Chess story

On board a passenger liner traveling from New York to Buenos Aires, a millionaire offers a fee to challenge Mirko Czentovic, the world chess champion known for his almost mechanical precision, to a game. Dr. B., an Austrian émigré on the same voyage, steps in as an advisor and secures a draw for the challenger. Previously imprisoned by the Gestapo, Dr. B. had locked himself in a hotel room, completely cut off from the outside world, and spent months playing 150 blindfolded games to preserve his intellectual resilience. This one-sided mental strain triggered a nervous fever, which ultimately led to his release. Now, Dr. B. is playing against a real opponent for the first time again, albeit one who reacts like a robot. His only goal in this match is to determine whether his actions during captivity were still a form of play or had already crossed into madness. He decisively beats the world champion in the first game but, somewhat against his will, agrees to a rematch. During the second game, the nervous fever returns: he abandons the match and vows never to touch a chessboard again.