On the history of the emergence of billiards in Russia. History of Billiards - how the game appeared

History of billiards

The question of where and when they first started playing billiards remains open to this day. It is not unreasonable that Indochina is considered the birthplace of billiards, from where the game was delivered to Europe by Genoese merchants aroundXV in.
However, long before the appearance of "Chinese billiards" in Europe, in many countries there were already games that can be called the prototypes of billiards. For example, the Germans played Balkespiel, a game that used a wooden table with sides and stone balls, several of which had to be driven into the recesses of the table with a special club. In England, there was another version - Pall-Mallspill. The goal of this game was to hit the balls in special gates located on a hard-packed earthen platform.
The question of the origin of the word "billiards" remains controversial. According to the English researcher John Wilk, the original name of the game was "ball-yerds", composed of two words of the ancient Saxon language ("ball" - ball and "yerd" - stick). Proponents of another, French version of the origin of the word, point to the French roots of the name: "bille" - a ball, or "billart" - a wooden stick.
Billiards is rightly called the "game of kings". It was royal persons who for many centuries significantly influenced the development of the game, sometimes forbidding it (for example, the king of EnglandGeorgeII), and sometimes vice versa, they encouraged the development of billiards and interested subjects by personal example, such as PeterI, Napoleon Bonaparte and CharlesIX. Mary Stuart, Queen of Scots and a passionate lover of the game, even on the day of her own execution, in a letter to the Archbishop of Glasgow, she asked to keep her billiard table.
Vassals, trying to please their masters, imitated them in every possible way, incl. and in passion for billiards, and for some of them the game contributed to a career, such as Michel Chamillard, who served at the court of King Louis of FranceXIV. The enterprising courtier, who mastered the game to perfection and was known as the best player in the country, became the constant partner of the king. Shamilar periodically succumbed to Ludovik, and he, who had a complacent mood after winning, used to say that, not being a "billiards professor", he still had an excellent command of the cue. Subsequently, Shamilar was turned from a clerk into a controller of finances, and even later became the Minister of War of France. Around the same time in Lyon, the Frenchman Etienne Liazon publishes the first set of rules for playing billiards.
Billiards appeared in Russia in 1698, when PeterI, a well-known fan of everything European, returned from Holland, where he got acquainted with the game. In his waiting room, Peter installed a billiard table, and soon, carried away by the example of the king, those close to him also acquired a billiards. A few years later, billiard tables settled in estates and estates. The game became even more widespread during the reign of Empress Anna Ioannovna, who practiced billiards daily. Tables for the game were placed in taverns, hotels, and even in army premises. Billiards conquered Russia!

At that time, there were legends about three Russian generals: about Skobelev, Bibikov and Osterman-Tolstoy, each of whom lost one of his hands in battles, but, trying to keep up with the others, the generals systematically trained and reached the heights of skill in the game. This once again confirms the fact of the great popularity of the game in Russia of that era.

Meanwhile, a boom in scientific research related to billiards is beginning in Europe. In 1978, the son of the famous mathematician Euler published his work entitled "Investigations on the motion of a ball in a horizontal plane." In 1828, the legendary billiard player Mengo, who invented the leather cue stick, published the book The Noble Game of Billiards.
The Russians tried to keep up with the Europeans. In addition to translations of the above books, books by Leman, Bakastov and Freiberg, the famous owner of a billiard table factory at that time, are published. It was Freiberg who satisfied the needs of Russian players by releasing the so-called. "strict table" with narrow pockets and sides of medium elasticity. To drive the ball into the pocket on such a table was possible only with a very accurate blow. This is how the "Russian" billiards appeared. Other types of billiards were also modified: the English "snooker" differs from the Russian variety in the reduced size of the balls and increased pockets, in the American version (the so-called "pool"), the size of the table is also reduced, and in the French "carom" there are no pockets at all. The game turned into a sport in the endXIX in. Already in At the beginning of the 20th century, international tournaments began to be held in France, which had a considerable prize fund.
Nowadays, billiards is not just a sport game or entertainment, billiards is a whole culture with its own traditions, rituals and rich history. Many great ones noted that billiards not only helps to train the body, but also develops special thinking, composure and purposefulness.

Billiards is so popular in our country that it seems as if its history goes back centuries. But the passion for billiards in Russia began no more than four centuries ago. We will tell you at what time this game appeared and thanks to whom.

Who and when brought billiards to Russia?

Peter I is considered to be the first Russian "billiard player". Having got acquainted with the game in Holland, he decided to continue this activity at home, urging his subjects to share the newfangled hobby. Having gone beyond the limits of the royal palace, billiards soon took root in the noble estates. The game was especially popular among the officers. Under Catherine II, interest in billiards does not slow down, having received a new round due to the appearance of the "Russian pyramid". Since then, the need for it has continued to grow: the heroes of the war of 1812, leaders of the revolutionary movement and Soviet leaders paid tribute to billiard battles. This sport is no less popular today.

The specifics of the game "Russian billiards"

This type of game appeared during the Russian Empire. Developing and improving, rolling balls on Russian billiards, little by little, has become widespread in different parts of the globe. Russian Billiards is played on tables ranging in size from 8 to 12 feet. During the game, sixteen balls are used, of which fifteen are indicated by a serial number. The pockets are not significantly (the count goes to millimeters) differ in size from the diameter of the ball. This is the peculiarity of "Russian billiards": in order to get into the pocket, the players have to demonstrate skill, calculating the correct trajectory of movement and choosing the correct force of impact.

Billiards in modern Russia

A visit to the billiard room is one of the favorite ways to spend time among people of different social statuses and age categories. This sport allows participants to show their abilities, both physically and intellectually. Improving their skills, players develop coordination of movements, reaction speed and eye. Regular classes help to quickly make calculations, keep calm in various situations, show patience and endurance.

The game is equally interesting for participants and spectators, it is suitable for family leisure and meetings with friends. In business, it is used to relieve tension during negotiations. There are many competitions of different levels, allowing players to demonstrate their skill, talent and skill. Competitions always enjoy increased spectator interest, they are broadcast on television. People who have made the game a profession are often financially secure and enjoy well-deserved recognition in society.

The game of bowls is one of the first games about which there is historical information. Many researchers believe that it was ball games, which Asia became the birthplace of, that became the basis for the appearance of billiards. It is believed that Chinese merchants brought a simple game of bowls to England during the Middle Ages. And already the British, having improved it, became the founders of billiards. At that time, the British played Pall-Mall, the essence of which was to move several balls around a compacted earthen area. Also, in favor of the fact that the world owes the game of billiards to England, says the origin of the word billiards from the English ball (ball) and yeard (stick). And even the great Shakespeare, in one of his plays, mentions that Cleopatra played billiards with her eunuch Mardyan. However, other experts refute these theories.

The emergence of billiards would be correctly attributed to the historical period when the balls began to be moved with the help of cue-like devices on a flat surface raised above the floor or the ground. Therefore, another version says that billiards originated in France, since the first mention of a billiard table was found in the inventory of King Louis XI, and refers to 1470.

The first billiard players were the crowned persons and nobles of Western Europe. It was they who had access to an expensive billiard table and a large hall for it. There is historical evidence that in 1588, the imprisoned Queen of Scots, Mary Stuart, spent a lot of time playing billiards.

An important stage in the development of billiards is its distribution among other social strata of the population. Billiards received such development during the reign of the French rabbits Louis XIII and Louis XIV. Business people of that era became interested in playing billiards, and began to equip public halls for this game. The state was also interested in installing billiard tables in public places, because it brought income to the treasury thanks to taxes. So billiards walked across Europe with a confident step.

Extremely fond of playing billiards Louis XIV. He prided himself on how well he handled the balls and how graceful he was while doing so. The king was considered a very good billiards player, and his constant partner was Shamilar, who had the reputation of a very strong player. He purposely lost to the king, but sometimes he won. They say that it was thanks to billiards that Shamilar made a brilliant career - from a clerk to a minister of war.

From Western Europe, the game of billiards gradually spread to more eastern countries, including Russia. And with the beginning of the times of colonization, billiards were widely distributed in the colony. However, not as fast as in Europe. For example, America was discovered by Columbus in 1492, and the spread of billiards in America dates back more than two hundred years from the date of the legendary discovery.

Who really and in what country was the first to come up with billiards, may remain unknown. Yes, it probably doesn't matter too much. The important thing is that this wonderful, smart and gambling game is so loved by many today.

Billiards appeared in Russia at the beginning of the 18th century under Peter I. Being abroad, in Holland, and having become acquainted with this game, Peter ordered to make billiards for himself, which became his favorite pastime.

"Sharokat" - this is how billiards was called by Admiral Shishkov, a well-known public figure in Russia at the beginning of the 19th century, who was fond of replacing foreign words with "old Russian" words. But the name "charcoal" did not take root, although it quite accurately reflects the essence of the billiard action.

"Balloon rolling" is a great way to spend time in good company, again, not without health benefits. Fatigue, irritability, nervous tension - all these "side effects" of the working week quickly disappear. It is estimated that on average, in one game, a player walks around the table up to three kilometers - a useful exercise "without interruption from rest." And ladies, along with gentlemen, can deftly manage a cue - in billiards, the age, gender and physical characteristics of the players do not really matter. In other words, even if you are a Negro of advanced years ... Pick up a cue and hit the balls! Fortunately, there are enough places where you can play billiards now.

What should a beginner player know about billiards? Probably, first of all, the stick with which balls are rolled on the table is called a cue stick. And the holes into which these balls are rolled are called pockets. If this basic knowledge of the game is not enough for you, you can learn more about equipment. And one more thing: if you are going to a billiard establishment, you should not wear an Easter tracksuit and smart weekend sneakers - not every club will let you in such attire. The traditional attire of the players (and in some places the spectators) is considered to be a black bottom, a white top, and, as a rule, a vest.

Russian billiards, pool, snooker, carom... In total, there are about 30 billiard games in the world. They differ from each other not only by the rules, but also by the size of tables, balls and pockets.

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Billiards appeared in Russia at the beginning of the 18th century under Peter I. Being abroad, in Holland, and having become acquainted with this game, Peter ordered to make billiards for himself, which became his favorite pastime.

In Russia, from the very beginning, the development of billiards went autonomously. It was in Moscow and St. Petersburg that not only strict tables appeared, on which balls could only be placed with accurate blows, but also new interesting games.

It should be especially noted that in Russia, billiards developed autonomously, therefore, in the end, its own, domestic type of pocket billiards was developed. Back in the 30s and 40s of the 19th century, the inventory was distinguished by a great variety and disproportionate details. There were balls that were much smaller in diameter compared to the width of the pockets; the sides were either very low or too high, on many tables the pockets had a long mouth, as a result of which not perfectly accurately fired balls did not repel from the pockets, but often got stuck in them. When competing on such tables, the chances of bad and good players were equalized and the struggle between them lost interest.

Only in 1850, a good player and manager of a billiard factory in St. Petersburg, A. Freiberg, created a sample of Russian six-hole billiards that met the necessary requirements:

For a certain complication of the game, all balls should be placed only with accurate hits, which means that the width of the pockets should only be a few millimeters greater than the diameter of the balls;

The ball along the board must not fall into the middle pocket;

All pockets should have short mouths so that the balls are less stuck in them, and it is possible to play the side balls into the corner pockets.

In Russia, billiards appeared at the beginning of the 18th century under Peter 1. Being abroad, in Holland, and having become acquainted with this game, Peter ordered to make billiards for himself, which became his favorite pastime.

Following the example of the king, his entourage also began to start billiard tables. After some time, the game quickly spread to noble estates, clubs, palaces of the nobility.

Along with the shape of the table, the design of the pockets, the shape of the protrusion of the sides in the part that is covered with rubber was also improved. On the first pocket billiards, this protrusion along its entire height was like a continuous vertical wall.

At the same time, the ball had many points of contact with rubber, which is why it was reflected in an unpredictable direction, and it was technically difficult to make a perfect board.

Later, the Moscow billiard masters Shultz and Briggen proposed a low board and limited it to an inclined plane with a pointed rubber rounding (Fig. b). So it was more convenient for the game. But the sharpness of the rounding and the fact that the point of contact of the ball with the rubber was against its center and even somewhat lower were fraught with surprises: with a strong blow, the ball often jumped up and then fell to the surface of the table, quickly losing the power of movement given to it.

a) Old board with a flat rubber ledge

b) Low board billiards fabr. Schultz.

c) Normal board.

In the future, through the efforts of many billiard specialists, and especially A. Freiberg, the so-called "normal" board was developed. It corresponds to a moderate rounding of the rubber and a height that ensures that the ball touches at a point slightly above its center (Fig. c). This shape of the sides is preserved to this day.

In the 30s of the 19th century, the "Small Russian Pyramid" was invented in Russia, which immediately gained great popularity. This game is still a billiards classic. The visibility of the struggle and the variety of blows can not leave anyone indifferent.

Among the outstanding players of the past, a special place is occupied by the Russian writer of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Anatoly Ivanovich Leman. It is to him that the merit of creating the best work for that time called "The Theory of the Billiard Game" belongs.

Considering billiards as a purely sporting activity, Leman notes that this game develops a person's character. He had great sympathy for the real masters of billiards and claimed that "an experienced, good master of the game is a philosopher, a stoic and a connoisseur of the human heart."

Russian billiards

Russian billiards has forty more varieties. For a long time this sport in our country existed semi-legally for a long time, no competitions were officially held. In every city and in every billiard room they played in their own way.

After the creation of the Billiard Sports Federation in the late 80s, it became necessary to unify the rules of the game, develop a unified system for holding tournaments and refereeing. The rules of the game were generalized, both general, characterizing the game moments inherent in all types of Russian billiards, and related to each of the three traditional types - "Russian" and "Moscow" pyramids, "American".

Rules of the game

Maybe due to the fact that Russian billiards developed autonomously from its Western relatives. Maybe due to the fact that billiards has been underground for a long time. Or maybe because of the ingenuity of our people, Russian billiards is the leader in the number of varieties and games not in it. Currently, there are more than 40 varieties of Russian billiard games - from the traditional American to the arctic, which can be played by up to 16 people.

General rules of Russian billiards

1. Billiard tables, balls and accessories

All billiard games described below must be played using billiard tables, balls and accessories that meet the requirements of the National Billiard Federation.

2.Ball arrangement

Before the start of the game, fifteen object balls are set close to each other in the form of a pyramid with the help of a triangle with the apex at the back mark and the base parallel to the short board.

3.Beat on the cue ball

The cue ball must be hit with the front part of the cue sticker in the direction of its longitudinal axis, while at least one player's foot must touch the floor. Striking in any other way is a foul.

4.Kickoff play

The right to the first blow in a meeting is determined as a result of a rally. Having settled down on opposite sides of the longitudinal line of the table, the players simultaneously make blows from the hand from the house, sending the balls to the rear board and back. The winner is the player whose ball, reflected from the back wall, stops closer to the front.

The rally is considered automatically lost if the cue ball did not touch the back wall, went into the opponent's half, fell into the pocket or jumped over the side. If both opponents violated the rules, or both cue balls stopped at the same distance from the board, then the rally is repeated.

The winner of the rally has the right to either make the initial blow himself, or give it to his opponent.

In subsequent games, the sequence is observed. Before the last, decisive game, the rally is repeated anew.

5. Opening kick (from the hand from home)

When performing this stroke, it is forbidden to take out the body beyond the extension of the outer side of the long board, and also to place the cue ball behind the home line. The cue ball is considered to be in play after being hit with the cue stick.

When playing from a hand, balls played into opposite corners, as well as those dropped into other pockets as a result of this shot, are counted.

A blow from the hand from the house is also made in other cases stipulated by these rules: the cue ball fell into a pocket or jumped overboard (“Russian pyramid”, “Moscow pyramid”), while it is allowed to strike only at balls located outside the house.

If all the object balls are in the house, then the shot is taken from the opposite side of the table, which in this case serves as a temporary home bounded by the back line.

6.Balls played

Balls are considered to be potted (potted) if they fall into the pockets as a result of a legal hit. The ball that is reflected from the pocket onto the playing surface of the table remains in the game.

An object ball that falls into a pocket as a result of intentionally rolling it over the side of the board does not count and is fielded in accordance with the rules of the particular game, while no penalty is imposed.

7.Popped balls

Balls that have come to a stop after being hit outside the playing surface of the table (on the board, on the floor, etc.) are considered to have jumped overboard. The ball remains in the game if it, having hit any stationary billiard equipment (the top of the board, the pocket bracket, the lighting device, etc.), returns to the playing surface on its own. If the ball touches any other object outside the table (cue, chalk, clothes, etc.), then it is considered to have jumped out even if after that it returns to the playing surface again.

Ejected object balls are placed after the stroke is completed in accordance with the rules of each particular game, while no penalty is imposed, and correctly pocketed balls are counted. If the cue ball goes overboard, then the player is penalized, and the pocketed balls do not count. When playing "American", the cue ball is set on a common basis. When playing "Moscow" and "Russian pyramid", the opponent entering the game makes a cue ball from the hand from the house.

8.Fielding balls

All incorrectly pocketed and popped balls are set in accordance with the rules of each specific game.

All exposed balls are considered to be aiming.

9.Ball position

The position of the ball is determined by the position of its center. A ball that is exactly on the home line is considered to be off the home.

10.Beginning and end of the strike

The hit starts from the moment the cue sticker touches the cue ball and ends after all the balls come to a complete stop on the playing surface of the table. A ball rotating in place is considered to be moving.

11.Hitting a nearby object ball

A hit on a closely spaced object ball (distanced no more than 1/2 of the ball radius), as well as located close to the cue ball, must be performed on a cut at an angle of 45 degrees or more away from the center line, or in such a way that the cue ball after the collision stops at place, rolled back or went to the side without crossing the lines of the penalty area.

The player is penalized for making an illegal kick.

12.Entry into the game of the opponent

The opponent enters the game after no ball has been played as a result of the previous stroke or there has been a violation of the rules.

13.fines

Penalties are imposed in the following cases:

If the cue ball did not touch any of the object balls when hit;

If after hitting the cue ball jumped overboard;

If the next blow is made before the completion of the previous blow;

If, when hitting the cue ball, none of the player's feet touch the floor;

When touching any ball on the playing surface of the table before, during or after a hit - with a cue, typewriter, hand, clothing, etc.;

For performing an illegal hit on the cue ball;

In case of an incorrect hit on a closely standing object ball;

When performing a push on an object ball that is more than 1/2 the radius of the ball from the cue ball, when the player excessively delays the contact time of the cue stick with the cue ball and simultaneously pushes the cue ball and the object ball being played;

In a double hit, when the cue stick touches the cue ball twice;

For performing a push stroke when the cue ball pushes the object ball off the board;

If the cue ball hits any object ball in the home when hitting from home;

When striking not crowded ("Russian pyramid" and "Moscow pyramid");

When the cue ball falls into the pocket ("Russian pyramid");

In case of incorrect wagering (“American”);

If, on a home shot, the player, despite the referee's warning, takes the cue ball out of the home line, carries the body beyond the extension of the outside of the long board, or strikes from the opposite side of the table;

When interfering with the opponent's game.

If several violations of the rules are committed during the execution of one blow, then the penalty is charged in a single amount. Balls pocketed in violation of the rules do not count and are exposed in accordance with the rules of each particular game.

14.hovering balls

If the ball, hovering over the pocket in a position of unstable balance, remains motionless for five seconds or more after the completion of the stroke, and then falls into the pocket, then the referee restores it to its original place and the game continues. The same is done if the hovering ball falls into the pocket after a clear push or shaking of the billiard table.

If the hovering ball falls into the pocket before the expiration of five seconds after the completion of the stroke, then it is considered to have fallen into the pocket as a result of the strike, and the game continues on a common basis. If a player hits a hovering object ball with the cue ball, and the latter falls into the pocket before the impact, the referee restores its original position and the hit is repeated, while no penalty is imposed.

15. "Deaf" position

If the balls are grouped near one of the pockets, and the pocket turned out to be blocked, as well as in other cases when, after a long series of wagering, the position on the table does not fundamentally change, which leads to an unjustified delay in the game, then the referee, after warning the players, has the right to place the remaining ones on table object balls in the form of a pyramid (shortened pyramid) with the apex at the back mark, the right of the subsequent strike is determined by the rally, the game continues from the hand from home.

16.Outside intervention

If during the game the balls start to move as a result of the intervention of any outside person (directly or by any influence on the player taking the kick), then the referee restores the original position and the kick is repeated, while no penalty is imposed. They do the same in the event of any emergency: a gust of wind, a fall in a lighting fixture, an accident, a breakdown, etc.

If an outsider interferes with the game intentionally, then the game is suspended until he leaves the competition area.

17.Opponent interference

If the opponent of the player touches, displaces or stops any ball moving towards the pocket, then the ball is considered played and the player makes a subsequent stroke.

Any actions of the opponent aimed at diverting the attention of the player and interfering with him during the execution of the stroke are also considered interference. If the opponent interferes with the game intentionally, then the referee uses the following measures of influence:

comment;

A warning;

Reading defeat;

Disqualification;

18.Intentionally delaying the game

If the player, in the opinion of the referee, deliberately delays the game, then the referee, after a warning, has the right to introduce a one-minute time limit on the preparation and execution of the stroke.

19.Protest

A protest against the referee's interpretation of the rules must be made prior to any subsequent strike. The game is then paused. And the final decision is made by the chief referee of the competition. The question of whether this or that game event took place is the prerogative of the referee at the table and cannot be the subject of a protest.

Russian Civilization

A room specially equipped for playing on billiards, - billiard room.

India or China is considered the birthplace of the billiard game.

Story

Currently, slabs for billiard tables are made from the following materials:

• Ardesia (natural slate)
• Sintegran (short for "synthetic granite" - marble or granite chips, bonded with synthetic hardeners)
• MDF ((Medium Density Fiberboards) - medium density fibreboard.)
• LDSP (laminated chipboard)
• Chipboard (chipboard)

Billiards began its history as a game for the privileged. Gradually, it becomes more and more popular, but the bulkiness of the main equipment (billiard table) prevents the spread of billiards among the people as a hobby.

Billiards in science

For the first time, Gaspard Gustav Coriolis spoke about the mathematical basis of the billiard game in his book "Théorie mathématique du jeu de billard" (Russian translation: "Mathematical theory of the phenomena of the billiard game") in 1835. He used elements of probability theory, limit theory, and general analysis in his work. However (according to Leman) the book did not arouse much interest among contemporaries: neither mathematicians nor billiard players.

More than a hundred and fifty years have passed, and mathematical billiards has developed into its own theory, giving rise to several side ones. "Theory of billiards" today is an integral part of the ergodic theory and the theory of dynamical systems, has the most important application in physics. Mathematician Galperin created a method for determining the number $\backslash ;\backslash pi$ with billiards. Much closer to the general educated reader are the results of the studies of the mathematicians Steinhaus, Alhazen, and Gardner. [ clarify]

Main varieties

• Carom (French billiards)
• Russian billiards
• Snooker (English billiards (not to be confused with the game of the same name)
• Pool (American billiards)
• Kaisa (Carolina) (Finnish billiards)
• Novus (Baltic billiards)

In cinema

• The history of one billiard team
• Turn the river

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Notes

Literature

• Galperin G., Stepin A. Periodic motions of a billiard ball // Kvant magazine. - 1989. - No. 3.
• Zhilin L.. - M .: Eksmo, 2011. - ISBN 978-5-699-46506-4.
• Coriolis G. Mathematical theory of billiard game phenomena / transl. from French - M., 1956
• "Science and Life", 1966, No. 2, 3, 4, 6, 11.
• // Encyclopedic Dictionary of Brockhaus and Efron: in 86 volumes (82 volumes and 4 additional). - St. Petersburg. , 1890-1907.
• // Explanatory dictionary of the living Great Russian language: in 4 volumes / ed. V. I. Dal. - 2nd ed. - St. Petersburg. : Printing house M. O. Wolfa, 1880-1882.

Links

• - official site.

An excerpt characterizing billiards

Pierre was received in a brand new living room, in which it was impossible to sit down anywhere without violating symmetry, cleanliness and order, and therefore it was very understandable and not strange that Berg generously offered to destroy the symmetry of an armchair or sofa for a dear guest, and apparently being himself in in this regard, in painful indecision, offered a solution to this issue to the choice of the guest. Pierre upset the symmetry by pulling out a chair for himself, and immediately Berg and Vera began the evening, interrupting one another and entertaining the guest.
Vera, deciding in her mind that Pierre should be occupied with a conversation about the French embassy, ​​immediately began this conversation. Berg, deciding that a man's conversation was also necessary, interrupted his wife's speech, touching on the question of the war with Austria and involuntarily jumped from the general conversation to personal considerations about the proposals that were made to him to participate in the Austrian campaign, and about the reasons why he did not accept them. Despite the fact that the conversation was very awkward, and that Vera was angry at the interference of the male element, both spouses felt with pleasure that, despite the fact that there was only one guest, the evening started very well, and that the evening was like two drops of water are like any other evening with conversations, tea and candles lit.
Boris, Berg's old comrade, soon arrived. He treated Berg and Vera with a certain tinge of superiority and patronage. A lady came for Boris with a colonel, then the general himself, then the Rostovs, and the evening was completely, undoubtedly, similar to all evenings. Berg and Vera could not help smiling at the sight of this movement around the living room, at the sound of this incoherent conversation, the rustling of dresses and bows. Everything was, like everyone else, the general was especially similar, praising the apartment, patting Berg on the shoulder, and with paternal arbitrariness ordered the setting up of the Boston table. The general sat down with Count Ilya Andreich, as if he were the most distinguished guest after himself. Old men with old men, young with young, the hostess at the tea table, on which were exactly the same cookies in a silver basket that the Panins had at the evening, everything was exactly the same as the others.

Pierre, as one of the most honored guests, was to sit in Boston with Ilya Andreevich, a general and a colonel. Pierre had to sit opposite Natasha at the Boston table, and the strange change that had taken place in her since the day of the ball struck him. Natasha was silent, and not only was she not as good as she was at the ball, but she would be bad if she did not have such a meek and indifferent look to everything.
"What with her?" thought Pierre, looking at her. She was sitting next to her sister at the tea table and reluctantly, without looking at him, answered something to Boris, who had sat down next to her. Departing the whole suit and taking five bribes to the pleasure of his partner, Pierre, who heard the greetings and the sound of someone's steps entering the room during the collection of bribes, looked at her again.
"What happened to her?" even more surprised he said to himself.
Prince Andrei, with a thrifty tender expression, stood before her and said something to her. She, raising her head, blushing and apparently trying to hold her breath, looked at him. And the bright light of some kind of inner, previously extinguished fire, again burned in her. She has completely changed. From the bad girl she again became the same as she was at the ball.
Prince Andrei went up to Pierre and Pierre noticed a new, youthful expression in the face of his friend.
Pierre changed seats several times during the game, now with his back, then facing Natasha, and for the entire duration of 6 roberts he made observations of her and his friend.
“Something very important is happening between them,” thought Pierre, and a joyful and at the same time bitter feeling made him worry and forget about the game.
After 6 robers, the general got up, saying that it was impossible to play like that, and Pierre got his freedom. Natasha was talking to Sonya and Boris in one direction, Vera was talking about something with a thin smile with Prince Andrei. Pierre went up to his friend and, asking if what was being said was a secret, sat down beside them. Vera, noticing Prince Andrei's attention to Natasha, found that at the evening, at a real evening, it was necessary that there be subtle hints of feelings, and seizing the time when Prince Andrei was alone, she began a conversation with him about feelings in general and about her sister . With such an intelligent (as she considered Prince Andrei) guest, she needed to apply her diplomatic skills to the matter.
When Pierre approached them, he noticed that Vera was in the self-satisfied enthusiasm of the conversation, Prince Andrei (which rarely happened to him) seemed embarrassed.
- What do you think? Vera said with a thin smile. - You, prince, are so insightful and understand the character of people at once. What do you think of Natalie, can she be constant in her affections, can she, like other women (Vera understood herself), love a person once and remain faithful to him forever? This is what I consider true love. What do you think, prince?
“I know your sister too little,” answered Prince Andrei with a mocking smile, under which he wanted to hide his embarrassment, “to solve such a delicate question; and then I noticed that the less a woman likes, the more constant she is, ”he added and looked at Pierre, who had approached them at that time.
- Yes, it's true, prince; in our time, Vera continued (referring to our time, as limited people generally like to mention, believing that they have found and appreciated the features of our time and that the properties of people change with time), in our time the girl has so much freedom that le plaisir d "etre courtisee [the pleasure of having fans] often drowns out the true feeling in her. Et Nathalie, il faut l" avouer, y est tres sensible. [And Natalya, it must be confessed, is very sensitive to this.] The return to Natalya again made Prince Andrei frown unpleasantly; he wanted to get up, but Vera continued with an even more refined smile.
“I don’t think anyone was as courtisee [object of courtship] as she was,” Vera said; - but never, until very recently, did she seriously like anyone. You know, count, - she turned to Pierre, - even our dear cousin Boris, who was, entre nous [between us], very, very dans le pays du tendre ... [in the land of tenderness ...]
Prince Andrei frowned silently.
Are you friends with Boris? Vera told him.
- Yes, I know him…
- Did he tell you right about his childhood love for Natasha?
Was there childhood love? - suddenly suddenly blushing, asked Prince Andrei.
- Yes. Vous savez entre cousin et cousine cette intimate mene quelquefois a l "amour: le cousinage est un dangereux voisinage, N" est ce pas? [You know, between cousin and sister, this closeness sometimes leads to love. Such kinship is a dangerous neighborhood. Is not it?]
“Oh, without a doubt,” said Prince Andrei, and suddenly, unnaturally animated, he began to joke with Pierre about how careful he should be in his treatment of his 50-year-old Moscow cousins, and in the middle of a joking conversation, he got up and, taking under the arm of Pierre, took him aside.
- Well? - said Pierre, looking with surprise at the strange animation of his friend and noticing the look that he threw at Natasha getting up.
“I need, I need to talk to you,” said Prince Andrei. - You know our women's gloves (he talked about those Masonic gloves that were given to the newly elected brother to present to his beloved woman). - I ... But no, I'll talk to you later ... - And with a strange gleam in his eyes and restlessness in his movements, Prince Andrei went up to Natasha and sat down beside her. Pierre saw how Prince Andrei asked her something, and she, flushing, answered him.