It¡¯s late October, and there¡¯s an electric tension in the air at a shop around the corner from Takadanobaba Station ¡ª four players, cards in hand, sit around a table, three looking intently at the last, who chooses a card and considers it for a moment.

With a smile, Luiz Gonzalez drops it onto the table. Instantly, the other three players fall back into their chairs with a collective groan.

¡°Of course he had it!¡± says teacher Victor Banuelos, referring to Gonzalez¡¯s winning card.