. A gambling debt is a debt of honor, and those who refuse to pay it can be killed or maimed or raped with impunity.

Often there is a conceptual rule - you can’t bully (play for fun) with a person who has been in the camp for less than 1 year. In prison (pre-trial detention center) - there was once a period of three months, but now it is usually not respected. Playing for fun, in addition to other nuances, is economically beneficial for the elite - captive players (players for fun) usually pay at least a quarter of the winnings into the common fund.

Or - “What are we playing for?” - “No matter what.” Losing - "Pay 200 bucks." “We played for nothing...” - “And for me, 200 bucks is nothing.” Despite the apparent comedy, everything is very serious. If you manage to evade the fee, it is often with a seriously damaged reputation.

Another option is “just play.” At the end - “And you know that in prison it’s “just” an ass. You lost your point.”

Therefore, if you sit down to play, in any case you must announce: “We are playing without interest.” This is a universal formula - and hear the consent of your partner.

And the advice is not to start playing for fun at all, but if you really can’t do without it, then at least in the first weeks of being in the cell.

By the way, we have opened a small store with goods from Russian camps, where you can buy real goods and much more.

By the way, card games can be played with dominoes - for example, in poker, which is often done.

Games with dice, among which the most popular are backgammon ( shishbesh), are quite dangerous in terms of cheating. Firstly, there are several simple techniques for picking up chips, and secondly, most importantly, a specialist with a high degree of probability can throw out the number he needs. To reduce this probability, use either a glass in which the dice are “shaken”, or special methods of throwing stones - for example, from under a table, or by hitting an obstacle. Although this works, it is not always reliable.

Most people still play in prison to kill time.

Chess and checkers are purely intellectual games. Here, whoever is smarter and has more experience wins. You can train, analyze, grow, but the goal?

If you win, it’s only thanks to yourself, because you’re smart, because you’re the best...

Purely probabilistic games - poker with dice, for example, are devoid of almost completely intellectual component, and everything depends on chance - are also of little interest.

To achieve mastery of backgammon, you need to learn just two of these components - to act in the best way for a given situation and at the same time to be submissive to fate. Distinguish between what can (and should) be changed and what cannot be changed. Live fully and be humble at the same time. Don’t fall into despair when faced with “undeserved” life difficulties, don’t take credit for the results of victory, accept your fate, be able to lose in winning situations... you can learn a lot with this approach. In such a game model of the world, it becomes possible to see yourself and your reactions to situations, your weaknesses - your irritation, anger, despair, pride... And seeing is already half the way to liberation from them.

Few people know that there is a clear distinction between the law of thieves and prison. Thus, the first refers to a set of unwritten rules and norms of behavior established in certain circles, which is mandatory for the so-called thieves in law. What are prison concepts and laws?

Prison law

Of course, you wouldn’t want anyone to experience what it’s like in their own skin. But if “the job is already done” and a person is sent to a prison camp, that is, to places of imprisonment, he should find out what prison concepts and thieves’ laws are.

Naturally, there is no clear term defined anywhere. Based on established unspoken rules, prison law is rules and traditions that are mandatory for all prisoners without exception. It is these norms that regulate relations among persons serving sentences.

Thus, the prison law is only a certain part. The only difference between them is that absolutely all convicts and prisoners are required to comply with the first. But the specific norms of the thieves’ law are observed only by “crowned” thieves and prisoners seeking to obtain the specified “status”.

What is it, prison law?

Prison concepts and laws, prohibitions are strictly observed by the “correct” prisoners. In essence, the meaning of the rules of behavior in places of deprivation of liberty is the same as the norms of life in freedom. It’s just that the prisoners express it in their own, more understandable, language (or jargon).

So, the basic prison concepts and laws of prisoners boil down to the following:

To allocate a share to the common fund, that is, to be able to share, to give what is yours.

Treat old people and parents with respect.

Do not snitch, that is, do not inform on other prisoners to the administration of the colony or prison.

Don’t “raft,” that is, don’t steal from your own people.

Do not make accusations without grounds or evidence.

Do not swear, do not insult without reason (surprisingly, in places of deprivation of liberty it is forbidden to use obscene language).

Be responsible for your words. This means that you can’t just threaten someone: if you already said it, that’s what you need to do. There are no changes in situations, or “accidentally” in them.

All of the above laws are quite vital and humane, and also easily applicable (with some amendments) in everyday life in freedom.

There are also prison laws and concepts, rules that are quite difficult for an ordinary person to understand. For example, you cannot interfere. So, if one prisoner decides to commit suicide, the other prisoners cannot be dissuaded from doing so. If he asks for a blade (to cut veins or throat) - they will give it.

It will also be strange for a law-abiding citizen that in prison it is forbidden to pick up anything from the floor. Even if a prisoner’s hat falls to the floor, it is no longer possible to pick it up, much less wear it.

"Crime and Punishment"

Failure to comply with the norms of prison law will not pass without a trace for any of the prisoners. It does not matter whether the prisoner belongs to the prison “elite” or is part of the most disreputable group of “inmates”.

For violating the established rules, the guilty convict (the one who “messed up”) may be subject to:

Beating up.

A blow to the ears (to hit the ears means to transfer a prisoner from the “thieves’ caste” to a lower one, that is, to the category of “men”). This can only be done by a thief in law or a convicted person with the same status.

Fractured limbs - arms and legs are broken, as a rule, by persons who have not repaid a gambling debt (and he is considered a saint in the zone), as well as by those who, without any reason, beat up a cellmate.

A violent act of sodomy, after which the prisoner automatically falls into the most despised “caste of the debased”; This type of punishment is widespread in places of deprivation of liberty where juvenile offenders are serving sentences, as well as in general regime zones. In high-security and special-security prisons, these cases are extremely rare.

The symbolic act of sodomy (in the zone this expression is replaced by the concept of “paraffin” and consists of passing the genital organ across the lips of the offender). The sexual act itself does not occur, but the convicted person is also transferred to the category of “roosters”.

Murder (this type of punishment is used quite rarely and only for committing particularly serious acts). For example, a prisoner can be killed for grand theft from a common fund or for a proven connection with law enforcement agencies. At the same time, the decision to kill is never made solely by one of the prisoners.

Types of prison concepts

Concepts are rules, a kind of code of honor. Conventionally, all existing prison concepts and laws are divided into two large groups:

Positive, that is, those that, according to prisoners, are correct and acceptable for themselves;

Negative ones are those that guide the lower categories of “prisoners” (for this reason they fall into the castes of “roosters”, “goats” and others).

Positive concepts, in turn, are divided into human and thieves. And the negative ones are “nasty” and cop (the complete opposite of thieves).

Are concepts the foundation of relationships?

It is on concepts that the relationships of persons serving sentences are built. Their communication is based on human concepts. These are exactly what the so-called decent prisoners adhere to, as well as other “castes” of prisoners, which will be discussed below.

There are also those who follow vile concepts, which are the absolute opposite of human ones. Usually these are “rats”, “hens” and “lawless men” - that is, prisoners who have committed an offense quite significant for the prisoners. This could be the theft of something from one’s own cellmate, denunciation of another prisoner to prison or colony staff, as well as groundless beating of a prisoner.

Colonies and prisons are places of confinement where mistakes are not forgiven. In this regard, a prisoner who has violated the norms of “human” coexistence is deprived of the opportunity to atone for his guilt. Such a prisoner will most likely be subjected to humiliation and bullying from fellow inmates throughout the entire period of imprisonment.

Thus, prison concepts and laws, rules of behavior are the platform on which relationships between prisoners are built. At the same time, human concepts, in meaning, are aimed at self-sacrifice, the desire for mutual assistance, sympathy, humanity and mutual understanding. Whereas the nasty ones are the complete opposite and are based on the desire to satisfy only their own needs and interests, to put themselves above others.

Basic Concepts

Many prison concepts and laws have already smoothly entered into life outside. In modern society, you can often hear terms such as “jamb”, “zapadlo”, “parasha”, “present”, “stuffy”, “steer”, “fuflyzhnik” and many others. Moreover, people who use prison jargon in their vocabulary do not always know the correct meaning of concepts.

So, not everyone knows that the term “stuffiness” means the creation of conditions unbearable for normal existence. And a “jamb” is not just an accidental mistake, but a serious violation of prison law.

In general, almost all words frequently used in everyday life in the zone are designated by “their” terms. For example, street robbery is a “gop-stop”, murder is a “wet case”, language is a “broom”, a particularly dangerous repeat offender is a “mansion”, a prison corridor is a “continuation”, a showdown is a “showdown”, escape or hide - “get on wheels” and others.

Without knowledge of prison terminology, it is almost impossible for a prisoner to exist in places of confinement. Therefore, if a convicted person does not want to have unnecessary problems, he, as a rule, while still in the pre-trial detention center, begins to comprehend the “thieves’ language.” After all, without knowledge of specific prison terminology, it is impossible to understand, for example, the expression: “The overseer with a mandate presents it to authoritative thieves.” When “translated” into simple language, it means that “the chief of the zone conveys the important information contained in the note to a group of prisoners revered and respected in the zone.”

Thus, prison concepts and thieves' laws (or rather, prison laws) are mandatory knowledge that a prisoner acquires while still in pre-trial detention centers (pre-trial detention centers).

However, the convict needs to know not only prison concepts and laws, rules of conduct, but also the so-called castes, that is, categories of prisoners (one of which the convict himself will necessarily be included).

Prison "castes"

There are no prisoners who do not belong to one of the categories of prisoners. All persons held in places of deprivation of liberty are conventionally divided into groups or, as the prisoners themselves say, “castes”. A transition from a privileged category to a lower category is possible (for example, in connection with the commission of some act that prison concepts and laws, the behavior of prisoners classifies as a “jamb”). But the transition from lower to higher is excluded.

So, there are four main prison “castes”:

thieves;
men;
goats;
outcasts.

The first “caste” is the thieves. These are the so-called experienced professional criminals. Representatives of this group themselves do not call themselves thieves, but use such concepts as “lads”, “prisoners”, “tramps”, “travelers”.

This group is the top of the hierarchy, and not everyone can get into it. There are strict requirements for prisoners belonging to this “caste”. Thus, anyone who held leadership positions in freedom, had any connection with government structures, or served in the army will never become a “vagabond.” Those who worked in the service sector (for example, as a waiter, delivery person, taxi driver) will not be included in the “caste.”

Several decades ago, the “thieves,” while free, did not have to work a single day. They were also forbidden to marry or perform compulsory work in the zone. Currently, these requirements are not enforced in most prisons.

In addition to a “clean” biography and the status of a professional criminal, a prisoner who wants to get into this “caste” must comply with absolutely all prison concepts, laws, and traditions.

The thieves have enormous power in the zone and in prison (or as the prisoners themselves say, “in prison”). They are the ones who resolve all conflict situations and disputes that arise between prisoners and ensure that none of the convicts are unreasonably offended or humiliated.

Representatives of this group also have special privileges. So, they may not work and independently decide what from the so-called common fund they can keep for themselves.

It is from this “caste” that the “godfather” is selected - the main one in the zone. Moreover, if there is a recognized “thief in law” in prison, then he must occupy the specified “position”. By the way, “thieves in law” are a privileged, top group of prisoners. It includes only those recognized by the criminal world as violators of the law who meet all of the above requirements.

If there is no thief in law in the zone, then the person performing his duties, that is, the “supervisor,” is sent there. He performs all the functions of a “godfather”.

Currently, in some places of deprivation of liberty, the so-called godfathers secretly cooperate with the administration of the colony: they establish such order in the zone as is necessary for the management. The administration of the colony turns a blind eye to many things for such cooperation: for example, to the fact that vodka, marijuana, and so on get to the “boss.”

It is worth noting that the development of market relations in the country has not bypassed the place of imprisonment. Recently, you can become a thief in law for money, that is, you can buy this title. And, despite the fact that prison concepts and laws of clarity do not fit in with this fact, it is still impossible to exclude it. Such newly minted and not very ideological thieves in law are called “oranges.”

Who is there more in the zone?

The “men” caste is the largest, and, as a rule, it includes about 60-70 percent of all prisoners. This group includes the most ordinary prisoners who are serving sentences for minor (by the standards of criminals) punishments: fights, minor thefts and other similar acts.

The “men” do not have the right to vote in “showdowns”, they do not make any decisions in the zone, in a word, they simply serve their sentence, trying not to interfere anywhere, and after their release they plan to return to the life of an ordinary law-abiding citizen.

Who are the “goats”?

The next caste is the “goats”. It includes prisoners who, either voluntarily or by force, cooperate with the camp administration. They can hold the position of librarian, caretaker, zone commandant, that is, any position that actually exists in the state

This group includes persons serving a sentence either on their own initiative (for example, so that the administration writes in their personal file that the convict has taken the path of reform) or at the will of the colony administration. Thus, a prisoner can be persuaded, intimidated, or forced to work for the benefit of the prison administration.

It can be extremely difficult to refuse said work, so many prisoners can only accept their fate and follow the instructions of the colony authorities.

The rest of the convicts have a negative attitude towards representatives of this “caste”: they are considered certain “traitors”. And this is no coincidence, because many “goats” report to the prison administration about everything that happens among prisoners, that is, in their language, “knocking.”

“Goats” are not allowed to enter the “common fund”, but at the same time, other persons serving their sentences can greet them, talk to them, and touch them.

The most horrible

Last in both number and status is the caste of the “omitted”. The persons included in it are also called “roosters”, “offended” and other similar terms. Those prisoners who were “omitted” fall into this group (in this case, an act of sodomy does not necessarily have to occur; this process can be carried out purely symbolically).

Prison concepts and laws are not for this category of convicts. In the zone they are not considered people at all. So, it is forbidden to touch them (if an object needs to be handed over to someone “lowered”, it is simply thrown on the floor for the prisoner to pick it up), they use separate utensils, and they are not allowed to touch the things of other prisoners. In general, they live as a separate group that does not have any rights.

Statistics show that most prisoners fall into this group in areas intended for juvenile prisoners. They have their own prison concepts and laws, responsibilities, and sometimes even more severe ones than in real prisons and “adult” camps.

Epilogue

Life does not stop in prison. It continues to flow... There are just certain prison concepts and laws. A book that would contain all the standards of conduct for prisoners has not yet been written. And it is unlikely that such a thing will ever appear.

Despite many nuances and amendments, camp life is still built on generally accepted principles: do not steal, do not inform, do not lie, do not violate established norms and the order of communication between prisoners.

Prison concepts and laws, advice from experienced prisoners are what help the convict adapt to prisons and camps. By following the established norms of behavior and communication, the “inmate” will be able to acquire a “strong rear” and “sidekicks” in the zone and will be in relative safety.

Also, by fulfilling all the “instructions”, a person (if he, of course, has such a desire) will be able to achieve certain “heights” in camp life and even enter the category of privileged prisoners.

Respecting prison concepts and laws, the advice of “authoritative” prisoners, a convict who ends up in prison will most likely be able to find his “brothers in misfortune” and will not become an outcast. And no matter how strange it may sound, “criminals are people too,” most of whom adhere to the rule: “in any situation you need to remain human.”

Russian prisoners are addicted to card games. They lose everything by becoming slaves.

Torture in colonies is the first thing that comes to mind when it comes to the Russian penitentiary system. However, life behind bars does not consist only of violence, even there there is a place for leisure and entertainment. And the main one is card games prohibited in places of detention. The lack of other activities, excitement and thirst for thrills force the prisoners to place bets, but only a few win, the majority remain in debt. To pay off, the losers sell everything they have freely and become slaves to the luckier players, who are free to do whatever they want with them. I found out how the world of gambling works behind the prison fence.

“Games are encouraged among residents”

Officially, card games are prohibited in the zones: if cards are found on a prisoner, he faces a punishment cell (punishment cell). However, prisoners still play cards - for them this is the main, if not the only, entertainment. The most popular games since the times of the USSR are 21 (twenty-one, or point), rams, bura and tertz (ters); The features of playing them behind bars have not changed for decades. Lenta.ru’s interlocutor, a former prisoner known in criminal circles as Vaso Sakhalinsky, knows this firsthand; in total he spent 42 years in prison.

From card games in the zone, a share is deducted for the common fund, so they are encouraged among the inmates, says Vaso. - Before the game starts, the prisoners post guards. You need to play quickly, so, for example, they don’t play poker in the zone - after all, one game there can last a very long time. The game teaches restraint, accuracy, and toughness, but the majority of [prisoners] do not live up to these qualities—and that’s where conflicts occur. People lose more than they ever dreamed of. But the dignity of a man is to be able to pay on time in case of loss, without offending anyone, and to prove that in the most difficult situations you can get out of the situation.

According to Vaso, the cards are often carried into the colony by its own employees. If a deck (in the jargon “bible” or “mallet”) costs roughly 100 rubles in the wild, then in the zone it is sold for 500. Previously, prisoners made cards themselves, but today few of them can boast of such a skill. Craftsmen are found only in those places of imprisonment where, for one reason or another, it is almost impossible to carry cards. A former prisoner says that A4 sheets are glued together with bread until they are as thick as cardboard, and then painted.

Everyone sits in the zones - there is nothing to do, no one reads books, so playing is the only way to pass the time,” he explains. - For some, cards are also a way to make money, so many people play.

“They always play for fun”

Gamblers in the zones have observers of the game: they resolve conflicts and collect a share of the common fund from the players. Previously, it was 10 percent of all bets, today it is 20. According to Vaso Sakhalinsky, in the middle of the 20th century there was no fixed share at all - players gave as much as they saw fit, without going into calculations. But they definitely chipped in: the prisoners understood that the same common fund would help them in difficult times, and everything they gave would eventually be returned to them.

Lenta.ru's interlocutor managed to play all the popular games behind bars: of course, he lost, but sometimes luck smiled on him. Vaso's biggest win in Soviet times was an impressive amount for those times - four thousand rubles.

In those years they played for a lot of money, but they always paid off, he recalls. - You’ve paid off your debt and you’re waiting to [win] money or come up with something to play some more. It’s easier with winning: you’ve filled your pockets with money, you can’t lie on it, it goes away there [in the zone] faster than in the wild. Everything is sold, everything is bought. So he took candy, cigarettes, cookies and put it on the common table: whoever needed it took it. Won 100 thousand - they are like 10 thousand free, once - and scattered. The winner could throw a party only for a small circle. If you decided to register for all the prisoners, you could be considered a violation and even get a new sentence.

Vaso Sakhalinsky
Photo: Samara Review

Of course, inmates' gambling isn't all about cards; They play backgammon, dominoes and even checkers and chess for money. Sometimes in the zones there is baibut (a game of dice), a prison “goat” (a game with a matchbox) and shmen (a game for money based on the amount of the number on a banknote). However, in terms of popularity, they are all much inferior to cards.

By and large, it doesn’t matter what to play - backgammon, dominoes, chess or cards,” explains Vaso Sakhalinsky. - They always play for fun - sports, money or a bet. You can also play backgammon for money, and what else! What’s funny is that the prison administration itself sometimes holds mass competitions in games of dominoes or backgammon - and the prisoners play for fun in front of everyone. And the winners are also given gifts.

Another very popular bet among inmates is for general amusement. For example, the loser must sit on the top bunk and yell something stupid for an hour or sleep sitting up all night. It all depends on the imagination of the players. In the 1930s, the “1000 cockroaches” bet was in vogue on Solovki: the loser must catch 1000 insects and present them to the “counting commission.” Sometimes the hunt for cockroaches dragged on for a week, or even more.

"I play like a goat"

For every lost prisoner, repaying the debt is a matter of honor. Anyone who does not repay debts receives the shameful title of a bully. However, according to Vaso Sakhalinsky, many try to evade paying the debt and run to the prison administration for help. There the loser is hidden and made an informer, and the winner is sent to a punishment cell. For such debtors who do not want to pay, there is even a slang name for “breaking” - the one who “breaks” is transferred from his barracks to another - “red”, where he sits out under the protection of colony employees. Defectors and informers are beneficial to the jailers, therefore, paradoxically, gambling that is prohibited in the zones also benefits them.

It happens that debtors run away and do not pay, but there is always a chance that such a fugitive can be caught by the one to whom he lost, says Vladimir Pereverzin. - And then they can ask him doubly, because he “broke” - he ran away. They will not kill, but they will be punished - they will be sent to the “petushatnik” [a separate detachment or cell for the lower caste of prisoners].

During the Soviet era, there was a certain ritual for punishing fuflyzhniki - it was called “paying in red.” Six or seven fighters were appointed and stood in a circle. The debtor stood in the center with his arms stretched out at his sides - and they beat him. He had no right to fight back or defend himself; additional punishment was imposed for this. If the loss was big, the player could be crippled. In addition to physical punishment, the offender was forcibly tattooed with obscene content or a goat with cards and the inscription “I play like a goat.” In the worst case, the shameful tattoo would appear on the forehead or cheek. The sweatshirts sent to the “cock house” received tattoos in the form of card suits on their buttocks.

If those who do not repay their debts are branded with shame in the zones, then cheaters are not punished in any way. On the contrary, the ability to cheat well is considered honorable: if a player cheats well, it means he is the best. A cheater caught in the act simply leaves the game and returns the winnings without any sanctions.

“It all depends on desire and bloodthirstiness”

During his seven-year term, Vladimir Pereverzin never played cards - he says that he is not a gambler. But I managed to study all their ins and outs very well.

Everyone loses - both the apartments and themselves,” says the former prisoner. - Those who play are cunning criminals, they want to deceive a person. In general, it is forbidden to play with anything that the player does not currently have: these rules are set by the person watching the game. But anything can happen. A person knows that tomorrow he will receive a program, and he starts playing to it. But tomorrow comes, and a quarantine is declared in the zone or some kind of emergency occurs - and the person has nothing to pay with. This means that he actually falls into slavery to the one to whom he lost. They can drive you into a debt hole, they can drive you into a “cock house” - it all depends on the desire and bloodthirstiness of the winner. As a rule, young people are bred this way.

According to Pereverzin, people play in the zones out of boredom and excitement, but gambling makes people greedy and cruel. Sometimes this cruelty goes beyond all boundaries. Pereverzin himself did not encounter such cases, but he heard stories from other prisoners about how losers killed someone to pay off a debt. Such cases could very well happen in reality, he argues. However, another former prisoner, Pyotr Kuryanov, now an expert at the Foundation for the Defense of Prisoners’ Rights, disagrees with him: in his opinion, they play in movies for a living, but in real prisons much more mundane things happen. In particular, Kuryanov, together with his colleagues, in the course of working on a complaint from a convicted person, uncovered a whole mechanism in the Saratov region for taking away apartments from prisoners who lost at cards.

A convict from Moscow comes to the colony, his file ends up with the employees of the operational unit, explains the interlocutor of Lenta.ru. “They see in their personal file that the prisoner has an apartment, and pass on information about a suitable “client” to activists [volunteer assistants to the administration from among the prisoners]. They, in turn, begin to process the convict and, under pain of beatings and placement in a punishment cell, force him to sit down to play - and ultimately lose his housing. And who will then figure out why some Vanya registered an apartment for Kolya? There was an apartment - there is no apartment. After all, the subtlety is that to issue a power of attorney to sell an apartment, a prisoner does not need a notary: the head of the colony acts as a guarantor of the law. So it turns out that a fake person receives a power of attorney, goes to Moscow and sells real estate, and the administration takes part of the proceeds.

“If you lose at cards, you’ll end up on the street”

Kuryanov is sure: gambling in the zone is covered up by corrupt jailers. According to him, with the help of established schemes to “divorce” players, their apartments are taken away from them every year.

Those who cooperate with the administration, knock and put pressure on other convicts play cards, says Lenta.ru’s interlocutor. - It is impossible to play in the barracks without the knowledge of the activists. These prisoners, with the approval of the administration, start games - most often for money - and force the losers to pay into online wallets. Part of the winnings goes to the administration. Previously, the limit was set at five thousand rubles: until the prisoner repays this debt, he is not allowed into the game again. I heard about losses of 500 thousand rubles, 200 thousand rubles - just recently. If there is a ceiling, then it is impossible to get into such debt. If you can still find five thousand rubles for a prisoner - write to your parents, or tearfully ask the girl, then not every parent will transfer 200 thousand.

Of course, many first-time prisoners realize that it is better not to mess with games for money. Then they are convinced: they say, we are playing for nothing, just like that. And then, when the newcomers lose, they are forced to pay. Arguments in the spirit of “We played for nothing!” don't work. The winner in a controversial situation addresses all witnesses to the game: “Has anyone heard that he [the loser] sat down to play without interest?” Of course, no one heard... Another popular trick of “divorce”: a beginner is told “we’re just playing like that,” only in the zone “just” is the name of the game “21”. The only insurance against such schemes is when sitting down to play, announce: “we are playing without interest,” and be sure to hear the agreement of other players.

Back in the mid-90s, unspoken prison laws protected new prisoners: they were forbidden to play if they had spent less than a year in a colony, three months in prison, or. Today these rules are not respected. That’s why you can often find cries for help on forums for convicts and their relatives. “Please help me with advice! A young son in a pre-trial detention center lost a large sum. It’s scary to give him away - they will torment him all the time, it’s scary not to give him away - they threaten him. Give me some advice,” writes the mother of one of the losers. Several interlocutors gave the same advice: repay the debt.

Another story is from a resident of the Moscow region. She came to the pre-trial detention center to deliver a parcel to her husband and met the woman in tears. Toy’s son called and asked him to come and transfer the apartment to her, “otherwise I’ll lose at cards and you’ll end up on the street.” There are many such frightening stories: only the context changes from year to year, but the essence remains the same.

The game is going ahead, despite the bans and raids, concludes Vaso Sakhalinsky. - They will play as they played. It is difficult to deny a person his last outlet in captivity.

Vladimir Sharapov

— I will answer this question briefly and clearly. It’s good that if he’s missing a leg, he’s still alive. The fact that “grandmother’s word of mouth” is spreading that he lost at cards is like this... I can give a similar situation. I could also be left without a leg. I won’t say the colony number. I will say that I was on a strict regime. We sawed a 9-meter sleeper. Can you imagine what it is? Ice cream forest. I just had to throw it from the carriage onto the table. There the distance is small. Just imagine, a 9-meter sleeper, 20x25, approximately falls on my left leg. I wear summer shoes, size 42, winter shoes, size 43. And so the 43rd seemed like the 36th to me. Maybe someday you will see me in full growth and how I walk. Then you will ask, Little Russian, why are you limping? Then we will return to this topic. When people there whistle at you, saying that the dude lost his leg at cards, remember my story. Next, I broke my leg. Of course, they dragged me away for an x-ray and said it was a fracture. Put on a cast. I was in a cast for a month. Then they drag me back for an x-ray, they say that you, convict, have grown together incorrectly, let’s break it down. Well, of course, who wouldn’t agree to do this in order to walk normally? And I agreed. They broke it for me again. We put the cast back on. This is the second time. And again I spent a month in a cast, or rather lay there. At the end of the month I am again dragged for x-rays. And again they say that it didn’t heal properly. This time I sent the doctors.

He said that as it grows together, I will continue to walk. I didn't let myself break my leg anymore. Maybe I will regret this someday, but I didn’t let it break a third time, because I stupidly lay in bed for two months, and plus they gave me a month and a half for rehabilitation. I practically forgot how to walk. He moved around the barracks on crutches. The toilet was outside; after all, I was serving my sentence in a forest area. He walked, grinding his teeth, of course. On crutches, but he walked. Then, after two months of rehabilitation, I walked with a cane for another month. And I walked without a cane for two weeks. So, let's return to the question of losing my leg at cards. It may be different. Maybe the sleeper fell off. Maybe the wood on the table has “gone”. In winter, anything can happen. The table is of immense dimensions. A timber truck approaches there, winches the timber from the truck, and pulls it in. The sawman is standing sawing, the measurer is running. Maybe this guy who came home without a leg was a sawyer. Or maybe he was a measurer or a cubist. Haven't you asked yourself this question? And I can tell you that in winter, spring and autumn anything can happen. And just imagine, when they unload the forest and it accidentally hits you, not a single mother will save you, not a single grandmother will speak.

If you are destined to get hit and break your leg, so be it. Okay, you may not have broken anything, but if you have an idea of what kind of knots there are after the forest, you will understand. Do you think that the forest becomes smooth so quickly, there is not a single knot. There are all kinds of bitches. A twig can just stick into a leg, into a muscle. Just think, you got hurt. I washed the wound and ran on. And there is no thought that the twig could cause an infection. Well, they’ll keep a person on sick leave for two or three days. Well, I pierced a muscle in my leg, so what. If you've been on sick leave, go back to work. He has neither a mother nor a father, but he has to live on something. That's it, the man went to work, gritting his teeth. He works for a week, on Saturday and Sunday his teammates or cellmates ask him what and how. He replies that everything is fine. He works for another week. But can you imagine what an infection has gotten into the muscle? A person moves, and the infection spreads throughout the body. And that’s it, the leg begins to turn black. As a result, he goes to the doctors, but it’s too late. They say you have gangrene. Here's the result. So, believe less in any such “phony” information.