The plot revolves around three men waiting to be deported in a prison. To escape the monotony, they form chess pieces from their bread rations, with which they then play against each other. Grünstein, a Polish Jew, proves to be a real talent, because although he is a beginner, he manages to defeat even the experienced player Lodeck, a German sailor, with his "Grünstein Variant".

• Klaus Schwarzkopf
• Fred Düren
• Rolf Hoppe
• Jörg Gudzuhn
• Arno Wyzniewski
• Rolf Ludwig
• Willi Schrade
• Hubert Gleissner