the next day, the big game begins. At first, there are six players, including Howard and the Kid, with Shooter playing as he deals and another dealer, the popular Lady Fingers, relieving him whenever Shooter needs a break. In the first big confrontation between the Kid and Howard, the Kid is short $2,000 and Slade steps in to stake him. Several hours later, Howard busts a player called Pig, and the remaining players take a break. After the game resumes, Shooter bows out of competition but remains at the table as dealer only. Later, two more players, Yeller and Sokal, drop out. That leaves just Howard and the Kid. After a few unlikely wins, the Kid abruptly calls for a break and then privately confronts Shooter, who admits to being forced into cheating by Slade. The Kid insists he can win on his own and tells Shooter to deal straight or he will blow the whistle, destroying Shooter's reputation. Before the game resumes, Melba succeeds in seducing the Kid. Christian makes a surprise visit to the room, catches them after the fact, and walks out on the Kid. When the game is called back into session, the Kid maneuvers to have Shooter replaced by Lady Fingers, claiming Shooter is ill. He then wins several major pots from Howard, who is visibly losing confidence. During the final hand though, Howard beats the Kid with a queen-high straight flush. The Kid turns over his cards, revealing a full house, aces full of tens. In the end, the Kid not only loses all his money, but is in hock to Howard for $5,000. Howard then chastises the Kid, telling him that he will always be "second best" as long as Howard is around. After departing the hotel, the Kid loses a penny pitch to the shoeshine boy he had beaten at the same game at the film's opening. Around the corner, he unexpectedly runs into Christian. They embrace. Alternative versions In some cuts, the film ends with a freeze-frame on Steve McQueen's face following his penny-pitching loss. Turner Classic Movies and the DVD feature the ending with Christian. Jewison wanted to end the film with the freeze-frame but was overruled by the producer. The cockfight scene was cut by British censors. Cast Production The Cincinnati Kid was filmed on location in New Orleans, Louisiana, a change from the original St. Louis, Missouri, setting