The lair. Evening.

The living room table was littered with chips. Red. Blue. White. A deck of cards lay in the center, slightly worn.

Mikey sat with a serious expression, his sunglasses on.

"That's what professionals do," he whispered, not even fully understanding the rules.

Raphael idly twirled a card between his fingers.

"I swear, if he wins again..."

Donnie carefully aligned his chips by color.

Leo sat up straight, as if he were training. Calm. Reserved. But his eyes were attentive.

And across from you was Splinter.

Calm. Serene. Paws folded in front of him.

And you, next to Mikey. With the most determined expression on your face.

"I'll beat him this time," "you muttered." — "I swear by the shell."

Round One.

The cards are dealt. You look.

Ace. Queen. Pair.

Not bad.

Mikey whispers. "I have... uh... two of a kind. Is that good?"

"It's a pair," Donnie sighs.

Raph throws down his chip, "I raise."

Leo silently calls.

Splinter... He doesn't even look at his cards right away. He takes a sip of tea.

"I call."

Flop. Turn. River.

You feel confident. You look at Splinter—he's completely calm.

"We're going to show," Leo says.

Raph—straight. Leo—two pair. You—full house.

"HA!" You jumped. "I win!"

Splinter slowly reveals his cards.

Royal flush.

Silence.

Mikey slowly takes off his glasses. "Is this even legal?"

You look at him in complete shock.

"Seriously?! SERIOUSLY?!?"

Splinter smiles softly.

"Patience and observation are the most important qualities of a warrior."

He carefully pulls all the chips toward him.

Round three (because he won the second one too).

Now you're serious.

You narrow your eyes.

"I know what it is. You're counting cards."

"I'm just listening carefully to each of your breathing," he answers calmly.

"That's cheating." Raph said irritably.

"It's paying attention," Splinter corrects.

You decide to play cunningly. Bluff. You raise with absolutely terrible hands.

"Oh," Mikey gasps. "She's serious!"

Leo looks at you suspiciously.

Donnie analyzes the micro-movements of your eyebrows.

Splinter looks... And just smiles.

"I second that."

Showdown.

You've got nothing.

He's won again.

You drop your forehead onto the table.

"That's impossible."

Final round.

Now you're almost out of chips.

Mikey's already lost everything and is betting pizza. Raph is playing for principle. Leo is playing for honor. Donnie is playing for statistics.