the story takes place in the early years of the cold war and centers on u.s. army colonel bryan kelly, whose plane has crash-landed on the asiatic mainland. with him are his two sons, his wife, the pilot and co-pilot, and ten enlisted men. the sixteen prisoners are held captive by the communist guerrilla chief pi ying, who forces kelly to play a game of chess using his family and men as the white pieces, and himself as the king. any american pieces that pi ying captures will be executed immediately; if kelly wins, he and his surviving pieces will be freed. a russian military officer, major barzov, and pi ying's female companion are present to watch the game.