The main character of Pushkin’s story “The Queen of Spades” had a real prototype - Countess Golitsyna. But the secret of success was not in the three cards, but in the ancient ring that was given to the countess by the Count Saint-Germain, who was in love with her. Created many centuries ago, it had great magical power - it granted success in gambling. But not everyone could take advantage of the cursed decoration: for some it brought winnings, and for others - death... Why did the opera diva Anna Shcherbatova, who performed the role of Lisa in Tchaikovsky’s opera “The Queen of Spades”, die? Why did Gennady Polushevich drown in the Neva, because he was a first-class swimmer? And what about businessman Ilya Kolesnikov, who was found dead in his own apartment? Are these people related to each other or is it all about the ring?