🎯 Gambling Lesson: A True Story of Risk, Deception & Life Wisdom

1989 Odessa Moral Story A Risky Win Learning from Mistakes By Shaykov Baloch

📍 1989 — Odessa

Odessa is a beautiful city in Ukraine, located along the shores of the Black Sea. It is known as an important business hub and a lively coastal city.

🌊 The Black Sea

In 1989, during the time of the Soviet Union, my friend and I went to the beach near the Black Sea. Our hostel was close by, so we often walked along the shore.

One day, we saw a group of people gathered around a man playing a simple game with three small glasses and a ball. The man placed the ball under one glass, then quickly shuffled the glasses. It looked easy to follow, and the ball seemed clearly visible.

At that time, I had received a scholarship of 90 rubles, and I had 50 rubles left in my pocket. I decided to try my luck and placed my money in the game.

The rule was simple: if I picked the correct glass with the ball, I would win. If not, I would lose my money.

🎲 The Gambler

The player took my 50 rubles and allowed me to choose one glass.

I picked the glass I had been watching carefully.

But when I lifted it… it was empty.

I lost all my money.

The only valuable thing I had left was my watch—a gift from my brother. I asked the player how much it was worth. He said 200 rubles. I felt hopeful. I thought if I won, I could recover everything.

My friend tried to stop me, but I ignored him.

I played again.

And I lost again.

I lost both my money and my watch. It was my first experience with gambling, and it ended in complete loss. I felt deeply upset.

My friend tried to comfort me, saying we would manage somehow for the rest of the month.

Later, I sold one of my watch straps at a shop and received 24 rubles. It gave me a small sense of relief.

🌊 A Lesson from the Sea

One day, a Russian friend invited us to the beach. He and my other friend knew how to swim, but I did not.

I slowly stepped into the water, trying to stay close to the ground. Suddenly, my feet lost contact with the sand, and I began to sink.

I panicked, closed my eyes, and struggled to breathe.

In desperation, I moved my arms and legs until I felt the ground beneath my feet again. I quickly came out of the water, thankful to be alive.

“Before you make friends with the sea, learn how to swim.”

🧠 Learning from Mistakes

A few days later, I received a letter from Moscow informing me that my subject, city, and institute had been changed. While waiting for my visa, I spent time wandering around the city.

One day, I saw people gambling again.

This time, I didn’t play.

I observed carefully and asked myself why the ball disappears from the glass.

“Learn from mistakes.”

I focused on the player’s hands—not the glasses.

And then I saw the truth. The ball was secretly moved between the fingers, hidden from the audience.

The game was not fair.

⚡ A Risky Win

A woman played and lost her money. She began to cry, but no one helped her.

This time, I played again and won.

But suddenly, men surrounded me, demanding my money. They attacked me, and I had to escape.

I ran for my life until I reached safety.

🎯 Final Realization

As I walked away, I realized something powerful:

Some games are not meant to be played at all.

From that day until today, I have never gambled again.

And I have never worn another watch.

💡 Moral Lessons

• Gambling is designed to favor the system, not the player.
• Greed leads to repeated loss and regret.
• Observation is stronger than emotion.
• Not every opportunity is worth taking.
• Some mistakes cost more than money—they change your life.

✍️ Written by Shaikof