Orphan Beth Harmon overcomes her fears and shyness by learning to play chess and, over the years, improves her game to become national champion and to play the world grandmasters.

Invited to a parent-child weekend chess tournament, freshman Daniel discovers that his father was once one of the country's leading young players but that the intense competition surrounding the game proved to be unhealthy, a past they are forced to confront when they meet a former rival.

Diagnosed with ADHD after years of struggling through school with difficulty focusing, Clea uses her love of chess to develop better concentration skills and block out challenging symptoms and distractions.