A Game of Chance summary

“A Game of Chance” is a realistic and moral-based story that warns readers against greed, gambling, and the false hope of easy success. The story is about a young boy named Rasheed who visits a village fair with his uncle and cousins. Rasheed is excited because fairs are colorful, noisy, and full of attractions. There are sweet stalls, swings, toys, music, crowds, and games. Everything feels festive, and Rasheed is eager to explore every corner of the fair.

While walking around, Rasheed notices a small stall surrounded by many people. The stall owner is calling loudly, telling everyone about a “game of chance.” He claims that anyone can win valuable prizes by throwing dice. The prizes displayed on the stall look tempting—bright toys, watches, fancy objects, and other items that children usually wish to own. The shopkeeper’s voice is cheerful and persuasive. He says the game is easy: pay a few coins, roll the dice, and if the number matches a fixed lucky number, you win a prize. The crowd’s excitement makes the stall look trustworthy.

Rasheed’s uncle notices Rasheed staring at the stall. The uncle immediately warns him not to play. He explains that such gambling stalls are often dishonest and are designed to cheat people. Rasheed listens, but his excitement is stronger than caution. He believes that luck might favor him. He decides to try once, thinking it is harmless fun. He pays a small amount and throws the dice.

On his first attempt, Rasheed wins a small prize. This early win is not real luck—it is a common trick used by gamblers. The shopkeeper intentionally allows a small win to trap customers emotionally. Rasheed, however, does not understand this. He feels proud and thrilled. The win creates confidence in him. He starts believing that winning is easy and that a bigger prize is just one step away. The shopkeeper praises him and encourages him to play again, saying he was “almost there” for a bigger reward.

Rasheed begins to play repeatedly. Each time he loses, he convinces himself that he will win next time. The shopkeeper cleverly fuels this belief by acting sympathetic and saying Rasheed is only a little short of victory. Rasheed’s hope slowly turns into greed. He stops thinking logically. He continues paying coins again and again. Gradually his pocket money reduces. He ignores the uncle’s advice and focuses only on the dream of a large prize. Unknown to Rasheed, the dice are loaded. A loaded dice is designed so that the lucky number almost never comes up. The game is unfair from the start.

After many failed attempts, Rasheed is left with almost no money. Yet he still believes he is “just about to win.” This shows how gambling traps people: after spending money, they think stopping would waste their earlier investment. The excitement of the crowd and the shopkeeper’s sweet talk keep Rasheed stuck. At this moment, Rasheed’s uncle returns and sees what is happening. He firmly pulls Rasheed away from the stall before he loses everything. Rasheed protests, arguing that he was very close to winning, but his uncle makes him understand the truth—that the stall owner is cheating and exploiting people’s greed.

Rasheed feels ashamed and disappointed. He realizes that his first win was bait. He understands that he ignored wise advice due to excitement and greed. He regrets losing money that could have been used more sensibly. The uncle explains that such “easy win” games always benefit the seller, not the player. Rasheed finally accepts that luck is unreliable and that gambling is a dangerous habit.

The story gives a strong moral lesson for students. It teaches that greed blinds judgment, and quick rewards often hide traps. True success comes from patience, hard work, and careful thinking—not from risky shortcuts. “A Game of Chance” warns children to stay alert against dishonest temptations and to listen to good advice, especially when something seems too easy to be true.