In 1962 the Cuban Rocket Crisis takes place, the world is on the verge of a nuclear crisis. In Warsaw, Poland, a duel is hosted between the US chess champions and the USSR. The sudden collapse of the American player forces the Americans to find a replacement. The choice is of a forgotten genius mathematician, turned alcoholic. It seems that the tournament is not the most important match to take place, a strong plot of espionage with upsets develops in the background.