Stefan Zweig's novella explores the depths of the human soul in a confined space. Arrested by the Gestapo and locked in a hotel room, Dr. B. escapes into the abstract world of chess to preserve his mental resilience. On a passenger ship to Buenos Aires, Dr. B. unexpectedly encounters the chess world champion Mirko Czentovic. A breathtaking battle ensues, where the true opponent is not seated across the board, but lies deep within one's own soul. Includes a contribution from Kindler's Literary Encyclopedia, with information on life and work, exclusively written by the editorial team of the literary journal TEXT + KRITIK.