It's 1998 in Miami. Rampant poverty, broken families, and a prejudiced system push underprivileged youth to the fringes of society. But for a magnetic group of teens, there's a reprieve. A game where it's not about where you come from, but how you play: chess. As they fight their way to the National Chess Championship, their dedicated teacher shows them that the power of critical thinking can save not only their kings, but also their lives.