Rounders 1998

Gifted poker player Mike McDermott (Matt Damon) faces a crushing setback when he loses his entire $30,000 bankroll in a high-stakes hand of Texas hold’em against the intimidating Teddy “KGB” (John Malkovich), a Russian mobster who operates a clandestine poker establishment. Shaken by his defeat, Mike makes a pivotal decision to focus on his law studies and promises his girlfriend, Jo (Gretchen Mol), who is also a law student, to step away from poker entirely. His mentor and fellow poker enthusiast, Knish (John Turturro), offers him a part-time job delivering goods to help him financially.

As time goes by, Mike remains committed to his promise, pouring his energy into both his studies and his job. However, everything changes when his childhood amigo, Lester “Worm” Murphy (Edward Norton), is released from prison. Worm, a skilled card player himself, comes back with an overwhelming debt that has been accumulating during his time behind bars. Under Worm’s influence, Mike finds himself drawn back into the world of poker, jeopardizing his academic commitments and straining his relationship with Jo.

When Worm receives an ultimatum to settle his debts within five days, Mike joins in a frantic endeavor to earn the necessary funds. While Worm contemplates deceitful tactics to win, Mike remains steadfast in his desire to play fairly. The duo engages in several intense poker games throughout New York City, inching closer to gathering the requisite $15,000. However, fate turns against them as they are caught cheating, leading to the loss of their entire bankroll. In a moment of desperation, Worm suggests that Mike should leave the city, revealing that his debt is owed to KGB, the very same mobster who had previously wiped out Mike’s bankroll. This shocking revelation causes Mike to sever ties with Worm decisively.

Rejecting the idea of fleeing, Mike seizes his chance at redemption by challenging KGB in a high-stakes match, determined to demonstrate his skills and reclaim his life. Armed with a $10,000 loan from his law professor, Petrovsky (Martin Landau), Mike faces KGB in an exhilarating no-limit, heads-up game of Texas Hold’em.

In a gripping finale, Mike triumphs in two fierce heads-up matches against KGB, ultimately winning enough to settle Worm’s debts, repay the professor, and restore his original bankroll of approximately $30,000. The movie culminates with Mike making a bold decision to drop out of law school, parting ways with Jo, and heading to Las Vegas to participate in the World Series of Poker Main Event, realizing his passion for the game once more.