Mid - late 90s of the 20th century. Russian chess master Viktor Odintsov plays at a tournament in the suburbs of Paris. But instead of an honestly earned prize, by force of circumstances he ends up in a French prison... Having been released, he again faces an insurmountable barrier - a kind of “French Defense” associated with the dishonest play of his opponents and the arbitrariness of the judges. Victor has a girlfriend, Simone, who helps him. However, the Russian player is haunted by one failure after another. Odintsov, driven to despair, invents a cunning method, his own “know-how,” with the help of which he begins to smash all his rivals. Together with Simone, Victor overcomes numerous obstacles erected by their ill-wishers. He reaches the main match with the world champion. And he confidently leads in this match, where the opposing team uses dirty methods of play. One step before Odintsov's victory, the French beauty Genevieve intervenes in events, taking revenge for her rejected love. And Victor is dealt a seemingly crushing blow in the back... The novel tells about the difficult fate of Russian emigrants living in France.