In the criminal world, life is like a game of chess. To gain control, you have to stay a few moves ahead of your opponent. Lose that control, and you risk becoming a pawn in their very dangerous game. During a six-month stint inside a West Australian prison, rookie criminal JR meets the smart and enigmatic Brendan Lynch. In exchange for protection on the inside, JR agrees to help Brendan get outside, hooking up with the influential Sam Lennox to orchestrate a daring prison escape that frees Brendan, and inmates Sterlo and Merv. JR is rewarded for his efforts, and with a taste of the high life and flirtations with Sam's beautiful girl Tasha, he gets sucked deeper into Brendan's criminal world. But whose game is he playing? Becoming a father-like mentor to JR, Brendan convinces him to join on another high stakes job - robbing a Kalgoorlie gold mine. But with millions of dollars at stake, it's hard to tell whom JR can trust, and whose side each player is actually on. And with his feelings for Tasha increasing, and his faith in Brendan decreasing, JR must figure out his next move...before its check, mate.