An insane Grandmaster (chess) named Kronig captures the little people, but proposes a deal with them—play him at chess and if they win, they go free; lose and he turns them over to the SID. The Earthlings choose Barry, their strongest player and a junior state chess champion on Earth. An enraged Kronig believes the little people are being disrespectful by having a boy oppose him, and he has the other humans tied to the chess pieces. Kronig has lied however—the Chess game can be played with an added element of luck, randomly chosen squares will open and what is on it shall fall through the mechanical chess table and down into a blast furnace! Dr Lalor, Kronig's therapist, protests against Kronig's cruelty, so Kronig has him locked in the closet. Steve and Dan escape from the chessboard by Barry starting to lose the game, putting the lives of those still on the board in jeopardy.