Anyone stepping foot inside the fierce competitive world of DiverseWorks "Luck of the Draw - The Gambler Returns" better watch out. Lesson learned: Never get in the way between a slightly buzzed art collector and the chosen bounty. It just isn't safe, and neither were those lusty Pura Vida Tequila potations.

The early arrivals studiously parsed 200 art pieces, each measuring 7 by 9 inches, plastered through the art presenter's large gallery Friday night. When numbers were called via lottery by the saucy drag pit boss Koomah, gamblers would have less than 30 seconds to redeem their Kenny Rogers-themed bid paddle, stake claim to their preferred art piece and get out of the way — quick.

And with art that exceeded previous years' expectations, the tension at this 11th annual bacchanal couldn't be cut with a sharp knife, but the impromptu square dance hollered by Gay Ann Gustafson sure did the trick. After the do-si-do, grooves by DJ Paul took over, and so did peppy chitchat.

High roller Jim Petersen, whose $1,500 ante guaranteed the first spot and who had to scoot out prior to the game, had no qualms about enlisting artistic director Sixto Wagan to collect his payoff, Brooklyn-artist Oliver Herring's Brennan. Close-up with Glitter (Areas for Action Day II: Glitter), a silver luminous head profile.

Greg Higgins took home New York-based Polly Apfelbaum's Wavy Weave, Kellye Sanford's pick was Randy Twaddle's DW Drawing and Jason Roth Fuller was giddy that he scooped Boxer by Brooklyn-artist Marc Swanson, who recently exhibited at the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston.

Notable works by former interim-executive director William Betts, media ace Pablo Gimenez Zapiola and abstract master Nicola Parente didn't last long. A number of edgy contributions including those by Texas Prize-winner Jeff Williams, Will Henry, Sterling Allen and Lynne McCabe are still available for $125. Unlike previous years when guests would take winnings home that same evening, this exhibition will remain on view through June 2.

As this was new DiverseWorks executive director Elizabeth Dunbar's first large scale fundraising fete, supporters were thrilled that the renegade essence of the nonprofit carries on.

Testing their luck were Dennis Nance in full southern regalia, Rob Greenstein, Fritz Lanham, Tucker Sexton, Ann Wilde, Paul Pettie, Adam Walker, Shalini Moodley, Bobby Heugel, Arturo Palacios, James Glassman, Amy Tanner, Chris Spicks, Jill Anne Jarrell, Colleen Amling, Danielle Schidlowski, Jeff Shell, Milton Townsend, Erin Siudzinski and Kent Dorn.