Steve McQueen stars as the Cincinnati Kid, a crackerjack New Orleans stud poker player. Tired of chicken feed, the Kid decides to challenge The Man, the reigning poker champ, who is in town for a private game. The Shooter, another gambling pro, arranges a game between the Kid and the Man, with the Shooter dealing. The game is compromised by the intervention of Slade, an old foe of the Man’s who tries to fix the outcome.