In the movie Rounders, the young man is named Mike McDermott (played by Matt Damon). He gave up his passion for playing high-stakes poker after losing all his savings in a game against a Russian gangster named Teddy KGB (played by John Malkovich).
Mike's best friend, Worm (played by Edward Norton), is recently released from prison and owes large sums of money to loan sharks. Worm convinces Mike to return to the poker table to help him pay off his debts.
Mike secretly enters an underground poker game hosted by a wealthy businessman named Joey Knish (played by John Turturro). He wins a large sum of money and is ready to quit, but Worm convinces him to keep playing.
Things take a dark turn when Worm is caught cheating at a game and Mike is forced to use his winnings to pay off the debt. He then confronts Worm and ends their friendship.
Mike is then offered a chance to compete in a high-stakes poker game against Teddy KGB. In a thrilling game, Mike defeats Teddy and wins back his confidence.
The movie ends with Mike walking away from the poker table and choosing a new path for himself, which includes reconciling with his girlfriend and going back to law school.