The unnamed narrator and the chess master Wang Yisheng are two young intellectuals among many who are sent to a remote farm in the mountains to work.

During the train ride to the mountains, Wang Yisheng and his friend talk about how he learned to play Chinese chess, and how he evolved his current strategy.

One day, while gathering garbage to sell, Wang Yisheng meets an old man who is a chess master.

A couple months later, Wang Yisheng takes a vacation and visits his friend in the mountains.

The final match ends in a draw, with Wang Yisheng playing against an old man who is too fragile to leave the house, and has to send his chess moves via a messenger.