21 Best Rounders Quotes From The Movie That Will Try Your Luck

'Rounders' is a 1998 hit movie directed by John Dahl starring Matt Damon as Mike McDermott and Edward Norton as Lester "Worm" Murphy.

The plot begins when Mike McDermott loses all his savings to a Russian gangster Teddy KGB played by John Malkovich by gambling in his illegal poker club. After which he quits his life of gambling.

Mike decides to concentrate on studying law and living a peaceful life with his girlfriend Jo played by Gretchen Mol, working in a part-time job given by his gambling partner and friend Knish.

Just when things were going smoothly, Mike's childhood friend, Worm, returns after serving his sentence in prison.

Worm has a debt which he incurred before going to prison and Grama, played by Michael Rispoli, demands he pays his debt in 5 days. Worm persuades Mike to get back into gambling to help clear his debt and so their gambling journey begins as they run it down day and night playing against Teddy's club.

Mike begins to lose interest in his studies as he dedicates most of his time to gambling with Worm.

His girlfriend is upset about his return to his old life and decides to leave him.

In a moment of desperation, Worm entices Mike to cheat but Mike isn't keen on this idea but eventually, after winning about 15000 dollars, which is the amount of debt owed by Worm, the duo get caught cheating and lose their entire roll.

They decided to call it quits and Worm finally reveals that his debt is owed to the gangster Teddy KGB.

This knowledge stirs up Mike as he has also lost his entire savings to Teddy.

He gets some money from law school professor Petrovsky to start out as he sets out to gamble one last time against the gangster to save Worm and to win back all the money he lost previously.

Here are 21 exciting quotes from 'Rounders' to get you pumped up. And if you're looking for more, take a look at our ['American Beauty' quotes] and 'You've Got Mail' quotes.
 

Matt Damon 'Rounders' Quotes

Quotes by Mike McDermott who is played by the all-around actor Matt Damon.

1. "I've often seen these people, these squares at the table, short stack and long odds against them. All their outs gone. One last card in the deck that can help them. I used to wonder how they could let themselves get into such bad shape, and how the hell they thought they could turn it around."

-Mike McDermot, 'Rounders'.

2. "Listen, here's the thing. If you can't spot the sucker in your first half hour at the table, then you are the sucker. Guys around here will tell ya, you play for a living, it's like any other job. You don't gamble, you grind it out."

-Mike McDermot, 'Rounders'.

3. "First prize at the World Series of Poker is a million bucks. Does it have my name on it? I don't know. But, I'm gonna find out."

-Mike McDermot, 'Rounders'.

4. "Judge Kaplan was trying to squeeze out a diamond flush but he came up short and Mr. Eisen is futilely hoping that his queens are going to stand up. So like I said, the Dean's bet is $20."

-Mike McDermot, 'Rounders'.

5. "Why do you think the same five guys make it to the final table of the World Series of Poker EVERY YEAR? What, are they the luckiest guys in Las Vegas?"

-Mike McDermot, 'Rounders'.

Famous 'Rounders' Movie Quotes

Quotes from 'Rounders' are popular among all movie lovers. Here are some well-known quotes from some exciting moments of the movie.

6. "Just like the saying says, you know? In the poker game of life, women are the rake."

-Lester Murphy, 'Rounders'.

7. "Lester Murphy: You know what always cheers me up, [...] Rolled up aces over kings. Check-raising stupid tourists and taking huge pots off of them. Playing all-night high-limit Hold'em at the Taj, 'where the sand turns to gold'. Stacks and towers of checks I can't even see over."

-Lester Murphy, 'Rounders'.

8. "In 'Confessions of a Winning Poker Player,' Jack King said, 'Few players recall big pots they have won, strange as it seems, but every player can remember with remarkable accuracy the outstanding tough beats of his career.'"

-Mike McDermot, 'Rounders'.

9. "It's not about pride or ego. It's only about money. I can leave now, even with Grama and KGB... and halfway to paying Petrovsky back. That's the safe play. I told Worm you can't lose what you don't put in the middle. But you can't win much either."

-Mike McDermot, 'Rounders'.

10. "Lester Murphy: Why don't you warm up a sit for me?

Mike McDermot: What?

Lester Murphy: I got certain 'needs' I have to attend to I'm overdue.

Mike McDermot: Good I was starting to wonder about you, I thought maybe the boys upstate brought about a few changes in you.

Lester Murphy: Hey, in your dreams lover."

-'Rounders'.

11. "In my club, I will splash the pot whenever I please."

-Teddy KGB, 'Rounders'.

12. "He beat me... Straight up... Pay him... Pay that man his money."

-Teddy KGB, 'Rounders'.

13. "It's immoral to let a sucker keep his money."

-Mike McDermot, 'Rounders'.

14. "You risk your whole bankroll, I tell you not to overextend yourself, to rebuild, so you don't have to hock for more, I was giving you a living, showing you the playbook I put together off my beats and that wasn't enough for you."

-Joey Knish, 'Rounders'.

15. "How is that different? What makes you so special? Why are all your moves so smart and noble and I'm always the idiot? You act like you're the only one with any ambition."

-Lester Murphy, 'Rounders'.

16. "It hurts, doesn't it? Your hopes dashed, your dreams down the toilet. And your fate is sitting right beside you."

-Teddy KGB, 'Rounders'.

17. "It's like the nature channel... you don't see Piranhas eating themselves, do you?"

-Mike McDermot, 'Rounders'.

18. "Five grand a week and you keep the juice going we want what you want we want to square this thing but three days is impossible no one's saying 'you're not the man', just think of it as a business decision, he just got out let's put him on a plan."

-Mike McDermot, 'Rounders'.

19. "If you spot a man's tell, you don't say a word. I finally spotted KGB's and usually, I'd let him chewing those Oreos until he was dead broke but I don't have that kind of time, I've only got until morning, not even Teddy KGB is immune to getting a little rattled."

-Mike McDermot, 'Rounders'.

20. "I watch the cards but I also watch the player react to the cards. That's how I knew the DA made his two pair and judge Kaplan missed the flush, I was watching their eyes when they checked their river cards, their faces tell you everything."

-Mike McDermot, 'Rounders'.

21. "[Before breaking up with Mike]  I learned it from you Mike. You always told me this was the rule. Rule number one: Throw away your cards the moment you know they can't win."

-Jo, 'Rounders'.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly quotes for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for 'Rounders' quotes, then why not take a look at luck quotes, or 'Trading Places' quotes?