In the field of poker, it’s something they’ve been trying for decades and only occasionally getting away with. The pastime, or should we say sport, of poker has become a massive industry in recent decades, and it’s an activity millions upon millions of us enjoy.

Of all the poker scenes put to celluloid, here are our three favorites, not necessarily due to their realistic nature but more for their iconic impact. By the way, if you are an avid poker fan out of Pennsylvania, you may want to check out this helpful list of the best PA online poker sites around.

The Sting (1973)

This classic comedy caper from George Roy Hill sees Paul Newman and Robert Redford deliver a masterclass in suave elegance as they grift their way to a killing. Robert Shaw, best known for his performance as Quint in Jaws, is the ‘Mark’ for their big con, and that’s because the tyrannical gangster was behind the killing of their friend in Illinois during the Great Depression.

In order to set the scene and lure in Shaw, Newman constructs a con that involves a high-stakes poker game that takes place on board a train. It’s an iconic scene and one that lives long in the memory.

Newman plays an obnoxious drunk who riles up Shaw and his fellow players, giving them a sense of false expectations, only to then beat him in a way that clearly shows his opponent that he’s cheated. However, it’s not a claim Shaw can make, given he, too, has been cheating.

It lays the groundwork for the ultimate con that takes place in the final act and is beautifully crafted from both a cinematic perspective as well as a nod to poker lovers out there, who no doubt know the scene back to front.

Rounders (1998)

This 90s favorite, starring Matt Damon and Ed Norton as the leads, is pretty much the poker equivalent to The Color of Money. Mike McDermott (Damon) is studying law while making a few extra bucks on the side as a poker player. He’s a happy-go-lucky type of guy whose best friend happens to be something of a risk-taker, leading him down all sorts of roads he’d rather not have traveled.

Throughout the film, McDermott is effectively playing in order to keep his friend, Worm (Norton), out of jail or the hands of the mobsters, and it all comes down to a final card game against the hilarious “Teddy KGB,” a riotous over the top portrayal of a Russian gangster from John Malkovich, which effectively steals the film.

By the end of the film, Mike has worked out KGB’s ‘tell’ and subsequently lures him in and wins back all that he is owed, resulting in his friend escaping the clutches of the mob and a tidy little nest egg for himself.

Throughout the movie, we are given an education into poker rooms, both big and small, and while it’s all a little bit ‘on the nose,’ it’s nonetheless entertaining, and the movie played its part in making poker very cool again.

Casino Royale (2006)

Daniel Craig successfully brought James Bond back to life following Pierce Brosnan’s slightly over-the-top run as 007, and in his first outing during 2006’s Casino Royale, he partakes in a big money poker game in Monte Carlo.

Unsurprisingly he’s going up against an ingenious madman who wants to destroy the world, as is traditional, but first, there’s the important matter of a card game played in a very opulent setting.

Of course, Bond wins after a poor start and pockets $100 million, further irritating La Chiffre (Mads Mikkelsen) when he gets a straight flush, beating his opponent’s full house.

Grab yourself some popcorn and let’s check out some great poker films!

High Roller – The Stu Ungar Story

The life of three-time WSOP Main Event champion Stu Ungar was portrayed in this film starring Michael Imperioli (“The Sopranos”). It shows his childhood where he was raised by a mobster, his victories in Las Vegas and his problems with addictions. WPT commentator Vince Van Patten has a supporting role in the film. In my opinion I think the movie doesn’t do justice to Stu’s incredible life, but it’s still a good approach for younger people who don’t know anything about Ungar.

You can see it here:

Cold Deck

This film was released in 2015 and went unnoticed by the public despite featuring performances by Paul Sorvino (Paulie in “Goodfellas”) and Robert Knepper (“T-Bag” in the TV series “Prison Break”). It tells the story of Bobby, who is going through a rough patch at the tables and decides to rob a high stakes poker game, which will have dangerous consequences. The poker scenes are quite realistic, except for the fact that they use the traditional 4-color poker chips and ought to be using others in those private games so as to avoid cheating.

Watch it here:

The Grand

It’s the best poker comedy I’ve seen and laughs at the classic player stereotypes: the amateur, the European, the professional, the expert and the cowboy, among others. It features renowned players such as Doyle Brunson, Phil Gordon, Gabe Kaplan, Phil Hellmuth, Daniel Negreanu, Phil Laak and Antonio Esfandiari.

Among the actors is Woody Harrelson, known for films such as “Indecent Proposal”, “White Men Can’t Jump”, “The People Versus Larry Flynt” and the TV series “Cheers”. The cast also includes Dennis Farina, Cheryl Hines, David Cross, Richard Kind, Ray Romano and Jason Alexander.

You can watch it via this link.

Luckytown

This little-known film stars James Caan (known for “Misery,” “The Godfather” and the TV show “Las Vegas”) and a young Kirsten Dunst (“Spiderman”, “Little Women” and “Wimbledon”). James plays Charlie, a Las Vegas gambler who receives an unexpected visit from his daughter Lidda (Dunst) and must learn to be a father while playing dangerous games. It’s not a fabulous movie, but it’s nice to see a great actor like James Caan in a gambling movie again as in the classic “The Gambler”.

You can watch it via this link.

Rounders

I end the recommendations with what I consider to be the best film of all: “Rounders”. With the performances of Matt Damon, Edward Norton, John Turturro and John Malkovich as the unforgettable villain “Teddy KGB”. The screenwriter was Brian Koppelman and he showed that he knew poker by showing the book “Super System” in one of the first scenes. Brian used the private games he played in New York as an influence to write the script and is one of the reasons why the game scenes look so realistic.

Rounders is on, so it’s on my TV always. Just thinking about this fact:

I NEED a Rounders II.

We all NEED one.

Make it happen @briankoppelman!

It’s never too late to find out how Mikey McD made out in Vegas and beyond.

We need to know.

— Daniel Negreanu (@RealKidPoker) September 21, 2019

This year marks the 25th anniversary of its release and it is still considered by most players as the best. The film was so well received by fans that many asked for a sequel and many imagined what could happen to Mike’s story. Despite repeated rumors of a sequel and a photo uploaded by Brian with a mug that read “Rounders 2” the project never came to fruition.

Let’s hope it can stay on YouTube for a long time. Enjoy the film while you can:

Once you have seen all the poker movies on this list, we look forward to your comments on our social media channels.

The phrase “Netflix and chill” says it all. It has become a cultural reference with the ease of streaming almost anything on demand. That’s good news for poker fans as well.

From movies to television shows to documentaries, Netflix has a massive amount of entertainment.

Those heading to Netflix for some gambling are in luck. You can check out a few options, including casinos, sports betting, and even some poker.

Here’s a look at a few of those.

To read the full article please visit 888poker Magazine: Top 5 Poker and Gambling Movies to Check Out on Netflix

Some of these use poker, blackjack, and other popular card games as the vehicle to relay the excitement and visceral emotion that these games can engender in players and have resulted in films that can, to some extent, be used as tutorials for players or perhaps more effectively as a cautionary tale.

These live casino games are the bedrock of the tales created in the selection of movies we’ve compiled, all of which are thoroughly enjoyable viewing and also have a great deal to impart on viewers who may themselves fancy their chances of betting big, sometimes against the casino, and winning even bigger.

Rounders

This Matt Damon film has a cult following, and it’s not hard to see why. Everything about the movie oozes class, and by all accounts, it’s a fairly accurate representation of how the game works. It’s basically The Color of Money but with poker in place of pool.

All human life is here. The film shows us the different types of characters you might encounter at both a seedy game in a dive bar or high-end stakes action in a classy casino, and it’s a damn funny movie at times too.

Arguably John Malkovich steals the show with his outrageously over-the-top turn as Teddy (KGB) that has to be seen to be believed.

Mississippi Grind

This is an underrated movie and one that pushes all sorts of buttons. In this buddy tale, Ben Mendelsohn’s Gerry is a real loser, in more ways than one, and he decides to hitch up with younger, more charismatic Curtis (Ryan Reynolds) in a move to win back their respective fortunes.

It’s a relationship that is, of course, doomed from the start, but there is something lovable about the way they aid each other in their downward spiral. The movie has a sweet and smart ending, and though it didn’t prove a box office hit, it is a well-intentioned film that works on many levels.

The Sting

This classic isn’t solely based on poker, though one of its best and most memorable scenes takes place in a poker game on an Amtrak train. The George Roy Hill film sees Paul Newman and Robert Redford team up in a rip-roaring tale of deception and revenge.

Young grifter Johnny Hooker (Redford) sees his friend killed in cold blood, and he vows to make gangster Lonny Donegan (Robert Shaw) pay for it, taking up with experienced, but washed out, Henry Gondorff (Newman), who is there to help him take Shaw to the cleaners.

The film features an archetypal poker con on a train, where Newman successfully swindles Shaw in the first part of a series of tricks and rip-offs that lead to the big payoff.

21

This film takes the ideas around card counting that are touched upon in Rain Man and brings a twist with it. The film is based on a true story about how a group of MIT students who work out how to bag millions at a Las Vegas casino.

Here a group of mathematical geniuses, coached by Kevin Spacey and led by cocky youngster Jim Sturgess, run amok and, through a series of scrapes and clashes, win big but at what cost?

When it’s the latter situation, slow rolls are one of the worst displays of poor etiquette at the poker tables. This act delays the game, and can provide a false sense of hope to the unfortunate recipient… kind of like when you see a face-up ace when playing free blackjack. One of the most memorable slow rolls in poker history occurred during an episode of Poker Night in America. The infamous hand involved Mike Matusow shoving all-in with a pair of jacks into Shaun Deeb’s quad fives. Deeb quietly informed Matt Glantz that he was slow rolling, proceeded to tank for about 30 seconds before finally making the call. Matusow responded to Deeb with a mouthful, including a few choice words not suitable for television.

Four years ago, while playing a cash game at the Casino de Montreal, I became the recipient of a slow roll. Several times throughout the night, an elderly gentleman performed several faux pas including: exposing his cards to the table with several players left to act, making gestures to indicate that he would have won the hand despite being folded, and deliberately tanking to slow the game. However, none of those made me more furious than the slow roll he put on me.

In this article I will be presenting five of the best slow rolls depicted in film.

Doc Holliday (Tombstone)

In this poker scene, a drunk Doc has been playing for 36 hours straight and refuses to go to bed. Ike Clanton informs Doc that has been called and to show down. Doc casually takes a sip of his drink, reveals the winning hand, and lets out a casual “oops”. Clanton suspects Doc of cheating due to him winning 12 straight hands. Doc suggests “let’s have a spelling contest” infuriating Clanton and nearly resulting in a brawl.

Le Chiffre (Casino Royale)

A multi-way pot occurs between Bond, Le Chiffre, and Felix Leiter with a board reading: Jh, Ks, Ac, Jd, Kd. Bond leads out betting on the river, Le Chiffre min-raises to 1 million with Felix quickly folding. Bond suspects Le Chiffre is bluffing, based on a physical tell he observed from an earlier hand. Bond, facing a 4-bet all-in from LeChiffre, decides to call with the third nuts and flips over his hand first. Le Chiffre places his cards together, only the jack of clubs exposed, gives Bond a “what can you do?” look, then reveals he made quads by having the jack of spades beneath.

Jack Dawson (Titanic)

In a pub in Southampton, Jack, his best friend Fabrizio, and two Swedes (Sven and Olaf) are playing five-card draw. The stakes are high as Fabrizio tells Jack that he bet everything they own. Olaf is not too pleased that Sven decided to bet their tickets for RMS Titanic. At showdown, Fabrizio and Olaf have nothing, Sven reveals two pair with Jack letting out a “uh oh”. Jack says “I’m sorry Fabrizio” before announcing he has a full house and celebrates that they will be going to America.

Barney Lincoln (Kaleidoscope)

In a no-limit five-card stud game, Barney opens the round of betting with high card king. On third street, Barney pairs his king and bets 1,000. The player on his left folds, mucking the Kc. Harry has a pair of tens and puts in a raise. On fourth street, the action heats up with Harry betting 10,000, and Barney check-raising for an additional 50,000. Fifth street brings two pair for Barney and trip tens for Harry. Harry takes a checkbook out of his pocket and writes down the sum of £250,000. Barney tanks for a minute before making the call. Barney chokes up while taking a drink as Harry flips over his face down card, revealing a full house. Barney then reveals his face down card, which is the last remaining king, making a better full house.

Bret Maverick (Maverick)

The final hand of the ‘All Rivers Draw Poker Championship’ occurs between the Commodore, Angel, and Maverick. At showdown, the dealer announces the Commodore is first to act. The Commodore states he has “two small pair” before revealing he has quads. Angel, nervous that Maverick has not yet looked at his final card, reveals a straight flush. Maverick noticed the dealer base dealing during the previous draw, asks Angel to deal him one card face down from the top of the deck. Maverick then opens up one card at a time showing: the 10s, J s, Qs, Ks. He picks up the final card, closes his eyes, and lets out a sigh when glancing at the card. Maverick finally tosses the ace of spades into the pot, winning $500,000 and leaving Angel and the Commodore in disbelief.

If you know of an epic slow roll that I have not included in this article, please let me know! (Email: [email protected] and @ManAllusion on Twitter).

Much like when you play teen patti online, when playing poker there are general expectations one should follow to allow for a smooth and enjoyable experience. Poker is not always smiles, happiness, and winning, but it is a game that should be conducted with integrity and respect towards all individuals involved. Putting in countless hours at the tables, you will engage many different types of poker players and witness poor etiquette.

In this article I present five examples of poor judgement and etiquette in poker on film. I have chosen one example from each film, despite several examples of faux pas shown.

Berating the Dealer – Harlan (Molly’s Game)

Poker dealers are comparable to referees of the sports world. Their role is integral to maintaining game play and flow and should never be mistreated. If a mistake is made by the dealer, players should refrain from any form of abuse and call for a floor person to resolve the issue.

In Molly’s Game, Harlan, a solid player who frequented the Commerce Casino was introduced to the high stakes game. He was not well received by the other players as he played an “ABC” style of poker. However, one night he takes a beat from the worst player at the table “Bad Brad” and spirals into the dark abyss called tilt. Harlan unable to recover his losses and composure attempted to make his last stand, getting his money in well ahead on the flop and suffering a monumental loss on the river. He goes into a tirade directed at the dealer, hurling food as well as insults.

String Raise – Shaw and Lonnegan (The Sting)

A string raise is the forward motion of a player indicating a call, then in a quick second motion attempting to raise by verbal or moving chips forward. This type of action can be viewed as angle shooting as it may allow a player to determine the strength or weakness of their opponent based on their reaction to the string raise.

In The Sting, Shaw joins Lonnegan’s private poker game aboard a train. Shaw gets under Lonnegan’s skin and Lonnegan seeks to destroy him by fixing the deck. The next hand results in a string raising war between Shaw and Lonnegan, with each one believing they had the other beat.

Exposing Your Hand – Bret Maverick (Maverick)

Intentionally showing your cards to a player or the entire table during a hand is generally unacceptable. This display gives information to the other players and impacts their decision whether to continue, based on your holdings. There are some casinos/poker rooms that allow a player to reveal a card, but only when heads up in a hand is reached.

In the film, Bret Maverick joined a five-card draw game by promising the other players that he will lose for an hour. During the first hand dealt, Bret exposed his hand in a comical manner and proceeds to win pot after pot after picking up tells on each player.

No Preflop/Flop Action Provided (Casino Royale)

When I first watched Casino Royale in the theatre, I thought the poker scenes were amazing. People dressed to the nines playing high stakes poker while having the occasional cocktail; what’s not to like? I should mention that I started playing no-limit hold’em in 2005 and with the release of Casino Royale in 2006, I believed that was exactly how all high stakes poker was portrayed.

It is important to understand that withholding the preflop and flop action of a hand, the audience is only receiving half the story. In the final hand between the four players (Bond, Le Chiffre, Infante, and Fukutu) the pot is already 24 million with Bond first to act on the turn on a board of Ah 8s 6s 4s. If Fukutu had bet his remaining 6 million chips on the turn with the second nut flush, it may have allowed Le Chiffre to fold his two pair and not cost him his tournament life.

Splash the Pot – Teddy KGB (Rounders)

A player tossing chips into the pot rather than placing the chips neatly in front of them is referred to as “splashing the pot”. This action is simply careless and rude as well delays the game, as the dealer would be required to determine the correct pot size and the number of chips that were wagered.

In Rounders, Mike McDermott desperate to pay off Worm’s debt to Grama, issued a challenge to Teddy KGB. KGB having lost the first round of a $10,000 winner-take-all, goads Mike into a rematch. As the second match progressed, KGB becomes rattled when Mike makes an incredible lay down. The final hand resulted in KGB splashing the pot during all betting rounds. Mike feigned weakness and allowed KGB to dig his own grave.

Conclusion

Of course, just as real life is very different from movies, so too is the difference between real life poker versus what you see depicted on the cinema screen. Whereas scenes are dramatized for our entertainment in motion pictures, when you’re playing proper poker you ought to stick to the generally agreed upon rules of etiquette. Otherwise, you may find yourself dismissed to the rail rather than with a seat at the felt.

The film starts off setting the stage for women in poker. Outnumbered, but certainly not outmatched. One of the strongest takeaways is the actual women of poker themselves, who generally come across as cunning, capable, and charming. There are plenty of interviews spliced throughout the movie, including big names like Kristen Bicknell and Jennifer Tilly. Loni Harwood (who I’ve heard by the way from dealers is the best player they’ve ever seen) gets personal, as does Esther Taylor, who was one of the film’s standouts for me. Indeed, what this film gets right is the introduction of women in poker role models. They were presented as intelligent, likable, and individual; each had their own personality. It was refreshing for me to see women in poker as something other than eye candy or ‘one of the guys.’ The film is very humanizing.

READ MORE: Why Don’t More Women Play Poker? Leading Poker Ladies Unite for Change

Where it fell short for me was at first I didn’t know where it was going. “There are fewer women than men in poker” is a fine enough premise, but not much of an hour and twenty-minute movie. Perhaps I am not the intended audience since I am already steeped in the NLH sphere, but for me, there was too much time spent setting the stage.

Indeed, what this film gets right is the introduction of women in poker role models.

The most interesting part of the film is embedded much later already a half hour in: the filmmaker goes undercover.

As a matter of fact, I often found parts of her (Sandra Mohr’s) story more interesting than hearing from the celebrities, and wish she had focused more on her time as a master of disguise.

At first she dresses up as a (very convincing) hot blonde in sexy aviator shades to play poker. I loved her hidden camera catching a guy in the parking lot picking up on her, a perfect glimpse of the female experience.

Even more interesting, she then dresses up as a man to play poker, seeing how the other half lives. I mean plays.

The differences were striking (although I wish she would have elaborated on her experience more). One of my favorite scenes in Poker Queens was an actual hand she played as a woman, and a man calling her ridiculously light, saying himself it was about “ego.”

As a female poker player myself, I can attest that men absolutely play women differently. Fellow poker author Alex Fitzgerald, for example, says in one of his books that he sees outrageous statistical anomalies when looking at the women he coaches, massive amounts of data without any other possible explanation than gender. The movie touches on this, but could go even deeper. Another memorable line was when she said online poker players adjusted to her having a cartoon female avatar vs. a man’s cartoon avatar. I would love to see the comparison delved into.

There is also quite a bit about the filmmaker’s own struggles in producing the movie, which I found to be surprisingly interesting. Mohr tells the story — both hers and that of women in poker — with the addition of vibrant, eye-catching stock footage, and I was happy to go along for the ride.

I’d recommend this movie for those wanting to see positive faces of women in poker. It’s an easy, upbeat watch, and does portray a real sense of progress. The female poker role models are outstanding. Genuinely. The first twenty minutes was perhaps a bit too geared for beginners for my tastes, but like cross-dressing at a casino, there’s more than meets the eye.