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.