The man next to me seems to have trouble walking, but he throws dice
like he’s Nathan Detroit from Guys and Dolls. With a deft,
subtle motion, he arcs his arm one way and the dice fling the other,
bouncing perfectly off the wall of the craps table. I’m still learning
how to play, but luckily the house rules permit two do-overs and
the attendant seems pretty keen on overlooking our lost bets, much to
the chagrin of my fellow players.
I’m gambling with $30,000 of chips in funny money exchanged for a
donation to this senior center, which has been transformed for an
evening into a mock casino. It’s amazing to see how fast those who
have never gambled before transform into euphoric screamers at the spin
of the roulette wheel, the toss of the dice, or the turning over of
cards. The game unites us instantaneously, and nearly every age group
over 15 is curled around the table, sharing insights, tactics, and
congratulations for the big winners. After one turn, new players at the
roulette wheel suddenly have a foolproof strategy or a good-luck charm
(in one case, me), which usually lasts two turns before they abandon it
in search of something new.
Catered desserts, cheap beer, and later an Elvis impersonator (who
doesn’t look or sing like Elvis but is nonetheless a great
performer) keep us entertained until sometime after sundown. It’s one
of the earliest party nights Party Crasher has ever crashed, but it
leaves me in one of the best post-party moods. 
Want The Stranger to provide insight on the differences
between odds and evens at your next house party? E-mail the
date, place, and party details to partycrasher@thestranger.com.