On Christmas Eve, five men meet for a game of poker. They all have a different reason for not being with their families, and each expects a drastic change in his life if he wins. Stefano has invited Santelia, whom he suspects is a professional card player. He plans to exploit the connection with the aid of his lifelong friend, Ugo, an inveterate poker player but a born loser who harbours a bitter grudge against Franco, a one-time friend who, in turn, is friend with Lele, the only one there for the company.