The central plot takes place 48 hours before the wedding during a high-stakes poker game involving Barney, Robin, James, and Loretta Stinson.
Parallel to the game, a six-year-old grudge comes to light between Ted, Lily, and Marshall.
This escalates when Barney's mother, Loretta, steps in to defend James, eventually losing her own blouse to Robin in a round of strip poker.
Fed up with James (Wayne Brady) constantly mocking the institution of marriage following his own divorce, Robin challenges him to a showdown where she wins his wedding ring.
Barney is initially caught in the middle, but after coaching from Lily on the "happy wife, happy life" principle, he dramatically chooses Robin over his family. He takes this so far that he briefly "cuts ties" with his mother and brother, leading to a tense standoff between Robin and Loretta. The Wedding Gift Dispute