In a dark, snow-covered Moscow, The Russian Gambit begins with Mikhail Alexandrovich Petrov as he plots the groundwork for his ambitions. Having established a reputation as a formidable criminal, Mikhail orchestrates clandestine meetings with notorious criminals across Europe to build a network that will shake the foundations of every nation’s government. Yet, as he inches closer to his objective, he finds his plans thwarted by a spirited detective named Ivan Kuznetsov, whose intelligence and cunning mirror his own. The two engage in a psychological game, filled with false leads, misdirection, and secrets.