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".
Bernhard Wicki
Wolfgang Kohlhaase
Bernhard Wicki
Edward Kłosiński
Klaus Schwarzkopf
Grieche
Fred Düren
Grünstein
Rolf Hoppe
Gefängnisdirektor
Jörg Gudzuhn
Lodek
Arno Wyzniewski
Kaminski
Rolf Ludwig
Garstecki
Willi Schrade
Wärter
Hubert Gleissner
Wärter