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
Grieche

Fred Düren
Grünstein

Rolf Hoppe
Gefängnisdirektor

Jörg Gudzuhn
Lodek

Arno Wyzniewski
Kaminski

Rolf Ludwig
Garstecki

Willi Schrade
Wärter
Hubert Gleissner
Wärter

Salvador (Puig Antich)
Salvador (Puig Antich)

Malcolm X
Malcolm X

Knight to D7
Knight to D7

Cape Fear
Cape Fear

Brubaker
Brubaker

The Edge of Heaven
The Edge of Heaven

The Real McCoy
The Real McCoy

The Chess Player
The Chess Player

Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down!
Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down!
Life for Christine
Life for Christine

The Last Castle
The Last Castle

Shangrao Concentration Camp
Shangrao Concentration Camp