I caught a rerun of one of my favourite films this week: Rounders.

If you haven't seen it, the film charts the rise, fall and rise of law school dropout and poker natural, Mike McDermott (played by a young Matt Damon).

The main plot follows McDermott as he tries to win enough money to pay back the debts of childhood friend Worm.

But there's a really interesting subtext which always grips me.

As the film reaches its climax, McDermott reaches out to his mentor Joey Knish to borrow money to take another tilt at his nemesis, Teddy KGB.

Knish turns him down and berates him for taking too many risks, for going for the big score and risking losing it all.

Knish is a “grinder”. Day in, day out he grinds out a living playing 12 hours a day against weaker players, slowly taking their money with percentage plays. Never taking any risks.

As he says, “I'm not playing for the thrill of f-ing victory here. I owe rent, alimony, child support. I play for money. My kids eat.”

There's great nobility in being a grinder.

Both my grandfathers were miners. Breaking their bodies underground to feed their families and put a roof over their heads.

Both my parents were teachers. They didn't always love what they did, but my brother and I got a great education and opportunities they never had.

There's a wonderful, selfless nobility in being a grinder.

And yet…

And yet, Mike McDermott knew he had the chops to play a bigger game.

When he'd won enough to pay off the loan and avoid the beating that came with non-payment, Teddy KGB goads him to play for bigger stakes. McDermott knows that quitting while he's ahead is the safe play. The one Joey Knish would make.

“You can't lose what you don't put in the middle….but you can't win much either” he says.

He risks it all for a shot at the big time. To follow a dream.

Sometimes. Just sometimes, you know in your heart the big play is the right thing.

Sometimes you've got to get above the grind and play a bigger game.

See you in Vegas ;)