MovieChat Forums > The Grand (2007) Discussion > Poker Inaccuracy (spoiler)

Poker Inaccuracy (spoiler)

posted 16 years ago by gamespy-1
15 replies | jump to latest

In the hand between the German and Jack Faro, the board is:

6d8d2d2s9d

And Jack exposes the KdQd for a K high flush.

Phil Gordon remarks it's a very strong hand (which it is), but also that the German has 1 out and only one way to win the pot PRIOR to him exposing either card , this is wrong, the German would win with:

22 (this would make quads)
66, 88, 99, 62, 82, 92 (any of those hands give him the full house)
5d7d, 7dTd (both of which would give him the straight flush and is the best possible hand)
Ad which gives him the nut flush.

I know I'm reading too deeply into this, but how do those words come out of Phil Gordon's mouth knowing how much poker he's seen???

[–] Joaquin_Deniro_Pacino 13 years ago

This is a poker mocumentary movie. Meaning it's taking the piss out of poker and everything about poker, including the announcers. Which means they did this on purpose.

[–] SunCanyonRoad 10 years ago

Basically, this is movie making, which can sometimes throw out reality for the sake of drama. With a king high flush, regardless of what REALLY would beat it, to the casual viewer who may not be poker savvy, having the announcer say there is ONLY 1 way Jack Faro can lose, and that's with the German having a better flush i.e. having the Ace of diamonds (which is the card the German was cheating with). Not only does that build tension for the casual viewer, but it makes the loss that much worse for our protagonist Jack Faro. He gets beat by 1 card better. What a let down. Now, if the announcer tells the truth and says "there are multiple outs" for the German, the tension isn't as strong and the let down of the loss has less effect.

Is it LAZY to disregard reality of the hand for the sake of a little drama? Yes. But that's movie making and they probably knew that most wouldn't catch it or even care if they did.

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