Russian Illusion
Rounders, the cult classic poker movie, has inspired a new generation of players to enter the world of poker and elevated Texas Hold’em to its status as poker’s most-popular game
Mike risks his entire bankroll
in a game that represents a new beginning. It’s
the moment he commits himself to a life of poker.
Despite a 1998 opening week- end box office of only $8.5 million and a lifetime gross of $22 Million, the film Rounders is widely considered the best poker move of all time. I’m often asked my thoughts on the iconic poker hand from the final scene of the movie, where Teddy KGB and Mike McDermott battle in a high-stakes, heads-up poker game.
As the scene opens, Mike ventures into Teddy’s notorious underground poker club. Mike gets into a game and puts his entire bankroll on the line in an attempt to settle debts, prove himself and earn a chance to go to Las Vegas to play the World Series of Poker.
Playing a $50/$100 heads-up, no-limit hold’em cash game with $27,000 effective stacks, Mike raised to $200 from the small blind with...
