Character Relationship Map: Cold Deck

Characters

• Bobby (played by Stéfano Gallo) — protagonist

  Bobby is a compulsive gambler whose mounting losses threaten his family, relationship, and financial stability. He steals money to enter a high-stakes game, later joins a robbery, and uses the proceed...

• Chips (played by Paul Sorvino) — protagonist

  Chips runs the gaming hall where Bobby spends much of his time and is an experienced poker player. He vouches for Bobby, wins a major pot, and later hires Bobby and Ben to rob a poker game. His betray...

• Turk (played by Robert Knepper) — supporting

  Turk is a wealthy man who hosts high-stakes poker games and keeps the money poorly guarded. After a robbery, he relies on Chips's accusation and has Ben killed, then works with Bobby to confront Chips...

• Audrey (played by Kate Trotter) — supporting

  Audrey is Bobby's invalid mother, whose medical bills and care are central to his desperation. She disapproves of his gambling because it ruined her husband, and she throws Bobby out when he confesses...

• Kim (played by Jessica Sipos) — supporting

  Kim is a waitress at the gaming hall and Bobby's romantic partner, later allowing him to move in under the condition that he improve his life. She urges him to avoid gambling connections, reveals her...

• Ben (played by Kjartan Hewitt) — supporting

  Ben is Bobby's friend and coworker at a factory. He encourages Bobby to enter the high-stakes poker game and later persuades him to join the robbery when their dead-end jobs deepen their frustration....

Canonical Relationships

Family, romantic, and professional connections based on plot evidence.

• Turk → Chips (Professional Criminal Associate) — Chips operates within Turk's gambling enterprise but eventually becomes his target.

  Turk hosts the high-stakes games, while Chips participates, helps arrange the robbery, and later becomes the person Turk believes may be responsible.

• Chips → Bobby (Professional Sponsor) — Chips first enables Bobby's entry into the gambling world and later recruits him for a robbery.

  Chips vouches for Bobby at Turk's poker game and later offers to hire Bobby to rob the next monthly game.

• Kim → Chips (Romantic Former Partner) — Kim's past relationship with Chips creates distrust and fuels Bobby's confrontation with him.

  Kim confirms Bobby's guess that she once dated Chips and says Chips told her he cheated Bobby's father out of a major win.

• Bobby → Kim (Romantic Boyfriend) — Kim is Bobby's romantic partner and a major influence on his attempts to change.

  Bobby dates Kim, and after he moves in with her, she requires him to get his life in order before they become serious.

• Bobby → Audrey (Family Son) — Bobby is Audrey's financially irresponsible son, but later repays her and upgrades her medical care.

  Bobby lives with his invalid mother, Audrey, and steals her life savings when he cannot raise enough money for the poker game.

Story Dynamics

Alliances, conflicts, and narrative interactions that evolve throughout the story.

• Ben → Turk (Conflict Robbery Opponent) — Ben's participation in the robbery makes him a direct enemy of Turk.

  Ben joins Bobby in storming Turk's poker game, and Turk later kills Ben after Chips turns him in.

• Turk → Bobby (Conflict Criminal Adversary) — Turk becomes Bobby's principal lethal threat after the robbery and betrayal.

  Turk confronts Bobby after Ben's death, considers killing him, and is present when Bobby's final scheme leads to a deadly confrontation.

• Bobby → Ben (Social Friend) — Ben encourages Bobby's risky schemes and remains involved in the robbery.

  Ben is identified as Bobby's friend and suggests that Bobby enter a high-stakes poker game and share the winnings.

• Chips → Ben (Conflict Betrayer) — Chips sacrifices Ben to protect himself from Turk.

  After Bobby confronts him, Chips throws Bobby out and turns Ben in to Turk.

Story Analysis

A compulsive gambler is drawn from financial desperation into betrayal, robbery, and a final revenge-driven poker confrontation.

Plot Progression

1. A Debt-Fueled Gamble — Bobby's compulsive gambling strains his relationship with Audrey and leaves him unable to pay mounting bills. Ben's proposal pushes Bobby toward theft and a dangerous high-stakes game.
2. The Cost of Losing — Bobby enters Turk's game with Chips's support but loses the major pot to Chips. Audrey rejects him, forcing Bobby to move in with Kim under strict conditions.
3. The Dangerous Robbery — Chips recruits Bobby for a robbery after Bobby sees how poorly Turk guards the pot. Bobby and Ben attack the monthly game, threaten Turk's child, and receive their share.
4. Betrayal Comes Due — Bobby uses the robbery money to help Audrey, but Kim learns the truth and reveals Chips's connection to Bobby's father. Bobby confronts Chips, who responds by betraying Ben.
5. The Final Table — After Ben's death, Bobby and Turk cooperate against Chips. Kim arranges the final meeting, where Bobby wins the poker contest before Turk, the police, and the bloodbath end the conflict.