Said, if you're gonna play the game, boy, you gotta learn to play it right

A gambler not only will lose what he has, but also will lose what he doesn't have.

I think of the lyrics from The Gambler...and also from The Winner Takes It All and I imagine someone desperate, someone on a winning streak--the lucky run. Someone who has brought all he has to the table. "Just a little more, I'll win it back," he thinks to himself. Deeper in debt, another chip to lay on the table. "Just a bit more--my lucky streak will come back."

Said, if you're gonna play the game, boy, you gotta learn to play it right

He's convinced himself that he has nothing to lose, but everything to gain. But by betting more than what he has--he's going to lose it all and spend time trying to get himself back in the black. Or perhaps his wife won't be happy and their marriage will disolve. Perhaps he'll file bankruptcy and lose the home that he and his wife have built together.

You got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em
Know when to walk away and know when to run
You never count your money, when you're sittin' at the table
There'll be time enough for countin', when the dealin's done
Every gambler knows that the secret to survive is
Knowing what to throw away and knowing what to keep
'Cos every hand's a winner and every hand's a loser
And the best that you can hope for is dyin' in your sleep

Knowing when to stop, when to stop taking chances--sometimes that takes real strength and confidence, too. Knowing when to walk away, not to give up--but to keep oneself from losing everything, whether it's money or love. Taking a risk can be worth it. This I know for sure--we've all taken risks, whether it's tossing that last chip on Red 5 on a rouletta in Vegas, falling in love, buying a house...sometimes the risks are worth it.

Maybe that Red 5 was that lucky number. Maybe that was the last of your savings. Perhaps the person you fall for is the one you end up marrying. But maybe it all falls apart and you get your heart broken. Maybe that house was the one of your dreams--or perhaps it turned out to be a money pit and not the right place for you at all. But more importantly, knowing when to take a chance is important, and moreover, it's also important to know when not to risk it all.