Grinders - FULL MOVIE - Poker Grinders Documentary
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- čas přidán 9. 10. 2022
- With a new baby and wife to support, out-of-work filmmaker Matt Gallagher tries his hand - and some would say "luck"- at playing poker for a living. This inside journey into the unconventional, often bizarre, underground world of illegal poker clubs finds a world populated by colourful characters, straight out of central casting. A world where the workday starts at midnight and runs strictly on cash and can change forever with the simple flip of a card. Playing poker to pay the bills means living side by side with risk. But, as Matt soon discovers, the real meaning of risk lies far outside the poker room and can strike in the most personal way. Matt's intimate, first-person narrative is joined by the voices of other grinders with stories that range from tales of ultimate success to personal disaster. For the first time ever, Grinders pushes past the conventional curtain of mainstream poker and brings the camera inside the underground poker circuit and into the lives of those chasing the elusive and often destructive -- dream of the grinder. Along the way, Gallagher comes face to face with the true meaning of life, risk, fatherhood...and the secret art of poker.
Directed by: Matt Gallagher
Starring: Matt Gallagher
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"I Wana make good business decisions while I'm here" "I'm 15 drinks in" lmao... classic
he is/was an addict. mannerism dont lie. i hope he got help for it
This might sound crazy but some players actually can play better drunk, if you're an addict booze acts like a stimulant to some people including me, it kinda blocks out all the noise and allows you to play from muscle memory in a more aggressive way, hard to explain but I can confirm for some people it can make them play better, and I'm not just saying that as a confused drunk, I have like 7 million hands on PokerStars, tens of thousands of mtts played,
@@loudorchen9897 Yes you're totally right! What's your pokerstars handle by the way?
@@djdrogs yawnkiss, yawnkus, kick my nuts, No Limit soulja, few others
@@loudorchen9897 I 100 percent agree. I play way better and focus way better when im drinking. not drunk. (usually )
"Without risk and adventure, life is not life."
I love this quote so much. Lawrence is my hero. Thank you for this documentary.
They might be exciting but life is about who you are inside. Imo
I care about my family back in Canada so much that im going to make sure im intoxicated for the entire tournament.
"I'll take AK suited over a blonde any day... Call me gay." - LOL
thank you I listened to him two times to see wtf he said I thought he said blunt
Not sure if this was a planned objective from the director, but this documentary is one of the reasons why Poker is still viewed as gambling for so many people who are clueless about the game. I am a professional poker player. Been doing it for almost 10 years. And like me, there's thousands more. But it's not easy money. You have to study on a daily basis. And you have to be able to go through periods of bad luck (because there is, obviously, luck involved) and keep on grinding. But if you can't buy dinner or pay your bills, because you had a bad week/month, then you are doing something wrong.
@@dabadaba530 well, poker without money is not poker.....stay in your lane dude.
@@dabadaba530 the people who think poker is gambling or the ones paying this guys bills every month haha.
But do you have blockers to your opponents nut range though?
Anything with money wagered on random events is gambling, therefore Poker is gambling.
Chess is not gambling. There is nothing random about it.
poker is gambling
The idea of playing poker for a living was sold to everyone as glamorous back in 2004. This is the reality of playing for a living, looks worse than a 9 to 5.
I mean, it was glamorous in 2004. People that started playing in the last 10 years can't imagine the type of money that was going around for a few years post-moneymaker. Pros today literally put in 10 times the work for 10% of the profits - I'm not exaggerating. Studying back then was talking hands with a buddy. No solvers, no youtube, no training sites. Every dad and college bro was depositing with their debit card and blasting off at 1/2 or 2/4 or 5/10. There will never be anything like it again.
@@xdefyy This exactly!
Not necessarily. This is the reality of grinding low stakes. It appears they’re playing 1/2 or 2/5 at most. There’s almost no money to really be made at these stakes especially in a high rake private game.
If you can profitably play 5/10 or 10/20+ the reality is far different. Games run less often so it’s less of a grind yet you can make significantly more money. The recreational players have more to lose and are far less nitty.
I was a grinder for 5 years, I found that sleep and staying healthy are just as important as how good of a player you are, playing over 15 hours a day and not sleeping well are the worst things you can do.
Plus the eating is a chore when u tired and hungry 😤
Discipline needed to compete in any games
I did it for about 7 years and aged about 20. Between nicotine, caffeine, alcohol, and not eating or sleeping, it was starting to kill me
That's a fact
@@tristarperfecta1061 so instead of going to bed earlier you decided to quit ?
Great documentary! I had forgotten about it, and watched it years ago but had to re-watch it. Watching Danny just made me sad though. His addiction has clearly resurfaced and has begun to rule his life again. I'd love to see how Danny is doing today. Hopefully not dead or homeless from his alcoholism.
"I play better when i drink"...famous last words
Probably drive better too
My father who was the best card I ever knew once said to me "drink or play cards don't do both" ... solid advice
@@danwittal1788 your father is man of wisdom
he had me believing until he said "it's limit, so I can afford to make few mistakes"
What a beautifully done docu. Thank you.
This is such a great documentary...it isnt trying to glorify or denounce professional poker but keeping it real showing people both sides who also do it successfully and also the dark side of it all too..
Thank you all for that shared their time in this. My Name is Roger V. I live in Reno, Nevada. Chase your passions✌
Very insightful and entertaining, especially for a rec player from Australia. Well done for showing the 'true' side of grinding. Genuinely sad for your and Cornelia's loss, though mate.
Drunk & tired is NO WAY to play
finishing like 7th-20th in a tourney is so disappointing because you dont really make much, and the upside was so close, great docu
Thats so crazy. I forget what he said the HORSE buy in was, but thats always been a prestigious event. Eleventh is a hell of an effort in that tournament. To double your money finishing 11th out of 800 does kind of suck.
Matt's pullout game, is about as strong as his poker game. Great documentary, thanks for sharing it.
Quote of the movie, " I have such a huge edge I think I can afford a few mistakes......I can only recall one hand I played badly". From the guy fifteen drinks in the tank but out of the tournament. There's something to be said for not recalling all of your mistakes. Maybe you think you play better. Maybe you do.
People who are grinders are losers. I am great in poker and am a net winning player, but I have a normal full time job. By the way, I finished 4th in WSOP this year.
@@jamesl9539 lol sure kid
@@jamesl9539 not in the main event, you didn't.
@@OneEyedJack01 I was in the Stud event. I am a stud specilist and placed in the money three times in WSOP in that event. I also won (split three ways) borgata stud event few years ago.
That being said, it is really hard to win a tournament. I really thought I was going to win, but ran into a very very lucky guy who won it.
A great little documentary which has been nicely shot and cut. About the real world of poker playing. Well worth a watch
without the hypnotizing music it sorta sucked, didn't go anywhere. But with the music its kind of a nostalgic trip. Also like the inclusion of the fish pool at Rio
I love this documentary. Its so raw and made me think about life. I m very sorry for your loss. You were very brave filming this. Thank you.
Been playing poker for over 25 years as a recreational player, and I am Positive cashflow. In my years I have learned that every poker player thinks they are better than they actually are. Some are way better than others obviously but players peg their skill higher than they actually are, no matter what level. Too many attribute their misses as just bad luck, and their big scores and years as skill as opposed to a lot of good luck mixed in there. This documentary has further substantiated this...
I was thinking alot about this comment. I too have been playing that long honestly a little longer. What you said is true for 95 percent of the players out there so many don't do anything to improve and feel they have a lock on the game with their current play style and knowledge. To me poker is ultimate example of self-responsibility it's all on you if you succeed or fail. You can choose to be a student of the game read study and play with players that may be better than you and try to learn. Or you can live in the world of denial blame your losses on bad beats and never really examine your own skill level. But at the end of the day thats great you want to be in a room full of people who think there are the best player at the table and exploit the mistakes that they are bound to make. Well said sir remember don't tap the glass.........
@@danwittal1788 One of my own problems was that I was a regular winning player at the limits I play, so for years I just kept playing the same type of tourneys and games as a hobbyist. I never really took my game to the next level. It has evolved so much in last ten years. I decided to really study and learn and memorize new concepts and strategies and realized there was so much areas I could improve. I am winning but more now but still learning to take to next level. I am finding I am the minority out there. Even long time grinders out there from 15 years ago I bump into still have no idea of some of the newer strategies I have learned now, so I know they too are not expanding and investing the effort to learn to get better. I have. feeling some of those featured in this video are players who plateaued years ago.
Some Dunning Kruger effect at play, no doubt. Some endeavors suffer from this more than others. Poker is one of them.
Really enjoyed watching this documentary, well done, you caught some really amazingly true poker lovers worlds man! Well done!!! :-) :-) :D :D
Awesome! Loved it!
I have great respect for Lawrence! He is such a self-reflected and intelligent guy that has experienced a lot in his life.
What a great documentary. Honest and real. Thank you.
This was done really well guy’s! Very real and raw look at struggling players today. I hope you’ll get some
Recognition for this project.
Beautiful doc your a very talented film maker. Really enjoyed it thank you, I wish you and your family the best!!!
Dude talking about good business moves at poker table, yet 15 drinks deep 🤣
seriously... Falling asleep at his desk too....
This really does show the absolute grime in the midst of “golden age” of poker
I needed this. Not sure if I'm giving up or going in full time however, I needed this.
Keep a job. Part time poker as a side hustle is the way to go…
As someone who gambled to eat for 6 months in 2020, don't do it unless you have no other choice.
@@marshawnlynch6244 I’m in that situation now man it sucks ass big time I’m scared to go up stakes and take that bigger risk coz it’s took me months to grind what I’ve got in my account 🤦♂️
Go in full time, bro. Don't listen to these posts. You are a winner!!!
90% of gamblers quit right before they would have scored big.
I so enjoyed this documentary, thank you.
That choice of chips for an underground game is horrible. Those are so easy to buy off Amazon. I play at a house game and they have chips I've never seen and can't find them online. The host won't tell anyone where he gets them and to me that's added security
Amazon was still selling books in 2009
I am a Grinder too, only with Day Trading ... I relate to this 100% ... great work.
Stop it as soon as you can dude, it's even more gambling than Poker
My Dad liked a flutter on the horses. He tended to win more than he lost. I'll never forget when he said to me one time "It's betting if you can afford to lose and gambling if you can't".
Hey man, this was a fantastic movie!!! thanks for sharing
WOW.....this was really well put together.
I play tournament poker. Its a total grind. You play all day and get sucked out on AA against KK or worse. It just gets boring so you give up and then come back. It fills the time I have left before I have to cash in my chips for real.
Hasn't paid rent in a few months and he is flabbergasted the landlord has locked him out of his illegal poker room and telling him he needs to pay. And then he has the nerve to go to the police to lodge a complaint with lies 🤯
He HAD been paying rent, the landlord lied and said they hadn't
@@spiffinz In his own words he said he hasn't been paying for 2-3 months and it's the landlord's fault for letting it get that far.
@@UnarmedZombie hmm..... upon reviewing that piece of dialogue its technically possible to interpret it that way yes.
Exactly! He blames the victim of his deadbeat ways for his situation.
I wonder if the director ever got paid on the $100 bet on getting his stuff back
Great documentary..well done!
Life is certainly an adventure, really enjoyed video, thank you.
Others have stated already but definitely a super depressing documentary. 46ish minute mark is as raw of a view into the life of a compulsive degenerate gambler as it gets. Sad that he sincerely believes he’s conquered his gambling and drinking addictions. That said, it’s really a top notch documentary. Well done.
Yes Anthony I completely agree mate, I honestly believe he is a borderline alcoholic to think he can play better drunk. You make more mistakes when you are drunk, you are there to win money to live and pay your bills and make a life for yourself. He definitely has the skills to become a pro but just needs to change a couple of things.
It’s amazing back in the early teens of 2000 , myself included , thought that they were poker pros , it’s crazy to look back at , how big poker was back then , I would estimate at least 97 percent of “poker pros” from that day are no longer poker pros lol
After the shooting everyone stopped. Very few are still playing
Agree. I was earning a decent living winning thousands every month playing party poker and pacific poker. Black Friday hit and never cashed a dime online again. My live play is currently mediocre, but my ROI isn't enough to make a living. Occasionally I play live recreationally, but have accepted that the game has evolved and left my mediocre skills in the dust.
2003 playing Phil Hellmuth on Ultimate Bet while living in East Palo Alto, him in Palo Alto hahaha . So old it was a fukin limit table.
@@okiedokiepushmowing9032 that’s because U.S players left the international pool. They used to just give money away online
It's because poker evolved. It's not good enough to just play the opponent anymore. You need to study and put in hours of work every week outside of playing to remain relevant today.
Thank you for sharing such an important and intimate look into your life. Hope you and your wife are good. Great Doc.
I like to keep my poker philosophy to myself but no one reads my comments anyway so. " The KEY to poker is aggression, the SECRET to poker is folding".
absolutely!
win as much as possible, lose as little as possible.
Lol ya who needs GTO when you know that
how is folding a secret
everyone knows about folding
@@OGRE_HATES_NERDS not a secret, THE secret... difference between a pro and a rec... pro's rarely get married to their hands.
This is a sick documentary how lucky was I to stumble across this
Sick is the right adjective for this documentary.......but I think I have a different meaning of the word than you do.
@@TheBierman19 grow up mate. If you don’t like it then don’t watch
I liked it, and I am grown up much more than your childish mind.
@@TheBierman19 just because my vocabulary is different to yours has nothing to do with how childish I am. Your definitely a 15yr old boy 100%
Well done documentary. Loved the back story of each person and had me pulling for each one. Thank you for telling their story.
This was so good I wish it was longer , could’ve put an hr on top , Good job , Sorry for your loss , Goodluck 🍀
I can’t imagine how he couldn’t watch himself change with every drink and realize how much it is affecting his performance
Can you watch yourself change with every card game and realize how it's affecting you?
@@MikeHlav One better be. One should definitely try harder if one cannot.
@@MikeHlav One better be. One should definitely try harder if one cannot.
Idk considering he beat a field of 800+ people for 11th over 3 days of play I’d say he’s actually +EV for each drink he’s had, and then apple picking in the morning right after, some people are built different
@@miketang8719 lmao wut? You’re judging off a tiny sample size, galaxy brain
There is no more of a sad existence than running around playing live cash games underground to make a living, especially if you aren't very good which seems to be the case with these players.
Lou i dont see how you can say they're not good, we never really get to see how they actually play. The guy who came in 11 th certainly must be pretty good, i,d bet he's better than jamie gold.
@@shivasirons6159 well I searched his online screen name from pokerstars and his biggest win online was 2200$ or so plus he had the phonecall about "unfreezing his funds" at the bank so it's safe to say he isn't doing too well, I'm not saying he was horrible, just saying it takes a really good player these days to make profit steady with a family and so on.
Living paycheck to paycheck making a slave wage is the way to go I guess.
get back in your wage cage Wojak
Existence is a sad existence unless you're hot shit, even then it will eventually become a sad existence.
Well done, i liked the mood music behind it. Best of luck.
"This guy" at the tournament who flipped over the pocket aces against Danny's kings was poker pro Sorel Mizzi.
time well spent, thanks
Excellent excellent excellent. I spent a few years in these rooms and you captured the emotion perfectly. I was lucky, then not so much, and got out, and it appears you probably did too. Your movie will likely inspire many many others to quit once and for all.
Do a follow up, would like to see what everybody is doing today
The amount of ads makes this brutal to watch
So good, never expected it!
Very enjoyable - an interesting look at the world of poker climbers. Loved the music too!
Ever since the mid 2000's when I won a free roll poker tournament I've wanted to be a professional poker player. It's a lot harder than this documentary makes it seem. I read books, study charts, and play online almost every day. Yet my win rate isn't enough to earn a living. Mostly because I play in small stakes games. Saving up to move up in stakes is extremely hard. It seems like every time I start building up a bankroll a car breaks down. Or my hvac breaks. Then I have to dip into the bankroll. But I keep grinding and hopefully one day I'll be able to quit my day job.
That's always the hardest spot.
Keep your job. Poker part time is the way to go
Poker is a dying game. Most of the fish quit and moved on. Now its tons of regs trying to out GTO one another. Yeah there is still a fish here and there, but my point is you ain't quitting your day job any time soon.
Dude it's got a heck of a lot harder than when this documentary was made. The game is borderline 'solved' now. So those that excel are pushing really small edges and choosing the right games etc. It's no where near as easy as it was back then. That's why you're struggling. You're better off putting your time into trying to develop some sort of business on the side.
This was a Great Video! You should make documentaries. Great Job!!!
lol this was a documentary filmed in 2011
Great doc matey.
I cannot imagine having a family and living this way. Irresponsible.
Yes, but it makes for a good documentary. People love watching train wreaks.
your so correct!!!
Hey, you can always sell your ass at the tram station.
Different people different lives bro, who are you to judge. They bring in the money, period.
@@casecold1864 who am I to judge? Someone who has given everything for his family, given up fun and poker and travel and women etc. That's responsibility. Going to a stable job every day. That's a real man.
@@freddiehavens9066 You're a lawyer not a fast food worker or a n Amazon worker. If people don't have the choice, abilities, or made the effort with studies the poker world has it's appeal.
the picture is a perfect example of a true masterpiece going undetected...untill one day......and then....it will be acknowledged.....THIS FILM IS A MASTERWORK....on the level with California Split...Rounders....and The Cincinnati Kid......AND it is GREATER ...
Excellent job!
As I heard once, poker is the hardest way of making easy money...
It’s not that hard
@@Zoggyboyzimmy it’s tough if you want to make a living from it. 99.99999% of people can’t sustain it long term.
@@Zoggyboyzimmy it's pretty hard
@@loudorchen9897 ive been playing full time for 4 years and its easy =]
@@Zoggyboyzimmy I've been playing for 10 and no it isn't, of it was easy everyone would be doing it, and since you're winning so much what's your online screen name so we can see some receipts about your winnings? Oh let me guess you just play live and you have no receipts?
I had a close relative with a gambling addiction, not related to poker, and it almost ruined him, but after meeting the right person in his life, and with a lot of help from us his family, he slowly pulled it around and has not looked back. However he readily admits that just on odd occasions he could easily fall back into again.
I am sorry that i did not see this earlier. It's very well done.
Lawrence: 'Without risk and adventure, life is not life'. Couldn't agree more mate, God Bless!
The "Cincinnati Kid" club manager has some very funny lines. " I cruise around the law,I don't break the law" very good advert line offering to run a game for the law laugh 😆 😄 😀 smile 😁
"that's big screen tv" Lol effin' classic, man
Yo I was rolling when he said that shit 😂😂
Absolutely loved it, what year was this filmed? Doesn't seem super old but also doesn't seem super recent. I would guess 15 years ago
2011
@@M_Teague Yes, that TV Lawrence showed looked a little dated.
It's old. Not a single player ever mentioned ranges, balancing, GTO, or equity. If they are not using those terms today, they're not grinders. The fact that not a single one ever mentioned bank roll management shows they are bad grinders.
@@OneEyedJack01 Exactly Jack. The other posts on this video saying it can be done I'll not dispute - IF you are a skilled player. But that's not any of these guys.. None of them. According to IMDB, this was completed in 2011, so well after the Poker Boom but nowhere recent. These guys are bad regs - or perfect for the house, except he got blackmailed and robbed too. Literally everyone is this video lost.
Great Doc!
Very nice, I enjoyed this.
38:00 dude's dad is sitting at the table with goombah sunglasses, talking with food in his mouth while trying to give life advice 🤣
a fish made a movie about trying to be a real reg "my goal is just just win a few big pots each night" literally no real pro has ever thought or said this ever
Considering I’ve read Harrington on Cash Games: Part 1 and 2, both more than once, I’ll just tell you you’re completely wrong. If you go ALL IN twice in a session, get called and win both, you’ve more than likely had a profitable session, even if you got WRECKED in most of the small pots throughout the same session.
I've read a lot of out dated poker books too. Including the ones you mentioned. Successful pros don't try to win a couple 'good' pots a night. The OP is right... that's absolutely something a fish would say.
I think he's trying to simplify it for people. Obviously he's has an idea what his hourly wage probably is if he puts the time in and has an edge long term. It's all one big game. Will brunson says you should count how much your head or behind the end of the year only that way you're not letting short-term results get to you
@@CIFD8Champs16 it shouldn't matter either way if you're playing with the mindset of it's all one big game then you shouldn't get overly emotional or have a goal like that
@@CIFD8Champs16 If you base your game on Harrington, you're about 25 years behind modern poker theory. You are going to get chewed up and spit out at any competent table.
Daniel's answer about freedom is pretty spot on.
Really well done.
12 years later Andre is still living at home playing $1/$2 on the side. He is a pro "grinder" haha
Lmfao 💀 🤣
Rakeback pro
🤣
Andre was super annoying
He acts like a fool at the table. He doesn’t have what it takes to be a pro. You don’t see pros jumping around like a idiot and yelling at other players.
I like the tenant. He's funny. He's months behind in his rent but the landlord is taking advantage of him.
Funny??? Explain to me how he is funny??
months behind on rent, running an illegal business out of the space, but wants to go to cops when landlord demands a cut of said illegal business
........you still haven't described what is funny?!??
@@TheBierman19 @nGUNNARp spoke for me. By "funny", I meant to call attention to how outrageous it was that he's the leech and he says that his landlord is taking advantage of him.
Great Doc, that little one is an angel.
good job!
I’m pretty sure I watched this years ago, it’s obviously older. Still, really good and hits home. I know exactly how you guys felt, I’m still waiting for my big break. Cashed at the WSOP circuit last week but, not as good as I wanted to. …always unlucky at the end it seems! That’s poker!
Congrats, Jeff!
243rd place. $941. I see u Jeff
well they're talking about "full tilt pros" and FT went down 2011.
You're right. It came out in 2011.
So we've got one low stakes grinder that has no money management skills, and isn't actively studying the game away from the table, another one who's basically a loose cannon with no etiquette at the table, and a club owner who doesn't pay his rent on time.
These aren't professional poker players, these are avid poker players who make bad money decisions in life. I hope the best for them, I really do, but most grinders I know in the areas where I play would eat these guys for lunch.
If I ever did decide to quit my day job and play poker full time, you can bet that 75% of the time would be spent studying, when not at the table. You have to keep studying this game because it's constantly changing. The average player today is heaps better than the average player in 1998.
This was a great watch 🙏 from 🇬🇧
Back when Negreanu didn't have hair.
5:10 "I'll take AK suited over a blond everyday, call me g @y" 🤣🤣🤣
hey bro! nice job great documentary
This was really cool to watch.
If you're broke and unemployed, gambling is the last thing on earth you need.
DUH!!
I'd argue a woman is the last thing you need. At least you might win at the gambling.
@@marshawnlynch6244 unless you meet a woman with a good job.
Ehh, poker is one of the few games you will find in a casino where you can get and edge on and win at
I heard former pro and 3x bracelet winner Dutch Boyd say almost all poker pros go broke, take heed young gamblers..
Pros with no BRM go broke. ie people like life looser Mike Matusow.
Most even go broke more than once.
Great documentary.
Great film. Grinding is hard and only a few can really ado it.
Dad wearing sun glasses at the dinner table is a certified bad ass.
I would love to see a follow up to this.
topnotch documentary, very real and authentic
Good movie, there are a lot of lessons especially for those who aspire to become professional poker player or professional gambler
Victory poker pro? What could possibly go wrong with that.....oh yeah... everything.
Pretty sad all around.
That's the reality of gambling
Great film!
This was really good. I've done just enough of this crap to appreciate it.
I have to watch all gambling movies no matter what.
IM sure this Negreanu Guy is now living in a small appartment deliver Pizza... What a little Dreamer.
lives in a mobile home... can't even afford meat... Poor dude...
@@jack42011 Living in a van down by the river. Poor bastard.
Great film