The Gameshouse is an unusual institution.

Many know it as the place where fortunes can be made and lost through games of chess, backgammon — every game under the sun.

But a select few, who are picked to compete in the higher league, know that some games are played for higher stakes — those of politics and empires, of economics and kings . . .

In 1930s Bangkok, one higher league player has just been challenged to a game of hide and seek. The board is all of Thailand — and the seeker may use any means possible to hunt down his quarry — be it police, government, strangers or even spies . . .