Ep 7. It's All in the Game

In "It's All in the Game," the seventh episode of Columbo's tenth season, the brilliant detective is called in to investigate the apparent suicide of a wealthy businessman named Nicholas Frame. Frame was a well-known and respected philanthropist, and his death has shocked and saddened the local community. However, as Columbo begins to investigate, it quickly becomes clear that there may be more to his death than meets the eye.

Columbo is immediately struck by several odd details surrounding Frame's death. For one, despite the fact that he supposedly shot himself, there is no gun to be found at the scene of the crime. In addition, Columbo finds it strange that Frame would choose to end his own life just moments before he was scheduled to host a high-stakes poker game at his mansion. Columbo smells a rat, and begins to dig deeper into Frame's life to see if he can uncover any clues.

As he begins to investigate, Columbo learns that Frame was deeply in debt and had recently borrowed a large sum of money from a local loan shark. He also discovers that Frame's widow had recently taken up with a much younger man, and had been discussing divorce with her husband. Columbo quickly begins to piece together a theory: that Frame's death was not a suicide, but a murder committed by someone who stood to gain from his demise.

To prove his theory, Columbo sets a trap for the killer. He invites all of the key suspects, including Frame's widow, her young lover, and the loan shark, to a high-stakes poker game at Frame's mansion. Columbo knows that someone at the game must be the killer, and that the clues he needs to solve the case will reveal themselves over the course of the evening.

As the game gets underway, tensions begin to rise. Columbo watches carefully, observing each of the players and waiting for one of them to slip up. Slowly but surely, the pieces of the puzzle begin to fall into place. As the game comes to a close, Columbo finally exposes the killer, revealing the true motive behind Frame's death and bringing the perpetrator to justice.

"It's All in the Game" is a classic example of the Columbo formula, with the detective using his wits and cunning to uncover the truth behind a seemingly impossible crime. Featuring a mix of intriguing characters, tense moments, and clever twists and turns, the episode is a must-watch for fans of the show. And as always, Peter Falk's performance as the rumpled, cigar-smoking detective is nothing short of iconic, cementing his place as one of television's most beloved and enduring heroes.