Chess: A Novel

Second-Hand

Excellent condition

On a cruise ship bound for Buenos Aires, a wealthy passenger challenges the world chess champion to a match. He accepts with a sneer. He will beat anyone, he says. But only if the stakes are high.

Soon, the chessboard is surrounded. At first, the challenger crumbles before the mind of the master. But then, a soft-spoken voice from the crowd begins to whisper nervous suggestions.

There are perfect moves and brilliant predictions. The speaker has not played a game for more than twenty years, he says.

He is wholly unknown.

But somehow, he is also entirely formidable!