Connecting two computers with a straight-through cable

A conversation in office today:

X: I want to transfer data between 2 computers, using this network cable only at home.
Y (A bull headed kind of a character): You would need a cross-over cable to connect for sure. This straight-through cable won’t work.

X: I thought I did it once with this.
Y (with a smirk): Nah, not possible, I have done it during ‘my time’ for playing multiplayer games, it damn only works with a cross-over cable. I bet you 1000 bucks, it won’t work with this cable.

X: No harm in trying right now.
Y: He He. Let’s do it.

Five minutes later. Y leaves the cube bewildered.

Yes, two computers can be connected and can exchange data through a regular straight-through cable, provided both their NICs support Automatic MDI/MDI-X configuration .

From the Wikipedia ocean:

Automatic crossover
Automatic MDI/MDI-X Configuration is specified as an optional feature in the 1000BASE-T standard[1], meaning that straight-through cables will usually work between Gigabit capable interfaces. This feature eliminates the need for crossover cables, obsoletes the uplink/normal ports and manual selector switches found on many older hubs and switches, greatly reducing installation errors. Note that although Automatic MDI/MDI-X is generally implemented, a crossover cable would still be required in the occasional situation that neither of the connected devices has the feature implemented and enabled.
Even for legacy 10/100 devices, many NICs, switches and hubs automatically apply an internal crossover when necessary. Besides the eventually agreed upon Automatic MDI/MDI-X, this feature may also be referred to by various vendor-specific terms including: Auto uplink and trade, Universal Cable Recognition and Auto Sensing.

p.s. I am not betting ever again on such things.