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.

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?

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.