Fred Wilburn has never been able to resist a wager.
In a small 1930s town where chess games draw crowds and gambling can cost more than a man can afford, Fred is desperate to defeat local champion Jackson Moody.
But after another crushing loss leaves him short on rent and Willa at the end of her patience, Fred finds himself searching for a way to change his luck.
That search leads him to a lonely crossroads, a mysterious stranger, and an offer that could give Fred everything he thinks he wants.
All he has to do is make a deal.
Soon, an ordinary game of chess becomes something far more dangerous, and Fred discovers that winning can carry a price much greater than losing.
Because at the crossroads, every wager must eventually be paid.
