Deal 2008

Tommy Vinson is an ex-gambler who quit the game of Texas Hold'em over 30 years ago after missing a family emergency and swearing to his wife, Helen, "never again." Tommy tries to be content with his luggage business but while watching a poker tournament on television, he sees someone who reminds him of his younger self, Alex Stillman. Alex dreams of playing professional poker, like the icons he sees on TV. After winning an on-line event that places him in the televised game, Alex loses early. He's close to greatness, but what he doesn't realize yet is that he focuses too much on the cards and not the players... that's where Tommy comes in. Tommy finds Alex and makes a pact with him: he'll front Alex the high priced entry fees to all the major tournaments if Alex plays the way that Tommy wants him to. Alex resists at first, but after seeing Tommy make some impressive calls while watching a poker game together, Alex changes his mind and they partner. But then, Tommy gets his appetite back for the game and a hunger to be acknowledged as the best. He enters the final tournament of the poker season and ends up facing Alex, his protégé, in the finals of the world series of poker. And what happens there, even though only one will be declared champion, leaves them both winners.