How much gambling debt does Nikolai Rostov owe after losing to Dolokhov?

Nikolai Rostov owes Dolokhov 43,000 rubles after losing a card game.

The debt follows a bitter change in the relationship between Nikolai and Fyodor Dolokhov. Nikolai initially treats Dolokhov as a friend and fellow officer, but Dolokhov becomes resentful after Sonya rejects his proposal because she loves Nikolai. He then challenges Nikolai to a card game and steadily exploits his opponent's impulsiveness.

Nikolai keeps losing and continues playing despite the mounting danger. The final sum, 43,000 rubles, is catastrophic for the Rostov family, whose finances are already disordered because Count Ilya Rostov is generous and careless with money. Nikolai's mother urges him to consider a wealthy marriage as a possible rescue, but he is ashamed of the debt and initially struggles to confess it.

The episode is more than a gambling anecdote: it shows Nikolai's immaturity, Dolokhov's calculating cruelty, and the financial fragility of the Rostov household. It also contrasts with Nikolai's later life, when he becomes a responsible estate manager after marrying Maria Bolkonskaya.