1. I can’t promise anything, but if you listen carefully and play your cards right, I might be able to include you in this deal.
2. The bank guard caught the thief with the money. The thief told the guard that if he played his cards right and let the thief go free, he could get half the money.

The expression of ten suggests something slightly conspiratorial and dishonest. It probably originates from a card game like bridge, in which the players have any number of ways to play their cards, but playing them in just the right way will result in winning.