Den otteårige og forældreløse Beth Harmon er en stille pige, der ikke gør et stort væsen af sig. Indtil den dag hun spiller sit første parti skak. Langsomt men sikkert ødelægges Beth, brik for brik, på vejen for at nå til tops i den hårde skakverden.
Walter Stone Tevis was an American novelist and short story writer. Three of his six novels were adapted into major films: The Hustler, The Color of Money, and The Man Who Fell to Earth. The Queen's Gambit has also been adapted in 2020 into a 7-episode mini-series. His books have been translated into at least 18 languages.