PILLSBURY

THE
EXTRAORDINARY

ANDREW SOLTIS
KEN SMITH
CHESS DIGEST

0
Copyright 1990

A n drew Soltis & Ken Smith

A l l rights rese r v e d u n d e r P a n A m e ri c a n a n d I n te r
nation a l C o p y r i g h t con v e n tions.
I SBN: 0-87568-1875

No p a r t o f t his p u b l i cation m a y be r e p rod u ce d ,

s t o r e d i n a r e t ri e v a l s y s t e m , o r t ra n s m i t t e d i n a n y f o r m , o r
b y a n y means: e l e c t ro n i c, e l e c t rost atic, m ag n e t i c t a pes, m e
c h a n i ca l p hotocop y i ng, reco r d i n g, o r oth e r w ise, wi t h o u t
prior a n d cu r r e n t p e r mission from t h e p u b lis h e r.
A u t h o rs: A n d re w S o l tis & K e n S mith
Editor: J o h n H a l l
C o m p u t e r T y pesetti n g: E l a i n e S m i t h
Photo Provid ed: C. G a b riele Wi n k l e r
C o v e r: Elai n e Smith
P roo fre a d e r: Hugh M y e rs
Diagram Past e - u p: L a u ri n C u rtis
Final Preparation & Diagrams: David S e w ell
P u b lis h e r: C h ess Digest, I n c. , 1 18 3 6 J u d d C o u rt, #338-E,
D al l as, T e x as 75234-4402
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Man h attan Chess Club

N e w Y o r k 1893

Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
Photo: Pillsbury at the Manhattan

Chess Club, New York 1893

PART ONE: BIOGRAPHY by Andrew Soltis

CHAPTER ONE

The Youn g Years

CHAPTER TWO

Hero o f Hastings

16
26

CHAPTER THREE

Pillsbu ry Ve rsus Las k e r

CHAPTER FOUR

Othe r S truggles

28
31

CHAPTER FIVE

L i fe o f a P ro fessional
CHAPTER SIX

Portrait o f t h e B l i n d fold Artist

CHAPTER SEVEN

42
48

F i n a l Steps
PART TWO

GAME S by Ken Smith

GAME ONE

53

Pillsbu ry v s Ta r rasch
Hastings 1 895
GAME TWO

Mieses v s Pillsb u r y
Hast i n gs 1 895
GAME THREE

P i l lsbu r y vs Mason
Hasti n gs 1 895
GAME FOUR

P i llsb u r y vs Las k e r
N u re m b e rg 1896

59
61

65

Table o f Cont ents

GAME FIVE

P i l lsbu r y v s Wi n a w e r
Bu d apest 1 896
GAME SIX

70
73

S h o w a l t e r v s P i l l sb u r y
N e w Y o r k 1 897
GAME SEVEN

P i l lsbu r y vs T a rrasch
V i e n n a 1 898
GAME EIGHT

S h o w a l t e r v s P i l l sb u r y
Vie n n a 1 898
GAME NINE

Wal b r o d t v s Pil l sb u r y
V i e n n a 1 898
GAME TEN

Pill sb u r y v s T re n c h a r d
Vie n n a 1 898
GAME ELEVEN

P i l l sb u ry vs B l a c k b u r n e
V i e n n a 1 898
GAME TWELVE

Lee vs P i llsb u r y
Lon don 1899
GAME THIRTEEN

Stei n i tz v s P i l l sb u r y
London 1 899
GAME FOURTEEN

75

79
82
85
87
90
93
96

B i r d v s Pillsb u r y
London 1 899
GAME FIFTEEN

Pillsbu ry v s Steinitz
Lon d on 1 899
GAME SIXTEEN

Pillsb u r y v s A m a te u r
Toronto 1 899
GAME SEVENTEEN

Pill sb u r y vs Marco
Paris 1900

99
102
104

T ab l e o f C o n tents

GAME EIGH TEEN

107

P i l lsb u ry vs B a r d e l e b e n
M u n i ch 1900
GAME N I NETEEN

110

P i llsb u r y vs M a rsh a l l
Bu f falo 1901
GAME TWENTY

1 13

A t kins vs P i llsb u r y
H a n o v e r 1902
GAME TWENTY ONE

1 16

P i llsbury v s L e v i n
Hanover 1902
GAME TWENTY TWO

1 19

Pillsb u r y v s S w i d e rs k i
H a n o v e r 1902
GAME TWE N TY THREE

P i llsb u r y vs T a r rasch
Monte C a r l o 1902
GAME TWENTY FOUR

121

124

Pillsb u r y vs G u n sb e rg
Mon t e C a rlo 1902
GAME TWENTY F I VE

128

V o n S c h e v e v s P i llsb u r y
Monte Carlo 1902
GAME TWENTY S I X

130

P i llsb u r y v s Wol f
Mon t e C a rlo 1902
GAME TWE N TY S E VEN

133

P i llsb u r y v s Mieses
Monte C a r l o 1903
GAME TWE N TY EIGH T

135

P i llsb u r y v s S c h l e c h t e r
Mon te C a rlo 1903
GAME TWE N TY N I N E

137

P i llsbu r y v s Wol f
Monte C a rlo 1903
GAME THIRTY

G u n sb e rg vs Pil l sb u r y
V i e n n a 1903

140

P i l lsbury T h e Ex traordinary

Part One
by A n dre w S o ltis

BIOGRAPHY

P i l lsbury T h e Ex traordinary

CHAPTER ON E
TH E YOU N G Y EARS
The word "tragic" i s o ften o v e r wo r k e d and usu ally
m e l o d r a m a t i c w h e n a p p l i e d to the c a re e rs o f g r e a t m e n .
B u t i n t h e case o f H a r r y P i llsb u r y , noth i n g e lse q u i te su f
f i ces.
P i llsb u r y started out in chess u nus u a l l y late in l i fe,
yet h e became one of the st rongest p l a y e rs in A m e r i c a
with i n two y e a rs o f lea rning t h e m o v es. A series o f i ndi f
f e r e n t results in his e a r l y t w e n ties w e re ab r u p t l y e n d e d
w h e n h e w o n t h e fi rst i n t e r n a t i o n a l tou r n a m e n t i n w hich
h e compete d , H as t i n gs 1895. That e v ent w as, a t the t i m e ,
t h e stron gest tou r n a m e n t e v e r h e l d . A n d a l t h o u g h h e won
m a n y top p r i zes in t h e y e a rs t h a t fol l o w e d , his H as t i n gs
t r i um p h was n e v e r repeated. I t also l e d h i m, i n d i re c t l y, to
t h e fatal disease t h a t r a v aged h i s talent and ultim a t e l y
killed h i m . P i llsb u r y ' s seri ous ch ess c a ree r lasted b a r e l y
e l e v e n y e a rs. H e w as o n l y t h i rty-th ree w h e n h e d i e d , h a v
i n g spent his fin a l d e p ressi n g d a y s in a P e n n s y l v a n i a hos
pital.
P i llsbury w as a n A m e rican o r i g i n a l , a t y p i c a l outgo
ing 19th cen t u r y Yan k e e who j ust h a p p e n e d to be b l essed
w i th a talent for the game that aston i s h e d h i s contem po
raries. He was t h e most serious t h reat to Wo rld C h a m p i on
Em anuel Las k e r , as w e l l as the m ost enjo y able e n t e rtai n e r
f o r a v e r age fans. P i llsb u r y also s e t reco r d s for b l i n d fol d
p l a y t h a t lasted for d e c a d e s -- a n d s e t st a n d a rds for t h ose
d i spla y s t h a t m a y n e v e r b e m a t c h e d . His m e n t al p ro w e ss,
w h e t h e r at m u l t i p l y i n g f i v e - d i g i t n u mb e rs in his h e a d or
r e c a l l i n g long l i sts of m e m o r i zed w o r d s, w as stun n i ng. Yet
i n b e t w e e n w i n n i n g p r i ze s at t h e m ost e l e g a n t E u rope an
e v e n ts, h e would e a r n a l i ving at a N e w Yo r k s i d e show
p l a y i n g am ateu rs, w h i le concealed and contorted in the
m a c h i n e r y of a bogus "ch essp l a y i n g autom a ton".

C h ap t e r O n e: T h e Y o u n g Y e ars

Wh en H a r r y N e lson P i l lsbury w as born m

S o m e r ville, Massa c h usetts on D e ce m b e r 5, 1 8 7 2 , o r g a n i zed
chess w as b a r e l y t w o d e cades old. F e w e r t h a n f o r t y seri ous
tou r n a m e n ts h ad b e e n h e l d s i n c e the fi rst one a t London ' s
G r e a t E x pos i t i on o f 1 8 5 1 . More o v e r, i n A m e r i ca, chess w as
liv i n g o f f t h e jolt o f p u b l i c e n t h u s i asm p r ov i d ed b y P a u l
Morph y's i m p e r i a l tou r o f Eu rope du r i n g 1 8 5 8 . I n t h e
t h i r t y y e a rs s i n c e Morp h y's reti rement, t h e U n i ted S t a tes
h ad p roduced o n l y the m ost m i n o r of m as t e r s a nd the t i m e
w a s ripe for a n e w c h a m p i o n .
P i llsb u r y g r e w up i n a m iddle cl ass f a m i l y i n a
Boston subu rb. I t w as t h e re on T h a n k sgi v i n g D a y 1888, a
few w e e k s short o f h i s si x te e n t h b i rthda y , t h a t h e l e a rned
t h e moves. Among t h e great p l a y e r s o f h i st o r y , o n l y
M i k h ail T c h igo r i n b e c a m e f a m i l i a r w i t h t h e game at a
late r age. Alt hough t h e re w e re few t r ue p rodi g i e s i n t h e
1 9 t h c e n t u r y , most o f t h e f u t u re masters o f t h e d a y h ad
started p l a y i n g casu a l l y b y t h e i r t w e l f t h y e a r.
Wh ate v e r h a n d i c ap t h i s m a y h a v e p osed seemed m i
n o r a s Pi llsbu r y b e g a n d e m o n s t r a t i n g a rem a r k a b l y m a t u re
grasp o f t h e game at a v a r i e t y o f Boston c l u bs. T h e c i t y
h ad a r i c h chess h e r i tage, a n d at t h i s t i m e t h e best o f t h e
l o c a l e x p e rts called t h e m s e l v e s t h e "Ma nd a r i n s o f the Y e l
lo w B u t ton", a re fere n ce to t h e e l i t e m e m b e rs o f t h e C h i
nese ci v i l se r v i ce, w h o wore y e llow p i n s. P i l l s b u r y ' s fi rst
se rious resu l t a p p e a r s t o be a series of E v a n s G a m b i t s
played a g a i n s t o n e o f t h e M a nda r i n s, He n r y N a t h a n S t o n e ,
t h a t ended 5-2 i n P i llsb u r y ' s f a v o r i n 1 8 9 0 .
A m o r e formal m atch came t w o y e a r s l a t e r against
J o h n F i n an Barry, another M a nd a r i n a n d p robab l y t h e
l e ad i n g Ne w Engl and p l a y e r o f the d a y . (Ba r r y o n ce a n
nou n ced a m ate i n 1 3 against P i l lsb u r y .) T h e 1 7- y e a r-old
m a y h a v e s u f f e r e d f rom t h e s i n s o f i n e x p e r i e n ce ag ai nst
Barry s i n ce h e lost his f i rst fou r games. But in a re m a rk
able t u r n a rou nd, P i llsbu r y won the n e x t f i v e games and
the m at c h .

10

P i l lsbury T h e E x traordin ary

Also i n 1882 P i llsb u r y got h i s fi rst c h a n ce to m e e t a

wo rld cha m p i o n . Wi l h e l m S t e i nitz h a d been p u b lishing his
o w n m ag a z i n e in N e w York f or the p revi o u s si x y e a rs, a n d
h a d e xe rted a p ro fo u n d e f fe c t on Ame r i c a n c h e s s i n gen
e r al -- a n d on H a r r y P illsb u r y i n p a r t i cular. S te i n i tz's e l u
sive posi tional style, s t r i p p e d o f its i d iosy n c rasies, p r o v e d
to be a m o d e l for t h e y o u n g A m e r i c a n . As L as k e r' s b i og r a
p h e r, H e i n r i c h F r ae n k el, p u t i t , "Pillsbu r y p l a y e d Morp h y
g a m e s w i t h S t e i n i tz's l u c i d i t y: i n h i m t h e som b e r o l d m a n ' s
p ro foun d n ess w as t e m p e r e d b y t h e c h ee r f u l n e ss o f youth."
M a n y o f t h e champion's o pe n i n g i d e as, s u c h as d e f e n ding
the Ruy Lopez with 3 . g6!?, re m ai n e d w i t h Pil l sb u r y for
y e a rs.
.

Not surp r i s i n g l y , a you n g man w ho had learned t h e

m o v e s b a re l y t h re e y e a rs be fore cou l d not e x p e c t to p l a y
on e v e n te rms w i t h the w o rld's No. 1 p l a y e r . B u t P i l lsbu r y
a c q u i tt e d h i m se l f w e l l w i t h a h a nd i c a p: H e b e a t S t e i nitz in
a 20-board s i m u l t a n eous e x h i bition given by t h e cham p ion
a n d i n a se ries of casual g a mes, re ce i v i n g odds of P a wn
a n d Move, h e scored 2- 1 . H e re's the w i n f rom t h e si m u l:

S T EINITZ- P ILL S B URY

B oston 1 8 9 2
1 e4
2 f4
3 N f3

e5
B c5
d6

C h ap t e r One: T h e Y oung Y e ars

4 B c4
5 c3
6 d3

N c6
N f6
Qe7

7 Qe2
8 Bb5
9 B a4?!

Be6
B d7
00

1 0 B c2
11 fS
12 Bg5

Rad8
d5!
dxe4

11

12

P i l l sbury T h e Extraordinary

13 d x e 4
1 4 N b dl
15 Nb3

NbS!
b5!
Bb6

16 0-0-0
1 7 Rdl
18 N a 1

aS!
a4
a3

19 b3

QcS

C h ap t e r One: T h e Y o ung Y e ars

20 R d3
2 1 B e3

Bc6
Qe7

22 B x b 6
23 Rhd1
2 4 B x d3

cxb6
Rx d3
QcS

25 Kc2
2 6 Kb 1
2 7 B el

N a6
Rd8
Rxd1ch

13

14

P i llsbury T h e E x traord i n ary

28 Q x d l
2 9 Qcl
3 0 Q x a3

Q x c3
Nb4
Q x alch!

Wh i t e R esigns.
U p u n t i l the n P i llsbu r y was a y o u n g m a n a s p i r i n g
t o a c a r e e r i n l a w o r busi n e ss, w ho a l s o h a d m a d e a m i nor
name for hi mse l f i n Boston c h e ss. B u t i n 1 893 he m a d e t h e
b re a k that e s t ab l i s h e d h i s c a ree r: P i l l sb u r y left f o r N e w
Y o r k , w h i c h h a d e m e rg e d i n t h e p r e v i o u s d e c a d e as the
c e n t e r of U.S. che ss. He a l so began tou r i n g o t h e r c i t i es,
g i v i n g small e xhib i t ions - - often fe w e r than h a lf a dozen
boards -- of b l i n d fold play. P i l lsbu ry on ce s a i d his visit to
Phil adelphi a's f a m e d F r a n k lin Chess Clu b th a t y e a r w as
t h e s t a r t o f h i s c h e s s c a re e r. Later i n Mon t r e a l o n e of h i s
si m u l oppon e n ts was 1 6 - y e a r-old F r an k M a rs h a l l . Mar
s h all's w i n t h a t day, h e once s a i d , w a s t h e s t a r t of HIS c a
reer.
Later i n 1893 Pillsb ury p l a y e d i n h i s fi rst s e r i o u s
tou r n a m e n t . It w as h e l d as p a r t o f t h e Colum b i a n Wo rld
Con gress and, accor d i n g to som e ac cou n ts, w a s i n te n d e d as
a w ay of in t rod u c i n g a 25- y e a r-old G e r m a n M a s t e r n am e d
E m a n ue l L a s k e r to A m e ri c a . L as k e r h a d c rosse d the At
l a n t i c i n t h e hopes of d ra w i n g Ste i n i t z i n to a title m a t ch.
Wh e n he e v e n t u a l l y won t h e t i tle from h i m a ye a r l a t e r i n
1894, e n d i n g Ste i n i tz's uno ffi c i a l reign of som e t w e n t y
e i g h t y e a rs, the n e w s w as rece i v e d b y m a n y a s a m i n o r
bombs h e l l .
B u t i n t h i s tou r n a m e n t , N e w Yo r k 1 8 93, Las k e r
s h o w e d how f a r a h e a d h e w as o f t h e A m e r i c a n s. L as k e r' s
u n b l e m i sh e d score, 13- 0 , w as a n a c h i e v e m e n t r i v a l e d o n l y
b y Bobb y F i sc h e r's 1 1 - 0 resu l t i n t h e U . S . C h a m p i on sh i p,
also i n N e w Y o r k , se v e n t y y e a rs l a t e r. As for P i l lsb u r y , h e
f i n i sh e d i n the m i d d le o f t h e f i e l d . Aga i n st h i m Las k e r
p l a y e d o n e o f h i s f a v o rite we apons, t h e E x c h a n g e V a ri a
t i o n o f t h e Lopez, a n d e x p loited a l a t e m i d d lega m e

C h apter One: T h e Young Y e ars

15

b l unde r to w in in 55 m o v es. Pillsb u r y t h en took p a r t in a

series o f m inor N e w Yor k tou rnaments in 1 8 9 4 and showed
some i m p ro v e m ent -- an e v e n score in one w o n b y Stein i tz,
a cle a r fi rst place a h e ad o f the best A m e ricans in another.
(And according to one account, h e also b e a t Barry in an
o t h e r m a t c h , by 6 - 5 .)

16

P i l lsbury T h e E x traor d i n ary

CHA PTER TWO

H ERO OF H ASTINGS
T h e stage w as n o w s e t for Pillsb u r y ' s b r e a k t h rough
and it came at H a stings, E n g l a n d in August and S e p t e m b e r
o f 1 8 9 5. The tou r n a m e n t w a s o rg a nized to a t t r a c t t h e best
p l a y e r from each of t h e w o r l d ' s l e a ding n ation s - - Mik h ail
T c higo rin of R ussia, C a r l S c h l e c h t e r of A us t ria, Jos e p h
B l a c k b u r n e o f Englan d , Siegbe rt T a r rasch o f G e r m a n y -
e v e n I t a l y ' s obscure B e nj amin V e rgani. Pil l sb u r y w as in
vit e d as t h e A m e rican r e p rese n t ativ e , even t h ough h e was
n o t t h e o f ficial n atio n a l c h a m pion. And, asi d e f rom a 2
1/2-1/2 score in e x hib i tion games again st t h e visiting
B e rlin e r C a r l Walb r o d t in Ne w Y o r k two y e a rs be fore,
Pillsb u r y had n o a ccom p lis h m e n ts to spe a k of against es
tablish e d p l a y e rs.
Wh at t h e Eu rope a n s foun d i n Pil lsb u r y w as a l a n k y
six- foot e r with i n n o c e n t d a r k e y es, gi v e n t o l o n g b l a c k
ciga rs a n d sti f f- c o l l a r e d shirts a n d w h ose r e a l p assion i n
li fe see m e d to be p l a yi n g w hist. U n li k e m a n y c o n t e m p o
r a ries h e w a s clean-sh a v e n - - a n d u n li k e so m a n y U . S .
C h a m pions past a n d p rese n t ( R e sh e v sk y , M o rp h y , Fis c h e r) ,
h e w a s e x ception a l l y f rie n d l y a n d a p p r o a c h a b l e , i f a bit
n ai v e . Las k e r l a t e r d e s c ribe d him as being '"gi f t e d with
pleasant and loveable t r aits" - - quite a c h a n ge f ro m so
m a n y top p l a y e rs o f t h e d a y w h o w e re b a re l y on s p e a king
t e r m s with one a n o t h e r .
But m ost o f a l l t h e re w a s Pillsb u r y ' s c h e ss. He D ID
seem to p l a y a bit di f fe re n t l y from his European ri v a ls,
p a rtic u l a r l y i n t h e mid d legame w h e re h e dis p l a y e d a de
cepti v e l y sim ple but a m b i tious style. A ge n e r a tion l a ter,
Rich ard R e ti said he rep rese n t e d " A m e r i c anism" in c h ess -
in f usin g Old Wo r l d position a l t h e o r y with e nerg y a n d
p r agm atism.

C h ap t e r T w o: H ero O f H astings

17

P i llsbury c hose s i m p l e ope n i n g sch e m e s d ire c t e d not

so m u ch towar d s a q u i c k k n o c k o u t as towar d s s e t t i n g u p a
sol i d m i d d legame pos i tion. Wi t h t h e Wh i t e p i e ces, this
m ean t the R u y Lopez and Q u ee n's Gam b i t, a n d as Black,
t h e Petro f f D e fense a n d Orthodox Q u e e n's Gambi t D e
c l i n e d . I n Las k er' s w or d s, i t was P i l lsbury w h o d e m o l i s h e d
t h e Be r l i n D e f e n se, t h e n the p r i m a r y Lopez va r i a t i on, an d
it w a s Pillsbur y w h o resurrec t e d t h e Petro f f. A hal f cen
tury later, R e u b e n Fine w rote: " Both t h e Queen's Gam b i t
a n d t h e R u y Lopez, t h e t w o maj or d e fensi v e w eapons o f
t h e m ode rn mas t e r, f i rst beca m e popular ch i e f l y b ecause
o f t h e treatm e n t w h i c h P i l l sb u r y gav e t h e m".
T h e P i llsbury A t tack, as it is k n o w n, was t h e
m e t h o d by w h i ch t h e Q u e e n ' s Gamb i t Decli n e d e n t ered t h e
20th cen tury. Be fore Has t i ngs, the b e s t m e t h o d o f han d l i n g
t h e Wh i t e p i e c e s a ft er 1 d 4 :
1...

2 c4

3 Nc3

dS

e6
Nf6

was in d i sp u te. Man y o f t h e strongest players o f t h e era,

i n cl u d i ng Ho w ard Staun ton, I s i d or G u n sberg a n d J ohan nes
Zukertort, favored t h e deployment of Wh i te ' s q u e e n b i shop
o n t h e q u e e n si d e, e i t h e r at d2 or b2, for b o t h o f fe n s i v e
a n d de fens i v e reasons.
B u t at Hast i n gs, P i llsbury put the b i s h o p whe re i t
belonged -- o n gS. I f Black d e v eloped rou t i n ely:

P illsbury T h e E x traordin ary

18

4 B gS
5 e3
6 N f3

Be7
0-0
b6

T h e A m e r i c a n s e t u p a n a tt a c k i n g form a t i o n w it h
7 cx dS
8 B d3
9 N e 5!
and l a t e r f2- f4 and Qf3 .

e x dS
Bb7

B l a c k m i g h t a c h i e v e a queensi d e m aj o r i t y wit h
c 5 - c4, a n d h e m i g h t n e ut rali z e the m ost d ange r o us min o r
p i e ces w it h N e 4 . B ut h e n e v e r seem e d to com p l etely sol v e

t h e ope n i n g prob l e m s t h e A m e r i c a n h ad b rough t to Eu rope.

U nli ke so m a n y oth e r p rod ucts of open i n g f as h i o n , the
P i llsb u r y Q.G.D . armed Wh i te for the m iddl e g a m e , yet a lso
g a v e h i m e x cellent c h a n ces in the e n d g a m e . More often
t h a n not, h is v i ctories e n d e d long b e fore t h e e n d ga m e , in
what w e re known as "Pi l lsb u r i als".
Because of an open i n g roun d loss to T c h i g o r i n ,
P i llsbu ry's n a m e d i d n ot a p p e a r a m o n g t h e le a d e rs a t H ast
i n gs un t i l the se v e nth roun d , w h e n his Queen's G a m b it
a g a i n st Stei n it z p r o d u c e d a m a r v e l o f positi o n al t e c h n i q u e .
I nste a d o f Pillsb ury v s . Ste i n itz, i t loo k e d l i k e S t e i n i t z vs.
A m ateur, and it w a s P illsb u r y's f i fth win in a s t r e a k of
n i n e st r a i ght. He r a c k e d up points w i t h b o l d m i d d le g a m e
p l a n s -- a P i l lsbury At t a c k agai nst T a r rasch, a spa r k l i n g
coun t e r at t a c k a g a i n st J a c q u es Mi eses, a b rilli a n c y-p r i ze
c a n d idate agai nst B u r n .

C h apter T w o: H ero O f H astings

19

He a n d T c h i go r i n s h a r e d the le a d at t h e m i d way
point a n d d e s p i t e a c a rele ssl y pla y e d late m i ddle g a m e
against L a s k e r a n d a n o v e r- r e a c h aga i nst S c hle chte r, h e
w as still i n con t e n t i o n w i t h t w o rou n d s to go. T h e n Tch i g
o r i n h o r r i bly m i s h a n d le d t h e Wh i t e p i e ce s ( 1 e4, e5 2 Nc3,
N f6 3 d3?!, d 5 4 e x d 5? , Nxd5 5 Qe2?) i n a 16-move d i s aste r
against D a v i d J a n o w s k i , l e a v i n g P illsb u r y i n cle a r fi rst.
O n the tou r n a m e n t' s f i n a l d a y the A m e ri c a n h a d
Wh i te a n d a p p e a r e d con t e n t to t r a d e w o o d w i t h I s i d o r
G u n sbe rg, a H u n ga r i a n w h o h a d n a r row l y l o s t a w o r l d
c h ampionsh i p a few y e a rs be fore. But P i llsb u r y ' s re m a i n
i n g bishop was al w a y s b e t t e r t h a n B l a c k ' s a n d t h e fi n a l
s t age, a k n ight- a n d - p a w n e n d ga m e featu r i n g p a w n sac ri
fi ces, e n d e d surp r i s i n g l y qui c k l y ( T h e k e y pos ition w a s
later i n scribed on a m e n u for a b a n q u e t gi v e n i n Piiis
b u r y' s honor on h i s return t o New Y o r k ) .
The f i n al s c o r e w a s P iiisbu r y 1 6 1 / 2 p o i n t s (ou t o f
2 1) , T c higo r i n 16, Wo rld C h a m p i on L a s k e r , 15 1/2. Wi n n i n g
m e ant more to h i s re p u t a t i on t h a n t o h i s p o c k e t book: T h e
fi rst p r i ze w a s o n l y 150 pou n d s . B u t T c h i go r i n u s e d t h e
f i n al b a n q u e t to i n v i te t h e fou r oth e r top f i n i s h e rs to a
grand tou r n a m e n t bei n g p l a n n e d f o r t h e e n d o f t h e y e a r at
t h e St. Pete rsbu rg C h ess Clu b. T a r rasch, a pro fess i o n a l
p h y s i c i a n , d e c l i n e d b e c a u se o f h i s m e d i c a l p r a c t i c e , b u t
t h e o t h e rs re a d i l y accepted. I n a m a t t e r o f w e e ks, P i l lsb ury
h a d gone from a n obscu re New Engl a n d e r t o a member o f
a ve r y s m a l l In t e r n a t i on al e l i te.
I f H as t i n g s was the st rongest tou r n a m e n t h e l d u p to
t h a t t i m e , St. Pete rsb u rg e x ce e d e d i t consi d e ra b l y. Wi t h a n
a v e rage est i m ated r a t i n g o f 2617, i t not on l y s u p p l a n t e d
H as t i n gs, b u t re m a i n e d t h e h i ghest r a t e d tou r n a m e n t u n til
the N e t h e rl a n d s' A V RO e v e n t of 1938, some 42 y e a rs l a te r.
P iiisbu r y began b y e x a ctin g re venge a g a i n s t Las k e r, b e a t
i n g h im on t h e B l a c k s i d e o f a P e t ro f f D efen se i n 3 3
m o v e s o n t h e f i rs t d a y . H e a l s o h ad B l a c k i n t h e se cond

20

Pillsbury T h e E x traordin ary

rou n d a n d he won e v e n more q u i c k l y w i t h w h a t w a s re

g a r d e d as a n origi n a l k n i g h t m a n e u v e r i n the o p e n i ng:

PILL S B U RY
T C HIG O RIN
St. Petersburg 1 8 9 5 6

1 e4
2 N f3
3 N c3

e5
N f6
N c6

4 Bb5
5 0-0
6 d3

Bb4
0-0
d6

7 B g5
8 b x c3
9 B x f6

B x c3
N e 7 !?
gx f6

C h ap t e r T w o: H ero O f H astings

1 0 Qd2
1 1 Kb 1
12 d4

Ng6
Kh8
Rg8

13 B d3
1 4 Rab 1
15 Ng1

Qe7
b6
Be6

1 6 dS?
1 7 g3

B d7
Rg7

21

22

P illsbury T h e E x traordin ary

18 Rbe l

R agS

22 Q x f4
2 3 N f3
24 N d 4?

Nh7
Bg4
h 4!

23

C h ap t e r T w o: H e ro O f H astings

25 Re3
26 gx h 4?

Qe5!
B f3 c h

Wh i te Resigns
T h e fou r m e n w e re p a i red with o n e a n o t h e r si x
t i m e s o v e r a t w o - m o n t h p e r i od. In e f fect t h e tou rnament
t u r n e d o u t to be th ree m i n i - m at c h e s for P i l l sb u r y . H e
d e feated L a s k e r 3 1 / 2 - 2 1/2 ( i n c l u d i n g t h re e d ra w n) a n d
T c hi g o r i n b y t h e s a m e score ( o n e d r a w). B u t h e lost b a d l y
to S t e i n i tz, m a n a g i n g only t w o d ra w s i n si x g a m e s, w h i l e
Lasker crushed the former champion b y 4 - 2.
Wi t h t h e o l d e r m a n i n cl u d e d, i t w a s a L a s k e r
ru n a w a y: 11 1/2 - 6 1 / 2 com p a re d to 9 1 / 2 p o i n ts for se c
o n d p l a c e S te i n i tz, a n d an e v e n score 8 - 8 for t h e A m e ri
c a n . P i l lsbu r y h a d , i n fact, b e e n l e a d i n g t h e f i e l d at t h e
t o u r n a m e n t ' s h al f w a y poi n t, b u t t h e n s u f fe r e d fou r
straight d e feats a n d f i n i s h e d w i th o n l y 1 1/2 p o i n t s i n h i s
f i n al n i n e games.
A l t h ou g h t h e results showed that P i l ls b u r y ' s H ast
i n gs resu l t w as n ot a f l u k e , i t also rea f fi rm e d L a s k e r ' s
c l a i m to be t h e "M a n t o B e a t". H e won h i s fi rst tou r n a m e n t
as w o r l d c h a m p i on a n d a l s o p l a y e d t h e f i n es t g a m e o f t h e
e ve n t , a Q u e e n ' s G a m b i t D e c l i n e d i n t h e l O t h rou n d t h a t
fe atu re d a s p e c t a cu l a r s a c r i f i ce o f a B l a c k roo k . L a s k e r
l a t e r conside red i t t h e b e s t g a m e h e e v e r p l a y e d . A n d i t
w a s one P i llsbu r y w o u l d re m e m b e r t o t h e v e r y e n d o f h i s
c a re e r .
P I L L S U RY LA S K E R , S T . P E T E R S B U R G 1 8 9 5 - 9 6
1 d4, d5 2 c4, e6 3 N c3 , N f6 4 N f3, c 5 5 B g 5 , c x d4 6 Q x d 4 ,
N c 6 7 Q h 4 , B e 7 8 0 - 0 - 0, Q a 5 9 e 3 , B d7 1 0 Kb 1 , h 6! 1 1
cx d5, e x d5 12 N d 4, 0 - 0 13 B x f6 ( t h e s a c r i f i c e 1 3 B x h 6 f a i l s
a ft e r 13 ... Ne4!) 13 B x f6 1 4 Q h S , N x d4 1 5 e x d 4 , B e 6 1 6 f4
( N o t i m e for t h is. Bette r 16 Bc4 or 16 B d 3) 16 R a c l 17 f5,
R x c3! 1 8 fxe6 (On 1 8 b x c3 , Q x c3 1 9 f x e 6 [19 Q f3 j us t
o f fe rs m o r e resistan ce] 1 9 . . . R c 8 a n d B l a c k w i n s) 1 8 Ra6 !
1 9 e x f7 c h , R x f7 2 0 b x a3 , Qb6 c h 2 1 B b S , Q x bS c h 22 K a 1 ,

..

24

P i l lsbury T h e E x traordin ary

Rc7 2 3 R d 2 , Rc4 24 R h d l , R c 6 25 Q fS (Be tte r 25 Q e 2 or 25

Q c4 26 Kb2 (Be tte r 26 Qb 1) 26 R x a6! 27 Q e 6 ch,
Kh7 28 Kx a3 and B l a c k a n n o u n ces m ate in fi v e a s follo w s:
2 8 Q c 3 c h 2 9 Ka4, b S c h ! 3 0 K x b S , Q c 4 c h 3 1 K a S , B d8

R e 1) 2S

m ate.
O n e final poi n t about St. Pete rsb u rg m u s t b e m a d e .
S i x te e n y e a rs a ft e r h i s d e a t h , a collection o f P i llsb u r y s
g a m e s w as p u bli s h e d , w ri tten b y t h e E n g l i s h m e n P . W.
S e r ge a n t a n d W. H . Watts. I n i t t h e re a p p e a r e d t h i s c r y p t i c
li n e about P illsb u r y ' s t r i p to R u ss i a: " He w as, h o w e v e r,
v e r y u n fort u n ate i n con t ra c t i n g a n i l l n ess t h e r e w h i c h se
riously i m p a i re d his h e alth, and u l t i m a t e l y p r o v e d fatal to
h i m".
'

T h e re is no e l aboration in t h e book a n d for m a n y

y e a rs t h e e x a ct n at u re o f P illsbu ry ' s d i se ase r e m a i n e d a n
o p e n b u t u n p u b l i s h e d secret. I t w as s y p h i l i s.
T h e v e r y n a m e o f t h e t h e n f a t a l d i se ase w a s for
i n poli te con v e rs a t i o n in those d a y s. (Ibsen's
"Ghosts", w h i ch s h oc k e d so m a n y people i n 1 8 8 1 b y d e a l i n g
w i t h t h e subje ct, n e v e r a c t u all y u s e d t h e w o r d " s y p h ilis".)
P i llsb u r y' s f a m i l y a l w a y s d e n i e d t h e n a t u re o f h i s subse
q u e n t d e ath -- but the death ce rt i f i c a t e con f i r m e d i t w a s
d u e to " ge n e ral p a r e s i s " , t h a t i s , s y p h i l i s. N o d o c u ment a t i on
h as b e e n p ro d u c e d t o v e ri f y t h e St. Petersb u rg p a rt o f t h e
s t o r y , b u t accord i n g to the e n d g a m e compose r J . Ed m u n d
P e c k o v e r, Alb e r t B. Hodges told h i m t h a t P i llsbury h i m se l f
h a d con fi rmed t h a t to h i m .

bidden

P i llsbu r y ' s h e alth h a r d l y see m e d to a f fe c t h i m w h e n

h e r e t u r n e d to Eu rope t h a t s u m m e r f o r tou r n a m e n t s i n
Ge r m a n y a n d H u n ga r y . T h e fi rst, a t N u re mbe rg, w as a b i t
t h e stronge r o f t h e t w o . P i l l sb u r y started slow l y , a b y e i n
t h e f i rst rou n d b e i n g follo w e d b y a q u i e t d r a w w i t h
S c h l e c h t e r. In t h e t h i r d rou n d , P i l l sb u r y e s c a p e d w h e n
J a n o w s k i sacri f i ced a p a w n i n th e open i n g, t h e n t h e E x
c h a n ge , a n d h a d a won g a m e b y m o v e 20. T a r ra s c h re
m a r k e d t h a t i f Wh i t e h ad fou n d the cor rect, con c l u d i n g

C h apter T w o : H ero O f H astings

25

p i e ce sacrifi ce at move 21, h e would have ass u red h i msel f

of t h e F i rst B r i l l i a n c y P r ize a w a r d e d b y B a ro n Albert d e
Rothsch i l d . B u t h e o n l y d re w . P i llsbu r y t h e n won a f i n e
70-move game a g a i n s t A d ol f Albin -- y e t l o s t d i scou rag
i n g l y to B l a c k b u r n e a n d Geza M a ro c z y . Wi t h o n l y t w o
poin ts, t h e " h e ro o f H a s t i n gs" fou n d h i m se lf t i e d for 11th
p l a ce.
B u t t h e re w a s a free d a y follo w i n g t h e si x t h rou n d ,
a n d P i llsb u r y spe n t i t w i n n i n g a t a n d e m g a m e w i t h B l a c k
bo rne. T h i s see m e d to re-estab l i s h P i llsbu r y ' s e q u a n i m i t y .
H e crushed Georg M a rco t h e n e x t d a y , t h e n w o n a k i n g
a n d- p a w n e n d i n g o v e r T a rrasch t h at t h e G e r m a n i n s i s t e d
w a s a d e a d d r a w . T h e re fol l o w e d w i n s from L a s k e r a n d
T c h i go r i n , t h e form e r b e i n g a spe c t a c u l a r F re n ch D e fense
i n which P i llsb u r y s a c rif i c e d a pawn o n pos i t i o n a l
g r o u n d s , t h e n t h e E x c h a n ge, a n d f i n a l l y a p i e c e to create a
w i n n i n g a t t a c k t h a t t h e w o r l d c h a m p i o n could not resist,
even aft e r g i v i n g u p his q u e e n .
H e cou l d n't m ai n t a i n t h a t l e v e l f o r t h e r e s t o f
Nu rembe rg. Wi t h t w o rou n d s t o go, P i l lsbu r y w a s t i e d w i t h
T a r rasch f o r secon d p l a ce be h i n d L a s k e r . B u t a m i se r able
loss with Wh i t e to Walbrodt se v e re l y h u rt his c h a n ce s and
h e h a d to allow M a rocz y to slip past h i m. I n the e n d , P i lls
b u r y and T a r rasch tied for t h i r d, e a rn i n g 1250 m a r k s e a ch.
I t w as some consolation ( a n d worth a n e x t r a 300 m a r k s)
w h e n h i s game w i t h L a s k e r w as a w a r d e d a b r i l l i a n c y
p r i ze , the A m e r i c an's fi rst. H e w o u l d l a te r b e a w a rd e d
p r i zes at V i e n n a 1 8 9 8 , Monte C a rlo 1 9 0 3 , a n d V i e n n a 1903.

26

Pillsbury T h e Ex traordinary

CHAPTER TH REE
PILLSBURY V ERSUS LASKER
I t' s w o r t h poi n t i n g o u t a t t h i s poi n t t h a t P i llsb u r y' s
l i f e t i m e r e c o r d w i t h L a s k e r w as f i v e w i ns, f i v e l osses a n d
fou r d ra w s. To a p p re c i ate h o w g o o d t h i s w as, y o u h a v e t o
recall h o w t h e w o r l d c h a m p i o n f a r e d a g a i n s t h i s o t h e r
c o n t e m p o r a ries:
L a s k e r was 8-1, 4 d ra w s against T c h i go r i n , a n d 11-2
w i t h 4 d raws against B l a c k bu rne, t h e finest B ri t i s h p l a y e r
o f t h e generation. O t h e r m e n w h o w e r e consi d e re d w o rt h y
mat c h opponents f o r Lask e r h a d d i smal scores: S c h l e c h t e r
w as 2-5, w i t h 1 2 d ra w s a g a i n s t h i m . M a rsh a l l w o n o n l y t w o
g ames against 1 2 losses. Tar rasch h a d fou r v i ctories t o
console h i m se lf f o r h i s 1 8 (!) d e feats. Y e t S c h l e c h t e r,
M a rs h a l l a n d T a rrasch h a d t h e i r c h a n ce s t o c h a l l e n ge
L a s k e r i n a m a t ch e s.
A k i b a R u b i nstei n h a d p e r h aps t h e best s c o re o f t h i s
group: one w i n , t w o losses a n d four d ra w s w i t h L a s k e r.
A n d i n m ore t h e n 40 o t h e r games, L a s k e r n e v e r lost to
s u c h worth y oppon e n t s as A m os B u rn , J a m es Mason, I s i d o r
G u n sbe rg, R i c h a r d T e i c h m a n n , Geza M a r o c z y , O l d rich
D u ras, R u d o l f S p i e l m a n n , S a v i e l l y T a r t a k o w e r , M i l a n V i d
m a r, R i ch a rd R e t i a n d M a x E u w e .
Anothe r w a y o f loo k i n g at P i l l sb u r y ' s a c c o m p l i sh
m e n t against Lask e r i s t h i s: O n l y a h a n d f u l o f A m e r i c a n s - a n d not t h at m a n y n o n - A m e r i c a n s -- h a v e d e f e a t e d i n
c u m b e n t world c h a m p i o n s. S a mm y Resh e v s k y , A r th u r D a k e
a n d R e u b e n F i n e e a c h d e feated A l e x a n d e r A le k h i n e i n t h e
1930s. Yasse r S e i r a w a n b e a t t w o c h a m p i o n s i n t h e 1980s,
A n atoly K a rpov o n ce and Gary K asparov once. P i llsb u r y's
f i v e t i m e s is e x t raor d i n a r y.

Chap ter Thre e: P i l lsbury Versus Las ker

27

The
fourteen
L a s k e r- P i l lsbu r y
games
w e re
m a r velous struggles. T h e y a v e raged n e a rl y 46 m o v e s -- well
above t h e grand m aster n o r m . L a s k er' s e n d g a m e s k i ll, s u c h
as i n h i s elega n t 7 5 - m o v e w i n o v e r P i llsb u r y a t L o n d o n
1 8 9 9 a n d h i s 8 5- m o v e r at P a r i s a y e a r later, m a d e u p f o r
t h e c r u s h ing m i d d le g a m e d e feats, such as t h e B r i l l i a n c y
P rize loss at Nu rembe rg 1896.
H e re we will loo k at a game n ot published often
d u e to fou r slight m i s t a k es by Las k e r:
Whe n i t c a m e d o w n to t h e e n d g a m e a f te r m o v e 31,
e a ch side h a v i n g f i v e p a w n s, p l u s a k n i g h t f o r P i llsb u r y v s
a bishop for Las k e r, t h e p l a y h a d to be e x act.
P I LL S BU R Y -LA S K E R , S T . P E T E R S B U R G 1 8 95/9 6
1 e 4 , e S 2 N f3 , N c6 3 B bS, N f6 4 0-0, N x e 4 S d4,
Be7 6 Qe2, N d6 7 B x c6 , b x c6 8 d x eS, Nb7 9 b 3 , 0-0 10 B b 2 ,
dS 1 1 e x d6, c x d 6 12 N b d 2 , B f6 13 B x f6, Q x f6 1 4 R fe 1 , N cS
1 5 N e 4 , N x e 4 1 6 Q x e 4 , B d7? (Be t t e r 16 ... d 5 to f i g h t for the
c e n t e r) 1 7 c4, R fe 8 1 8 Qd4, R x e l ch 1 9 R x e 1 , Q x d4 2 0
N x d4, K f8 2 1 K f l , aS? (th i s p a w n w i l l b e c o m e w e a k on a5)
2 2 a4, R e S 2 3 R x e 8 c h , Kxe8 24 Ke2 , Kd8 25 Kdl, Kc7 2 6
Kc3, Kb6 2 7 f4, b S? 2 8 h3, KcS 2 9 fS, g 6 3 0 f6, d S 3 1 c x d S ,
K x d S 3 2 N f3 ! , Ke6 33 N dl , Kx f6? (B l a c k shou l d have t ri e d
33 . c5 follo w e d b y 34 B c6) 3 4 N c4, h4 3 5 N x x a5 , K e 5 3 6
N c4 c h , K f4 3 7 N b 6 , B f5 3 8 K d 4 , B e 4 3 9 a S , cSc h 4 0 Kx cS,
B x gl 41 a6, gS 42 N d 5 ch, Ke5 43 Ne3, B f3 4 4 b 4 , Ke6 45
b S , Bel 46 N dS 1 - 0 .
.

...

28

P i llsbury The E x traordin ary

CHAPTER FOUR
OTH ER STRUGGLES
Also m e m orable w e re P i l lsbu r y's a n n u a l st ruggles
with B l a c k b u r n e o n t h e f i rst b o a r d of t h e A n g l o-A m e r i c a n
c a b l e m atches. B e c a u se o f t h e i r l e n g t h , t h e y w e re u s u a l l y
a m o n g t h e l a s t to b e f i n i s h e d a n d t h e f a t e o f t h e m a tch
w as already decided. S t i ll, they fou g h t on a n d B l a c k b u r n e
h a d t h e u p p e r h a n d w i t h w i n s i n 1896 a n d 1 899, losi n g
o n l y i n 190 1 .
Tou r n a m e n t chess w a s s t i l l rela t i v e l y y o u n g a t t h i s
t i m e a n d t h i s m a y e x p l a i n t h e a p p a r e n t b i tte r n e ss o f t hese
le n g t h y s t ruggles. G r a n d m aster d ra w s did not come i n to
p ro fessi o n a l fash i o n u n t i l about 19 1 0 . Moreov e r, t h e re w a s
r e l at i v e l y l i t t l e o p e n i n g a n d e n d game t h e o r y .
You d i d n ' t t r u s t y o u r opponent, for e x a m p le , t o
h o l d a "book d ra w " e v e n i f h e w as a world c l ass p l a y e r. A t
V i e n n a 1 898, P i l l sb u r y w a s a p a w n d o w n i n a r o o k e n d i ng
agai n st A m os B u r n . B u t a l l t h e p a w n s w e re on t h e k i ngsi d e
a n d soon t h e fam i l i a r " P h i li d o r D ra w i n g P os i t i o n" w as
r e a c h e d . Wh i t e's k i n g a n d sole r e m a i n i n g p a w n r e a c h e d t h e
f i f t h ran k , b u t cou l d n ot sa fe l y ad v an ce b e c a u se P i llsb u r y
h a d p l a ced h i s rook o n t h e s i x t h ran k. To d a y s u c h a
position w o u l d r a r e l y be r e a c h e d i n g r an d m as t e r c h e ss. ( I t
w o u l d h a v e been d r a w n long be fore.) B u t at V i e n n a, B u r n
i n sisted on p l a y i n g o n for a n o t h e r 2 9 m o v es, u n t i l , w i t h
o n l y a k i n g a n d p a w n aga i n st a k i ng, h e s t a l e m a t e d t h e
A m e ri c a n .
More o v e r, c h e ss w a s a g e n t l e m e n ' s g a m e t h e n . "All
a n a l y s i s a n d consu l t a t i o n of adj ou r n e d games i s forb i d
d e n " , s a i d the rules o f P a r i s 1 9 0 0
" w i t h t h e t h r e a t of e x
p u ls i o n f rom t h e tou r n a m e n t". A n d also t h i s r u l e: "All po
l i t i c a l or religious d i scussions are forbi d d e n u n d e r t h re at
o f i m m e d i ate e x p u lsion " . T h e com p e t i tors i n a tou r n a m e n t
--

C h apter Fo ur: O t h e r Struggles

29

w e re e x p ected to act l i k e h o n o rable m e m b e r s of a s m a l l

m e n's club. At t h e e n d o f t h e d a y , r a t h e r t h a n a n a l y z i n g
o n e anot h e r's ope n i n gs f o r t h ei r n e x t m e e t i n g, t h e y o ften
com p a r e d ideas by p l a y i n g t a n d e m or consu l t a t i o n games.
P i llsbu r y , for e x a m p l e , cou l d b e fou n d p l a y i n g a t B l a c k
born e's si de to b e a t T c h i go r i n a n d S c h i f fe rs a t H astings
1 895 or Stei n i tz and S c h i f fe r s a t N u r e m b e r g 1 896.
Be fore e n d i n g h i s se con d E u ro p e a n tour, Pil lsb u r y
e n te re d a 1 2 - m a n i n te rn at i o n a l at B u d a pest. T h i s w a s t h e
s c e n e o f t h e fi rst g r e a t result b y t h e H u n ga r i a n R u do l f
C h a rouse k , w h o sh a re d f i rst w i t h T c h i gori n , a p o i n t a h e a d
o f P i llsb u r y . P i llsb u r y a l s o p l a y e d a s h o rt m atch a g a i n st
B e rthold Englisch, a t a l e n t e d A u s t r i a n t h e n a t h i s p e a k .
O n l y one o f t h e f i v e gam es, a l l d ra w n , su r vi v e s. C u r i o u s l y ,
C h a rouse k , Englisch a n d P i llsb u r y w o u l d a l l d i e b e fore
t h e i r t i m e . Englisch was 46 w h e n h e fell f a t a l l y i l l a y e a r
l a t e r, a n d C h a ro u s e k w a s o n l y 26 w h e n h e d i e d i n 1900.
B a c k h o m e , P i l lsb u r y s p e n t a l l of 1 897 in A m e r i c a.
T h e fi rst o r d e r o f b u s i ness w a s a m a t c h w it h t h e o f fi ci a l
A m e r i c a n C h am p i o n , J a c k son Wh i pps S h o w alte r. H i s H ast
i ngs su ccess h a d m a d e it c le a r Pillsb u r y was t h e best
A m e r i c a n p l a y e r as of 1895. H e h a d , i n f a ct, p l a y e d fi rst
board on the U.S. t e a m in t h e f i rst Ne w n e s T ro p h y Cable
Match w i th Great Britain i n 1 896.
But the issue of the o f fi c i a l A m e r i c a n t i tle n e v e r
a rose u n t i l t w o y e a rs late r w h en S h o w a l t e r f e l t com p e l l e d
to c h a l l e n ge P i llsb u r y i n a t i tle m at c h . T h e y agreed to p l a y
for a s t a k e o f $ 1000.00 i n New Y o r k e a r l y i n 1 897 a n d t h e
g rou n d r u l e s w e re t y p i c a l for t h e d a y -- d r a w s n ot count
i n g, t h e w i n n e r would be t h e fi rst to d e feat his opponent
seven tim es. If t h e score re a c h e d 6 - 6 , t h e w i n n i n g score
w a s a d v a n ce d to t e n w i n s. B u t i f i t re a c h e d 9 - 9, t h e
m atch w o u l d be d e c l a re d d ra w n .
"I w a s n o t see k i n g t h e m a tch," P i llsb u r y s a i d o n i t s
e v e. "An d e v en i f I s h o u l d w i n , I s h a l l l e a v e S h o w al t e r i n
possession o f h i s c h a m p i o n s h i p title. I a m n ot i n s e a r c h o f

Plll1bury The Extraordinary

ao

lftY tltlo hut one," he ad d e d , and n o one n e e d e d h i n ts i n

rlaurlng out wh i c h o n e h e h a d i n m i n d .

Bu t S h o w a lter w a s one o f t hose u n fortunate oppo

nents w h o a l w a y s see m e d to p l a y h i s best a g a i n s t P i llsb ur y .
T h e m atch w a s a b a c k a n d forth b a ttle, w i th o n l y three
dra w s out of 21 games. Few of the games h a v e been
m e n t i o n e d . T w o of them t u rn e d u p i n I m re K oe n i g ' s
c l a s s i c stu d y o f ope n i n g e v o l u t i on , Chess From Morplly to
B o t v inn i k -- a n d both are v i ctories b y S h o w a l t e r on t h e
Black side o f a Queen's Gambit Declined.
T h e score d i d , i n fact, re a c h t h e 6-6 d e a d l o c k - - an d
h a d been 6
5 i n S h o walte r' s f a v or at one p o i n t . T h e y
p l a y e d on u n ti l , w i t h t h e score 9 - 8 -- a n d S h o w a l ter n e e d
i n g one w i n to dra w t h e m a t c h -- P i l lsbury broke t hro u g h .
( fi v e m at c h e s fo r t h e U . S. C h a m p i o n s h i p h a ve b e e n h e l d
s i n ce t h e n a n d o n l y t h e Mars h all-Ed w a r d L a s k er struggle
of 1923 w as as close.) Wi th Wh i t e , P i llsbury won t h e 21st
and final game i n 4 0 m ov e s, t h a nks to a m i d d le g a m e b l u n
d er t h a t cost S h o w alter a p i e ce .
-

Wh e t h er h e a c k n o w l e d ge d i t o r not, P il l sb u r y w a s
c h a m p i o n o f t h e A m e r i cans. H e h e l d t h e t i t l e u n t i l h i s
d eath, reign i n g n i n e y e ars - - a period e x ce e d e d o n l y b y
P a u l Morp h y , Fra n k M a rs h a l l a n d S a m m y R e s h e v s k y .

C hapter Five: Li fe o f a Pro fessi o nal

31

CHAPTER FIVE
LIFE OF A PROFESSIONAL
Tod a y a t y p i cal gra n d m aste r p l a y s b e t w e e n se v e n t y
a n d on e h u n d re d g a m e s a y e a r, m ost o f t h e m i n i n t ern a
t i o n a l tou r n a m e n ts. H e can p l a y in a n y of a n u m b e r of lo
c a l , wee k e n d open tourn a m e n t s i f he w i s h e s. B u t in P i l ls
bury's d a y , t h e re w e re v e r y few e v e n ts. In 1897 P i l lsbu r y
m a y o n l y h a v e p l a y e d 29 s e r i o u s games, i n cl u d i n g a s m a l l
t e a m e v e n t i n u p s t a t e Ne w Y or k . H o w d i d s u c h a pro fes
sion a l m a k e a l i v i n g?
O n e a n s w er w as t o g i v e e x h i b i t i on s, a n d P i l lsbury
w as one of t h e f i n est e x h i b i tors of his age. H e took on op
p o n e n ts at chess a n d c h e c k ers, p l a y i n g some games b l i n d
f o l d e d -- a n d som e t i m e s t a k i n g p art i n a h a n d o f w h ist.
(His skill as a card p l a y e r i s not known, but h e w a s re
garded as one of t w e n t y best c h e c k er p l a y ers in A m e ri ca.)
P i llsbu r y w as, in f a ct, a great e n t e rt a i n e r. A n d also
a t i reless one. D u r i n g 1901 he tra v e l e d for s e v e n m o n t h s,
c o v e r i n g the U.S. w i t h m o re t h a n 150 e x h i b i t i on s a n d log
g i n g more t h a n 40,000 m i les.
But U. S. e x h i b i ti o n tou rs, be fore J ose C a p ab l a n c a
m astered t h e a r t a d e c a d e l a t e r, w e re re l a t i v e l y fe w a n d
d isorga n i ze d . I n tru t h, a p r i m a r y s o u r c e o f P i l lsbu r y ' s i n
come, e v e n a t t h e h e i g h t o f h i s powe rs, w a s to h i d e h i m
sel f w i t h i n t h e i m i t a t i o n cloc k w ork m a c h i n e r y t h a t passed
for the chess autom aton, Ajeeb.
Aj eeb w as o n e o f t h e 19t h ce n t u r y w o n d e rs, p a r t
B a r n u m a n d p art c arp e n t r y , t h a t pu rported t o be a me
c h a n i c a l chessp l a y er. A t fairs, e x h i b i t i o n s and s i d e s h o ws,
Aj eeb w o u l d t a k e on a l l comers at chess o r c h e c k e rs. T h e
m ac h i ne appeared to be a l i fe-sized d u m m y o f an I n d i a n
pote n tate, s i t t i n g u pon a m ass o f p i stons a n d w h eels t h a t

Pillsbury T h e E x traordi n ary

were bri e f l y re v e aled to the a u d i e n ce. T h e m ac h i n e n o d

ded w h e n g i v i n g c h e c k . I t a n n ou n ce d m ate w i t h th ree
nods. And i t d i d t h a t o fte n s i n ce Aj eeb was strong. Act u
a l l y , a Maste r w as h i d d e n i n t h e cab i n e t, c o n c e a l e d i n
w h a t m u s t h a v e b e e n a n e x t re m e l y u n comfortable postu re.

F a r f rom bei n g a f r e a k s h o w , Aj eeb h a d some re

spect i n t h e chess com m u n i t y . It had been c o n t r o l l e d in the
1880s and 1 890s by a v a ri e t y of m i n o r m aste rs, i n clu d i n g
C h a rl e s Mah le, t h e n o n e o f t h e best U. S . p l a y e rs, b y A l
b e r t H o d ges, S h o w a l t e r ' s p r e d e cesso r as U . S. C h a m p i o n ,
a n d b y C. F. B u r i l l e , a n o t he r o f P i llsbu r y's M a n d a r i n
f r i e n d s from Boston. T h e p a y w asn' t bad - - H o d ge s re
cei v e d $5 0.00 to $70.00 a week when h e o p e r a t e d Aj eeb at
the E d e n Musee, on We st 23r d S t reet in M a n h a t t a n .
E v e n w h e n h e w as o n e o f t h e w o r l d's t w o best pla y
e rs, Pillsb u ry w a s a l s o Aj eeb. Th e re are d i ffe r i n g a c c o u n t s
o f e x a c t l y w h e n h i s ten u re as t h e m ac h i n e ' s o p e r a t o r r a n .
I t w a s e i t h e r 1 898 to 1904, 1 890 to 1 9 0 0 ( a c co r d i n g to
P e c k o v e r) o r 1 893 to 1900 , accord i n g to K e n n e t h Wh yld.
Among its oppon e nts a t the tim e were 0. H e n r y and S a r a h
B e rn h a r d t at c h e s s a n d , p e r h aps late r, C h r i s t y M a t h e wson
a t c h e c k e rs.
H o d ges once t o l d the story of v i s i t i n g the Eden
Musee som e t i m e a ft e r l e a ving ch ess for b u s i n ess a n d f i n d
i n g t h e m a c h i n e i n o p e r a t i v e. A n a m a te u r o p p o n e n t h a d
left his q u e e n h an g i n g - - b u t Aj eeb w ou l d n ' t m o v e . A b i t
of discreet i n v estigation r e v e a l e d t h a t P i l l sb u r y h a d d r u n k
a l a rge a m o u n t of b e e r a n d p assed o u t . A w a k e n e d , t h e m a
c h i n e g rabb e d t h e q u e e n a n d h i s opponent res i g n e d w i t h
o u t k n o w i n g w h at h a d g o n e o n .
Be fore h e re tu rn e d to Eu rope, P illsb u r y g r a n ted
S h o w a l t e r's request for a r e t u r n m at c h in Feb r u a r y 1 898.
The rules w e re i d e n t i c a l to t h ose in the fi rst -- e x ce p t t his
t i m e t h e U. S. t itle w a s spe cifi cally at sta k e . P illsb u r y
p l a y e d a bit m o re c a u t i o u s l y a n d , w i t h t h e l e i s u r e l y p a ce,

C h apter Five: Li fe o f a Pro fessi o n a l

33

it took n e a r l y si x w e e k s for h i m to p r e v a i l . The f i n a l score

w a s se v e n wins to t h ree, with two d ra w s.
S h o w a l t e r w as a l w a y s a h a rd g a m e f o r h i m , e v e n
w i t h Wh i t e i n a Q u e e n's G a m b i t , as t h e i r g a m e s f rom V i
e n n a 1 8 9 8 , P a ris 1900 a n d t h e t w o m at c h e s s h o w . S u f fi c e i t
to s a y t h a t S h o w a l t e r's best resu l t i n h i s l o n g c hess c a r e e r
w a s h i s n a rrow l o s s to P i l l sb u r y i n 1 8 9 7 , j u s t as t h e f i n est
accom p l i s h m e n t of J o h n B a r r y had been h i s n a rrow loss to
P i llsb u r y five y e a rs b e fore.
The c h a m p ion's n e x t serious e v e n t began i n M a y
1 8 9 8 w i t h t h e m a m m o t h tou r n a m e n t i n V i e n n a, o n e of t h e
longest a n d m o s t g r u e l l i n g e v e n t s e v e r orga n i ze d . P i llsb u r y
began t h e d o u b l e- r o u n d e ve n t i m p re ss i v e l y , k n o c k i n g o f f
m i nor m asters H o ra t i o C aro, P. L i p k e , A . S c h wa r z (in 19
m o v e s) a n d A. H al p r i n ( a b r i l l i a n c y p ri ze) i n t h e f i rst fou r
rou n d s. But t h e n e x t stage began h a rd -- t h e u s u a l d i f fi c u lt
d r aw w i t h S h o w a l t e r, a d i sappoi n t i n g loss to M a r o c z y , a
q u e e n- a n d- p a w n e n d i n g w i n agai n st S c h l e c h t e r t h a t w o u l d
e ve n t u a l l y m a k e t h e e n d ga m e a n t h ologies, a n d a h or r i b l e
t u r n a ro u n d i n a n e a r l y - w o n p os i t i o n agai n st T c h i g o r i n . B u t
a n ot h e r stre a k o f w i n s foll o w e d a n d h e w a s t i e d w i t h T a r
rasch, w h o m h e h a d d e feated, a ft e r t h e e n d o f t h e f i rst
h al f of the n e a r l y t h ree-mo n t h tou r n a m e n t .

JAN OWS K I vs P ILLS B U R Y

V I E N NA 1 8 9 8

H e m i g h t h a v e w o n t h e e ve n t easi l y i f i t w e re n o t
for a fe w m i s h aps i n t h e tou r n a m e n t' s l a t e st ages. O n e
came i n the 21st rou n d a ga i n st J an o w s k i i n a game t h a t
began w i t h :
1 e4
2 f4
3 e x dS

eS
dS
e4

J4

Plll1bury The Extrao rdin ary

4 d3
5 dxe4
6 Qe2

N f6
Nxe4
Q x d5

7 N d2
8 N h 3!?
9 c3

f5
N c6
Be6

10 Nxe4

fx e 4

Chapter Five: L i fe o f a Profess i o n a l

1 1 N f2
1 2 g3
1 3 B g2

0-0-0
BcS

1 3 ...

e3!

O f fe r i n g a p o w e r ful quee n s a c r i f i c e (14

e x f2ch 1 5 K fl, B x d 5 ) . J an o w ski reje cte d it w i th:

35

Bxd5,

14 Ne4

A t t h i s m o m e n t t h e A m e ri can could h a v e followed

with 1 4 Rhe 8!, a g a i n o f fe r i n g t h e quee n in v a riation s
such as 1 5 N f6 , Q x g2 1 6 Q x g2 , g x f6 1 7 Q e 2 , B f5 1 8 Qh5 ,

B c2.

But i n st e a d , he p l ayed the com p a r a t i v e ly m ore

force ful ( a n d see m i n g ly less r i s ky) k nigh t s a c ri fice:
1 4 ...

Nb4?

Wh i c h all o w e d Wh i t e to con solid ate and win followi n g:

15
16
17
18

cxb4
N c3
B x e3
b x c3

B x b 4 ch
QcS
B x c3 c h
Qx c3 c h

3fi

Pillsbury T h e Extraordinary

1 9 K f2
20 Rhcl
21 R ab1

Rhe8
Qa3
b6

22 B c6
2 3 R c3!

B d7

Wh i te w i n s .
N e v e rthe less P i llsbu r y w as i n fi rst p l a c e , a h a l f
p oi n t a h e a d o f T a r ra s c h , w i t h t h ree rou n d s to go w h e n h e
bot c h e d a m i d dlegame a g a i n s t B u rn a n d l o s t . T a r r asch
caught up w i t h him, f o r c i n g a fou r-game p l a y o f f t o d e c i d e
t h e 6,000-crown fi rst p r i ze. I n t h e k e y th i rd p l a y o f f game,
T a rrasch avoided P i l lsbu r y's Berlin D e fense a n d w o n with
t h e Wh i te s i d e of a Fou r K n i g h t s G a m e .

C h apter Five: L i fe o f a Pro fessio n a l

37

E v e n th ough T a r r asc h m e t 1 d 4 , dS 2 c 4 , e 6 3 N c3
w i t h 3 b6?! i n t h e fourth a n d f i n al g a m e , P illsb u r y got n o
a d v a n tage a n d i n f act w o u l d h a v e ce r t a i nl y l o s t i t i f t h e
G e r m a n h a d n e e d e d a f ull poi n t to t a k e fi rst p r i ze.
..

Th i s w as o n e of fou r great resu lts ach i e v e d d u r i n g

1 898- 1900, the o t h e rs com i n g a t Lon d o n , P a r i s a n d M u n ic h .
O n l y Las k e r w as able to f i n i s h a h e a d o f h i m at t h ese
tourn a m e n ts, w h ich d re w the fi nest p l a y e r s in the w o r l d .
A n d i t rein force d t h e v i e w t h a t P i l lsbu r y s hould be f i rst
in line t o ch alle n ge f o r the w o rld ch am pionsh i p .
L as k e r h a d been v i rtuall y o u t o f c h e s s b e t w e e n h i s
return m a tch w i t h S t e i n i t z i n 1896-7 a n d L o n d o n 1 899, a n d
h e s h o w e d little i n t e rest i n r i s k i n g h i s t i tl e against a
younger m a n , e v e n o n e li k e P illsb u r y , j us t four y e a rs
y o u n ge r. T h e re w a s n o w o r l d chess fe d e r a t i o n i n t h ose
d a y s and a ch a m p i on could reject all c h alle n ges for a
d ecade. L a s k e r d i d j ust t h a t . H e d i d n ' t d e fe n d h i s t i t l e
again u n t il 190 7, w h e n P illsb u r y w a s long d e a d .
A n d w h a t w o u l d h a v e h ap pe n e d i f P i l l sb u r y a n d
L a s k e r h a d me t d u ri n g t h i s period? L a s k e r' s tou r n a m e n t
results w e re su p e r i o r, b u t h i s g a m e s w i t h P i l lsbu r y alone
w e re uncon v i nc i n g. A com p a ri son of t h e i r rel a t i v e
s t r e n g t h s a n d w e a k n esses r e v e a l s sh a r p d i f f e r e n ces. P i lls
bury w a s n o t h e oretici a n , b u t greate r d e p t h i n his fe w
o p e n i ngs o f p re f e re nce i n d i cates t h e A m e rican would be
on fi r m e r grou n d in the e a r l y stages of g a m e s. I n t h e i r
fourteen games w i t h o n e a n o t h e r, Pillsb u r y usuall y ob
t a i n e d a slight e d ge w i t h Wh i te a n d u s u al l y e q u a l i z e d e f
fortle ssly w i t h B l ac k . ( T h at Q u e e n ' s G a mbi t D ecli n e d loss
at St. Pete rsb u rg w a s t h e o u t s t a n ding e xce p t i o n .)
At t h e o t h e r e x tr e m e i s t h e e n d ga m e . L a s k e r' s s k ill,
p a r t icularly in i n fe r i o r e n d i ngs, w as s u p e rb. P illsb u r y's
abi l i t y in the e n d ga m e h as bee n clou d e d by t h e p a ssage o f
t i me. H e w a s i n f act a n e x cell e n t tech n ici a n . A t y pi c a l
g a m e , v e rsus M i e s e s at P a r i s 1 900, s h o w s h o w r e ad i l y h e
t r a d e d q u e ens.

Plllabury The Extraordinary

A ftcr Micses' customary V i en n a G a m e:

1 e4
2 N c3
3 Bc4

eS
N f6

Pillsb u r y p l a y e d t h e position li ke a re v e rs e d R u y
Lopez.
3 ...

Bb4!?

4 d3
S N ge2
6 e x dS

N c6
dS
N x d5

7 0-0
8 f4?

Be6
N x c3

C h ap t e r Five: L i fe o f a Professi o n a l

9 Nxc3

Bxc4

10 dxc4
1 1 bxc3

Bxc3!
Qxd l!

39

And soon h e had a w i n n i n g posi t i o n .

T h e greatest d i f fe r e n c e be t w e e n Las k e r an d P i lls
b u r y lies, i n e v i t abl y, i n t h e m i d dlega m e . One m an ' s lon g
s u i t w as the oth e r' s s h o r t o n e . L a s k e r w as a m a n e u v e re r , a
p s y c h ologist a n d a t e m p o r i ze r. H e w a s o ft e n a c c u s e d o f
w a i t i n g for his oppon e n t t o blu n d e r, w h e n i n f a c t h e was
w a i t i n g for t h e r i g h t moment to t a k e a c t i o n h i m s e l f. P ills
bu r y , on the oth e r h a n d , w as a bold pla n n e r, a m i d d le g a m e
m a n o f action w h o h a t e d t o w aste t i m e a n d s h i ft w o o d .
I m p at i e n c e w as h i s gre atest p roble m .
B u t h e o ft e n m a d e u p f o r t h i s w i t h i m ag i n ation.
"An i n c re d i ble combi n a t i v e gi ft w as h i s g r e a t strength,"
s a i d Fin e . Sometimes h e fou n d i de a s so s tu n n i n g t h at i t
o v e r w h elmed a m o r e p racti cal a p p roach.
H i s w i n over Wol f a t Monte C a r l o 1903 w as o n e i n
s t a n ce. Emplo y i n g t h e b y - n o w - n otorious P illsb u r y A t t a c k ,
h e obt a i n e d an o v e r w h elm i n g attack b y t h e 2 5 t h m o v e . O n
t h e n e x t t u r n h e s a c r i f i c e d a bishop, but i t could n ' t be
t a k e n . Wol f, i n s t e a d , a t t a c k e d Wh ite's Q u e e n . T h e Ameri
c a n came b a c k w i t h a q u e e n s a c r i f i c e t h a t f i n i s h e d t h e

40

P i l lsbury T h e Extraordin ary

game off in six m o ves. P i l lsbu r y was d u l y a w a r d e d the

Brilli a n c y P rize.

But t h e n a short t i m e l a t e r , a n a m a te u r p l a y e r f rom

Pittsbu rgh d e m on strated that P i ll sbu r y ' s s a c r i f i ce , g i v e n as
26 Qxb6! at t h e t i m e , w a s re a l l y 2 6 Qxb6?!, s i n ce h e h a d
t w o oth e r m o v e s w h i c h w o u l d h a v e d e c i d e d t h e g a m e e v e n
faster.
Lasker, n o t know for f a n t a s y v a r i at i o n s , w as i n
s t e a d a h a r d h e a d e d p r a g m a tist w h o d i d n ot d e v e l o p s u c h
t a c t i c a l v i s i o n . B ut he w as a gre ate r d e fe n d e r, p a r t i c u l a r l y
in p assi v e positi ons. A n o t h e r factor i n a m atch i s m e ntal
d i s c i p l i n e . Cou l d P i ll sbu r y h a v e o v e rcome h i s i n sti n ct i v e
opti m i sm? " H e n e v e r p l a y e d for t h e score," s a i d F r a n k
M a rs h a l l , a d d i n g t h a t t h i s a t t i t u d e w as n ot p a r t o f a p ro
fessional's p ragm a t i s m . Pillsb u r y regu l a r l y re f u s e d d ra w
o f fe r s h e s h o u l d h av e a c ce pte d . B u t anoth e r con t e m p o r a r y ,
Wi l l i a m N a p i e r, com p a r e d Pillsb u r y to a m e mber o f t h e
n e x t ge n e rati on, Ale x a n d e r A le k h i ne , i n h i s t a k i n g o f ris k s
to a v o i d d ra w i s h positions.
In any event, a m atch be t we e n t h e two m e n would
su rel y h a v e bee n close r th an the L as k e r-M a rsh a l l s h utou t
o f 1 9 0 7 a n d the 8-3 trou n c i n g o f T a r rasch i n 1908.
T h e C a n a d i a n h i st o r i a n N a t h a n D i v i n s k y su ggests
t h at h a d P i l lsbu r y p l a y e d a n d won a m a t c h from L as k e r,
h e w o u l d h a v e risen abov e h i s conte m p o r a r i e s, as L a s k e r
d i d a ft e r 1 900 o r A le k h i n e i n t h e e a r l y 1930s. (An d , w e
m i g h t a d d tod a y , a s An atoly K a r p o v d i d i n the l ate 1 970s) .
" T h e re is a great d e a l o f ch ess p l a y i n g powe r," Di v i n s k y
w r i tes, " i n t h e m e re w e a r i n g o f t h e c r o w n o f ch ess."
But, because h e d i d n ' t be at Las k e r i n the contest
that
m attered,
Divinsky
s u ggests,
P i l l sbu r y
was
"su p p resse d " by t h e world c h a m p i o n , t h e way C a p ab l a n c a
w e n t i n t o d e c l i n e a ft e r losi n g to A l e k h i n e . A n d P i l lsbu r y ' s
results -- w h e t h e r a f fe c t e d by h e a l t h , p s y c holog y o r i m -

C h ap t e r Five: Li fe o f a Professio n a l

41

pro v i n g r i v als -- began t o d i p s l i g h t ly a fter t h e turn o f the

ce n t u r y .
O n e o f t h ose r i v als w as M a r s h a l l , f i v e y e a rs h i s j u
n i o r. T h e y h a d m e t d uri n g t h e Montreal e x h ib i t i o n tou r o f
1 8 93, b u t i n i t i a l l y f a c e d o n e a n ot h e r i n a se r i o u s g a m e a t
t h e P a r i s tou r n a m e n t o f 1900. P i l lsb u r y rem i n d e d the ris
ing young A m e r i c a n of t h e i r e a r l i e r g a m e and M a rs h a l l
told h i m to get h i s re v e n ge . B u t M a rs h a l l w o n i n 26 m o v e s.
( P i l l sb u r y lost a g a i n to M a rs h a l l i n a K i n g's G a mb i t a t V i
e n n a 1 903 o n l y b e c a u se , w h e n h e w a s a roo k u p , h e re
fused for se v e r a l moves to return m a t e r i a l in the face o f
M ars h a ll's ferocious a t t a c k .)
P a r i s w a s a n o t h e r L as k e r t r i u m p h , a n d for P i lls
b u r y, a d i s p i r i t i n g 85- m o v e loss to the w o rld c h a m p i o n . He
f i n i s h e d i n second p l a ce -- b u t a substan t i a l 2 1/2 p o i n t s
b e h i n d t h e Germ a n . A m o n t h l a t e r P i l l sb ury w a s i n M u
n i ch a n d L a s k er w asn't. T h i s tourn a m e n t s h a p e d u p as a
battle b e t w e e n t h e A m er i c a n , S c h l e c h t e r o f A u s t r i a a n d
t h e H u n g a r i a n M a ro c z y . A l l t h ree t i e d for first p l ace w i t h
1 2-3 scores. P i llsb u ry t h e n b e a t M a roczy with Bla c k i n 2 5
m o v e s i n t h e i r fi rst pla y o f f g a m e a n d h i s o p p o n e n t t h e n
d ropped out o f t h e e v e n t . P i l lsbu r y h a d n ' t lost to a n y on e
u n t i l h i s fi rst playo f f g a m e w i t h S c h l e c h t e r, a n d a fter
w i n n i n g the second a n d d ra w i n g t w o m ore, h e ended the
e v e n t sharing t h e top pri z e with t h e "D r a w i n g M aster."

4Z

Pil lsbury T h e Extraord i n ary

CHAPTER SIX
PORTRAIT OF TH E BLI N DFOLD ART I ST
P i llsbury d i d n ' t r e t u r n to Europe for m o re t h a n a
y e a r, spen d i n g 1 9 0 1 i n min o r U.S. e v e n ts, e x hibitio n tours
and fam i l y l i fe -- be w as m a r r i e d on Jan u a r y 1 7, 1 9 0 1 . He
w o n t h e New York State C h a m pionship with a c r u shin g
score o f n i n e w i n s a n d o n e d ra w -- b e a t i n g M a rs h a l l t w ice.
February 190 1 saw h i m at Monte C a r l o for a n o t h e r
o f t h e famous casin o-based tourn a m e n ts. H e o v e r c a m e a
f i rst-roun d d i saster -- losi n g w i t h Wh i te i n 33 m o v e s to
M a roczy -- and a l a t e r upset by an obscure a m ateur n amed
Ei se nbe rg to m a n age a secon d p l a ce f i n i s h. Later t h a t
sum m e r h e a g a i n t o o k s e c o n d p rize, t h i s t i m e a t H a n o v e r
f o r t h e 13th Congress o f t h e G e r m a n C h ess Fe d e r a tion. B u t
t h e m ost rem a r k able e v e n t d u r i n g t h i s tou r n a m e n t took
p l ace on P i l lsbu r y ' s day o f f.
Followin g a 139 - m o v e d ra w w i t h H u go S u c h t i n g i n
t h e s i x t h roun d , P i llsb u r y h a d a free d a y t o sp e n d be fore
the s e v e n t h roun d . H e d e c i d e d to spen d the d a y b r e a king
t h e w o r l d bli n d fold record.
Actu all y , P i l lsbu r y broke the world b li n d fold
record th ree t i m es over t h e y e a rs. H e h a d built u p slowly,
g i ving s i x -board e x hibitions i n 1 8 9 3 , and eig h t- and t e n
b o a r d d i s p l a y s i n 1 894. D ur i n g o n e ten-bo a r d e x hibi t i o n
Pillsbu r y a n n o u n c e d m at e i n eig h t m ov e s - - a re m a r k ab l e
a c hie v e m e n t si nce h e h a d o n l y p l a y e d e l e v e n m ov e s w h e n
h e m ad e the a n n o u n ce m e n t.
T h e record w a s six te e n boa r d s, set b y Joh a n n e s
Zuke rtort i n the 1 8 70s. P i l lsbury d i d not j ust b re a k i t -- h e
s m a s h e d it, p l a y i n g t w e n t y in 1 8 9 7 . A y e a r l a t e r at t h e
M e r c a n t i l e C hess Club i n P hil a d e l p h i a, Pil l sb u r y r e p e a t e d
h i s f e a t . A n d i n h i s fin a l a chie v e m e n t , i n Moscow d ur i n g

C h apter S i x : Portrait o f t h e B l i n d fo l d Artist

43

1 902, h e push e d t h e record t o t w e n t y - t w o. It lasted for an

othe r se v e n te e n y e a rs, until b r o k e n by Reti. T h e Moscow
e x h ibition took ten h o u rs and 875 m o v es, or rough l y one
m o v e e v e r y forty secon d s and i m p resse d , among other
Muscov i tes, young A l e x a n d e r A l e k h i n e , who e v e n tu a l l y
b r o k e R e t i ' s reco r d m a n y y e a rs l a t e r.
P i llsbu r y ' s records w e re re m a r k able b e c a use o f the
con d i tions un d e r w h i ch they w e re set. T h e re have n e v e r
b e e n stan d a r d i ze d rules a n d rest r i c t i o n s for s u c h d i s p l a y s
a n d t h i s h as t h ro w n d oubt on t h e accom p l i s h m e n t s o f some
bli n d fold a r t i sts. Some c ri t i cs question J a n os Flesch's 5 2b o a r d d isplay i n 1 960 be cause o f alleged i m p ro p r i eties.
O t h e rs say t h a t t h e t w o times t h a t Miguel N aj do r f set t h e
bli n d fold record a ft e r Wo rld War I I are q u e s t i o n able be
c a u se of t h e p l a y i n g stren gth o f h i s oppon e n ts. O t h e rs h a v e
d o ubts a b o u t p r e v i o u s record-setters be cause t h e y i n sisted
on h a v i n g their o p p o n e n t s m o v e i n p r e c i se o r d e r -- Board
1 , t h e n Board 2, t h e n Board 3 so t h a t the e x h i b i ti on-gi v e r
c o u l d r e t a i n t h e v a ri o u s posi t i o n s i n p rope r s e q u e n ce. S u s
p i cions h a v e been raised about the e x t re m e length o f some
e x h ibitions -- and w h e t h e r the m aster out p l a y e d or out-sat
his oppon en ts. And n o o n e seems to k n o w how o ft e n the
great e x h i b i tors of the p ast h a v e been a l l o w e d to m a k e
m i sta kes.
But P i l lsb u r y ' s e x h ib i t i o n s h a d n o g i m m i c k s to help
him. P l a y e rs calle d out t h e i r moves w h e n e v e r they were
re a d y . T h e Ph ila delphia In q11irer of F e b r ua r y 1 , 1903 g i v e s
an accoun t o f P i l lsbu ry i n action -- " M a r v e l o us M e n t a l
Feats o f P h i l a d e l p h i a' s Wei r d C h ess P l a y e r." P i l l sb u r y si ts,
e v e r- p resent c i g a r in h a n d , in an alcove w h i l e m o v e s are
relayed t o h i m .
" ' T able 1 8 m o v e s K in g t o B i shop's S q u a re,' w o u l d
come f rom a d i s t a n t boa r d a n d P i l l sbury, s c a r c e l y w a i t i n g
to consi d e r w h a t m o v e h e s h o u l d m a k e t o c h e c k m ate a n
oppon e n t w h o h a d j ust s p e n t f i v e m i n u tes, w o ul d replay
with p e r fect t r a n q ui l i t y: ' K n i gh t t a k e s Pawn, M a te.' "

44

P i l lsbury T h e Extraordin ary

Or t a k e t h e 1 2-bo a r d d i spla y P illsbu r y g a v e at the

end o f t h e P a r i s tou r n a m e n t of 1900. Some of t h e boa r d s
w e r e h a n d l e d by t e a m s o f t w o oppon e n ts - - a n d e v e r y o n e
h a d t h e r i g h t to consult spect ators f o r a d v i ce (!) . T h e y
d i d n ' t n e e d m u c h h el p b e c a u se among t h e oppon e n ts w e re
Eugene C h at a r d , co- a u t h o r o f a gambit l i n e i n t h e F r e n c h
D e fense, a n d lon g t i m e F r e n c h star F r e d e r i c L a z a r d .
P i llsbu r y ' s r e p l i e s c a m e c ri s p l y a n d a l l t w e l v e games
w e re over i n 5 1/2 h o u rs, f ro m 8:30 i n the e v e n i n g t o 2:0 0
i n t h e m o r n i ng. H e w o n e i g h t , l o s t one a n d d re w t h ree.
Even t h e loss w a s m e m orable:
P I L L S B U RY - P A P E
1 e4
2 N c3
3 4

eS
N 6
dS

4 fxeS
5 Q 3
6 N ce2!?

Nxe4
rs
Nc6

C h apter S ix: Portrait o f t h e B l i n d fo l d A r t i s t

7 d4
8 N h3?
9 Qb3

Be7
Nb4!
cS!

10 dxcS
1 1 Q c3
12 Q d2

NxcS!
d4
Ne4!

45

P l l labury T h e E x traord i n ary

13 Qdl

d3!

Wh i te Resigns.
T h a t brings us b a c k t o H ano v e r 1 902. On the f re e
d a y , P i l lsbu ry w anted to p l a y 2 1 opponents. B u t t h e y w e re
not j u st any opponents: h e w a n te d t h e strongest a v a i l able.
H e e v entu a l l y faced a field composed m a i n l y of m i n o r
m aste rs. T h e y w e re o f fe r e d p r i ze s i f t h e y cou l d w in o r
d ra w . P l a y e rs w h o h a v e g i v en blin d fold s i m u l s o ften s a y
t h e h a rdest p a rt i s n o t k e e p ing all t h e pos i t i ons in t h e i r
h e a d -- but find ing g o o d m o v es. T h e q u a l i t y o f t h e opposi
t i on h a s a great i mpact on t h i s. P i l lsbu r y ' s opponents t h a t
Ju l y d a y incl u d e d Ossi p B e rnste in, E r i c h C o h n an d Jorgen
M o l l e r -- e a c h among t h e st ronge r y o u n g m asters o f t h e
e ra. T h e A me r i c an' s f i n a l s c o r e , regi stered in 1 1 1/2 hou rs,
was not o v e rl y i m p ressi v e
3 w ins, 1 1 d ra w s and 7 losses.
But the l e v e l of his opposition h as ne v e r been a p p roa c h e d
i n a l a rge blind fold s i m u l .
--

T h e In quirer a d d s t h a t " P i l lsbu r y cannot e x p l ain t h e

reason for h i s m a r velous powe rs, b u t s a y t h a t w h en t h e
m o v e o f a p l a y e r i s announced h e i m m e d i a t e l y r e cei v e s a
v i v i d p h otograph o f i t , w i th a re c u r ring i m p ression o f h i s
o wn p r e v i ou s move." N o r cou l d h e re a d i l y e x plain h i s gi ft
f o r non-chess d i s p l a y s o f m ental powe rs, su c h as mu l t i p l y
ing, a d d ing and d i v i d ing la rge sums w i t h in se conds a fte r
t h e figu res w e re g i v en t o h i m . People w h o assu m e d h i s
s k i lls w e re ent i re l y related to m athemati cs w e re su r p ri sed
b y his v e rbal m e m o r y . At one e x h ib i t i o n , in L ondon d u r
ing 1899, h e w a s g i v en a long list o f uncom m on w o r d s,
p ro p e r n a m e s and p h rases:
Ant i p hologistine, p e r i oste u m, t a k a d i astase, p l asmon,
a m b rosi a, Th re l k e l d , streptococcus, stap h y lococcus, m i c ro
coccus, p l asmod i u m , M i ssissi p p i , F re inhe i t, P h i l a d e l p h i a,
C incinnati, a t h l e t i cs, no w a r, E t c h enbe rg, A me r i c an, R u s
s i an, p h i losop h y , P i e t Potge l t e r' s R ost, S a l a m agun d i ,

C h apter S ix: Portrait o f t h e B l i n d fo l d A rtist

47

O o m i si l le cootsi, B a n gm a m v a te, S c h leete r' s N e k , M a n z i n

y a m a, theosop h y , c a t e c h i s m , M a dj esoom alops.
P i l lsb u r y took a l o n g l o o k at the list, p l a y e d his si
m u ltaneous e x h ib i t i o n , and a ft e r w a r d s r e c i t e d t h e e n t i re
l i s t - - f o r w a r d a n d ba c k w a r d s. T h e follo w i n g d a y h e re
p e ated t h e l ist.

48

P i l lsbury T h e Extraordin ary

CHAPT ER SEV EN
FINAL STEPS
P i l l sb u r y ' s last t r i p to Eu rope r e v e a l e d f e w h i n ts o f
h i s d e cl i n i n g p o w e rs. I n F e b r u a r y 1 903 h e w o n h i s f i rs t
fou r games a t Monte C a rlo, i n cl u d i n g a 23- m o v e w i n w i t h
B l a c k o v e r S c h l e c h t e r . L ate r losses t o T a r r a s c h , M a rs h a l l
a n d M i e se s d e p r i v e d h i m o f a h i g h e r p r i ze b u t h e m a n aged
a highly c r e d i t ab l e third p l a ce , b e h i n d T a r ra s c h a n d
Maroczy.
T w o m o n t h s late r h e w as i n V i e n n a for o n e o f t h e
rem a r k ab l e " G a m b i t T o u r n a m e n ts" t h at w e re h eld b e fore
Wo rld War I . The p l a y e rs w e re rest r i c t e d to a s m a l l n u m b e r
o f l i n es, s u c h as t h e B i s h o p ' s a n d Allgaie r G a m b i ts. T h i s
w as a b i t a fa r f rom P i llsbu r y ' s p r e ferred sol i d o p e n i n gs,
a n d h a l f o f h i s si x w i n s c a m e w i t h t h e B l a c k p i e ces. S t i l l ,
h i s fou rth p l a c e b e h i n d s u c h c a r e e r gam b i t e e r s as T ch i g
o r i n and M a rsh a l l w as no d i sgrace. A m at c h w i t h T c h i g
o r i n h a d been p l a n n e d f o r 1 9 0 3 , b u t i t fell t h rough a n d
P i l l sb u r y h a d to r e t u r n h ome.
H i s V i e n n a res u l t w as t h e f i rst t i m e si n ce 1 8 9 3 t h a t
P i l l sb u r y h ad f a i l e d to f i n i s h as h i g h as t h i r d . I n e i gh te e n
tou r n a m e n ts, h e h a d p l a c e d f i rs t o r secon d i n t e n . B u t i n
h i s f i n a l e v e n t, C a m b r i dge S p r i n gs 1 9 0 4 , h e w a s u n re cog
n i zable. T h i s tou r n a m e n t i n We stern P e n n s y l v a n i a was t h e
st rongest A m e r i c a n e v e n t i n a d e c a d e a n d i t s h o u l d h a v e
b e e n a s h o w case f o r a h e alth y P i ll sb u r y . Y e t i n t h e secon d
r ou n d h e m a d e a s t r a n ge c h o i c e o f ope n i n g: h e p l a y e d
w h a t w o u l d l a t e r be c a l l e d t h e B l a c k s i d e o f t h e P i rc D e
fense, A u s t r i a n A t t a c k , a g a i n s t Marsh all. P i l lsbu r y w a s
q u i te u n f am i l i a r w i t h t h e l i n e ' s s u b t l e t i e s a n d h e w as lost
by the s i x te e n t h m o v e . He was m a ted on the t w e n t y - t h i r d .
F o r t h e r e s t o f t h e tou r n a m e n t h e r e v e a l e d o n l y
t o u c h e s o f h i s p ast sup re m a c y . H e l o s t to M i eses, u s u a l l y

C h apter Seven: F i n a l Steps

49

o n e of his f a v o ri t e p u n c h i n g bags, i n t h i rt y - f i v e m o v e s o f
a T h ree K n ig hts' G a m e , a n d t o t h e l i t t l e - k n o w n T . F .
L a w re n ce i n a t h i rt y - o n e - m o v e Close d S i ci l i a n . Losses t o
S h o w a l t e r a n d J a n o w s k i fol l o w e d . H e h a d , i n f a c t , on l y
o n e great game a n d i t c a m e a g a i n s t h i s f a v o r i t e oppon e n t:
L as k e r.
O n e o f t h e great m y t h s o f chess lore c o n c e r n s t h i s
g a m e , a brill i a n t Q u e e n's G a mbi t D e c l i n e d . I t w as t h e s a m e
Q . G . D . l i n e as L a s k e r h a d use d t o d e f e a t h i m a t St. Pete rs
bu rg 1895-6. S h o r t l y a ft e r t h e game, P illsb u r y fou n d a
c l e a r i m p r o v e m e n t f o r Wh i t e , 7 B x f6! . A c c o r d i n g to h i s
longti m e f r i e n d , Wi l l i a m N a p i e r, h e a n d P i ll sb u r y a n a l y ze d
t h i s e x te n s i v e l y -- N a p i e r p l a y i n g t h e B l a c k p i e ces a s a
p ro x y for L a s k e r. "We pla y e d t h e pos i t i o n w h e n e v e r w e
m e t, w h i c h w a s o ften," N a p i e r l a t e r r e c a l l e d . " Y e a r s we
played i t , h e re a n d ab road. I t be c a m e a bore."
N a p i e r w o n d e r e d w h e t h e r L a s k e r w o u l d be c a reless
e n ough to gi v e P i l l sbu r y a se c o n d c h a n ce -- w h e n t h e pos
sibili t y o f an i m p ro v e m e n t w as so obv i ous. B u t he got h i s
c h an ce at C a mbri d ge S p r i n gs. L a s k e r w e n t i n to t h e Q u e e n ' s
G ambi t D e c l i n e d l i n e, b u t c h ose, a s P i l l sbu r y t o l d N ap i e r,
" the o n l y d a m n s c h e m e you n e v e r t ri e d . "
A fter t h e w o r l d c h a m p i on resi g n e d , a t m o v e 3 0 i n
t h e face o f m ate, i t be c a m e t h e t a l k o f t h e t o u r n a m e n t.
O n e o f the o t h e r com p e t i tors w as Georg M a r co, t h e great
an notator for t h e Wi e n e r S c h a c h zeitu n g. M a rc o n o t e d the
sim i l a r i t y be t we e n t h e St. Pete rsburg and C a m b r i dge
S p r i ngs b r i l l i a n c i e s and w rote: " S i n ce that t i m e , for e i g h t
y e a rs, Pillsbu r y w a i t e d for an opportu n i t y o f r e v e n ge. N o w
t h e m o m e n t h ad come, a n d L a s k e r r u n s bli n d l y i n t o d i sas
te r."
The story was repeated m a n y t i m e s a ft e r w a r ds,
w i t h w r i te rs i m ag i n i n g h o w a n g u i s h e d P i l l sbu r y m ust h a v e
b e e n to k e e p h i s open i n g re f u t a t i o n a s e c r e t - - not t o be
used for a n y o n e , e v e n i f it m e a n t an e a s y p o i n t, e x cept
L a s k e r.

50

P i l l sbury T h e E x traord i n ary

A las, t h e re a re m aj o r holes in the s t o r y . P i llsbu r y

h a d oth e r opportu n i t i e s t o u s e i t against L a s k e r be fore
1 904. In fact, t h e U. S . C h a m p i o n had Wh i t e t h ree t i m e s
a g a i n s t Lask e r b e t w e e n St. P e t e rsb u rg a n d C a m b ri dge
S p r i n gs. But i n e a ch case P i llsb u r y p l a y e d 1 e4!?.
Wh e n C a m b r i d ge S p ri n gs e n d e d , P i l l sb u r y h a d
scored o n l y fou r v i ctories, a g a i n s t f i v e d e f e a ts, a n d h e set
tled for a t i e for e i g h t h place in t h e 1 6 - m a n f i e l d . It w as
h i s last real e v e n t. Ele v e n d a y s a fte r C a m b ri dge S p r i n gs,
P i llsb u r y beat M a rsh a l l in a m atch b e t w e e n t h e F r a n k l i n
a n d M a r s h a l l clubs. A n o t h e r g a m e , suppose d l y f r o m t h e
1 9 0 5 v e rsion o f t h e m a t c h w h i ch e n d e d i n a v i ct o r y o v e r
a n am ateu r n a m e d H y m es, h as a p p a re n t l y b e e n lost.
P i llsb u r y p rob abl y k n e w he w a s abou t t o die. A v a
r i e t y o f d octors cou l d n ot h e l p t h e h e a d aches, i n som n i a,
a t t a c k s o f d e l u si o n s a n d b l a c k o u t s t h a t h e h a d b e g u n to
s u f fe r i n creasi n g l y i n 1903. Even T a r r asch h a d t ri e d to
h e l p -- by h y p noti z i n g h i m -- but w i t h o u t a p p a r e n t h e l p . I n
A p r i l 1 9 0 5 h e e n t e re d P h i l a d e l p h i a' s P re sb y te r i a n H o sp i t a l
f o r an ope ration b u t , accor d i n g to h i s f r i e n d Wa l t e r P e n n
S h i p l e y , su f fe r e d a d e l u si o n a n d t r i e d t o " fo r c e h i s w a y
o u t o f t h e hosp i t al." S h i p l e y d e n i e d n e wspape r a c c o u n t s
t h a t h e h a d actu a l l y t r i e d to t h row h i m se l f ou t o f a h o s p i
tal win dow.
S h i p l e y p ro m i se d t h at P i l l sb u r y w o u l d s o o n be h i s
old sel f, b u t h e m u s t h a v e k n o w n t h e t r u t h . S o m u st h i s
o t h e r f r i e n d s w h o, o v e r t h e y e a rs, c u l t i v a t e d t h e m y t h t h a t
P i llsbu r y ' s d e c l i n e w as d u e t o t h e stress o f h i s b l i n d fold
play. Lasker blamed his d e ath on " o v e r e x e r t i o n of the
m e m o r y cells" a n d M a r s h a l l w rote: " U n fort u n at e l y , h e took
little c a re o f his health and constant b l i n d fold play le ft i t s
m a r k on h i m."
I n J a n u a r y 1906, t h e U. S. C h am p i on went to
B e r m u d a for a long rest, but su f fe r e d a s t ro k e t h at le ft
h i m p a r t i a l l y p a r a l y z e d . H e re t u rn e d to P h i l a d e l p h i a for

C h apter Seven: F i n a l Steps

51

f u r t h e r t re a t m e n t , b u t h i s con d i tion w o rse n e d a n d b y J u n e

h e w as d e a d .
Wh a t w o u l d h a ve h a p p e n e d i f f o r t u n e h ad g ra n t e d
P i l lsb u r y t h e opportu n i t y to l i v e to chess m a t u ri t y ? L i ke
most s u c h specu l a t i o n , t h e a n s w e r can o n l y b e a w ist f u l b i t
o f guesswork:
Most modern p l a y e rs reach the peak of t h e i r p l a y
i n g abi l i t y b e t w e e n a g e t h i rt y and t h i rt y - f i v e , a n d i n
P i l l sb u r y' s d a y t h i s m i g h t be e x te n d e d to age fort y - f i v e .
P i l l sb u r y s h o u l d h a v e j u st e n t e r e d h i s p r i m e p l a y i n g y e a rs
a ro u n d 1 9 0 2 a n d l i k e l y wou l d h a v e rem a i n e d n e a r t h e top
of his game, l i k e L a s k e r , M a r s h a l l , T a r rasch a n d
S c h l e c h t e r , u n t i l Wo r l d Wa r I . H i s b e s t fi v e - y e a r a v e rage,
a c cord i n g to Elo, w as 2630, m a k i n g h i m o n e of t h e t h i rt y
greatest p l a y e rs o f a l l t i m e . ( t h i s m a y b e a b i t conse r v a
t i v e , s i n ce so m a n y o f h i s con t e m p o r a r i e s seem u n d e r
r a t e d .) C e r t a i n l y i f P i l l sb u r y h a d re m a i n e d a t t h a t l e v e l ,
L a s k e r would h a v e h a d to accept h i s m at c h c h a l le n ge, as
h e did with t h e oth e r r i v als d u ri n g 1907- 1 0 .
Whe n P i llsb u r y d i e d , on J u n e 1 7 , 1906, t h e w o r l d o f
c h ess w a s ch angi n g. Jose C a p ab l a n c a w as j us t about t o e n
t e r Colu m b i a U n i v e rs i t y a n d be come t h e d om i n a n t f i g u re
i n A m e r i c a n c h e ss. I n P o l a n d A k ib a R u b i n s t e i n w a s j u st
establish i n g his status a s a master w i t h w o r l d - class
p ro m i se. A ron N i m zo v i c h a n d R i ch a r d Reti w e re m a k i n g
t h e steps t o w a r d s t h e m aste rs' l e v e l t h a t w o u l d e ve n t u a l l y
e n ab l e t h e m to set i n motion t h e H y permod e r n Re v o l u t i on .
T h e game w a s abou t t o m a k e i ts greatest l e a p forw a rd s i n
t e r m s o f t h e o r y , s k i ll l e v e l a n d p l a y i n g con d i t i o n s. A n d we
can on l y feel c h e a t e d t h a t H a r r y P i l lsbu r y w as n ' t t h e re t o
t a k e pa rt.

52

P art T w o: P i llsbury T h e Extraordin ary

Part Two
B y Ken S m i t h

GAM ES

G a m e O n e : H as t i n gs 1 8 9 5

Illustrated Games
P i l l sb u r y ' s e n t i re c a ree r
s p a n n e d less t h a n f i f te e n
y e a rs, b u t d u ri n g t h e best
of thein
1 896- 1 9 0 2
he
Inay h a v e been the best
p l a y e r in the w o r l d , s u p e
r i o r e v e n to Wo r l d C h ain
p i o n E in a n u e l L a s k e r.
N o w , i n t h e follo w i n g
gaines, e nj o y a s t y l e t h a t
comb i n e s t h a t o f M o rp h y
a n d Ste i n i tz.
--

--

GA M E ONE

53

b y In ost In aste rs. O n e e v e n

w e n t so f a r a s t o o p i ne t h a t
weakened
Bg5
Wh i te's
Q u e e n s i d e (!) . O f cou rse,
n o w a d a y s it i s k no w n t h a t
4 B g S i s Wh i te' s In o s t ag
gressi v e l i n e . B u t t h i s w as
l a rg e l y d u e t o t h e e f forts o f
P i llsbu r y , w h o p l a y e d In a n y
b ri l l i a n t g a in e s w i t h it.
Be7

4...
5 N f3

Also q u i t e possible i s 5
w h i ch i n In o d e rn t i in e s
allows the option o f devel
o p i n g t h e K N o n e2 (a fte r
B d 3) .
e3

Nbd7

5 ...
H A STIN G S 1895
Wh ite: P i llsbury
B l a c k: T arrasch
1 d4
dS
e6
2 c4
N f6
3 N c3

Black
i n te n d s to
fia n c h etto t h e Q B a n d so h e
a v o i d s p la c i n g t h e K n i g h t
on c6 w h i ch w o u l d block
t h e a 8 - h 1 d i agon al.
6 Rc l

E n v i s i on i n g possibi l i ties
of play on t h e c f i le; in
p a r t i c u l a r W h i t e w ishes to
d i scou rage the freeing In o v e
c7- c5.
6...
7 e3

0-0
b6
Poor i s 7 c 5 8 d e, d e 9
c6!, N b 6 1 0 N e 5 w i t h a

c l e a r a d v an t a g e f o r Wh ite.
8 cd!
4 BgS

At t h e t i in e this gaine
w as played, this In o v e was
regarded as an e c ce n t r i c i t y

A good Inove w h i ch fixes

a pawn on dS a n d in t u rn
b l o c k s t h e a8 - h 1 d i agon a l
for Black's QB.
8...

ed

P i l l sbury T h e E x traordin ary

54

9 B d3

T h e B i s h o p assu m e s t h e
" cl assi c" a t t a c k d i agon a l b l
h 7 from w h i ch i t p re ssu res
B l a c k ' s K i ngsi d e .
9 . ..

Bb7

To allow b 6 - b 5 .
13 N e S

10 00

cS

B l a c k ' s basic plan i s to

establish a Q u e e n si de p a w n
m aj o r i t y w i t h c 5 - c 4 fol
lowed b y b 6 - b 5 - b 4 . The
gain of s p a ce, and pote n t i a l
p asse d c- p a w n t h u s ac
q u i re d , assu re Black coun
terplay.
11 Ret

Wh i te c a n ' t j u st s i t back
a n d w a t c h Black's Q u e e n
s i d e p l a y grow. Wi t h 13 N e S
h e occu pies a f i n e c e n t r a l
o u t post i n p re p a r a t i o n for a
K i ngsi d e d e m o n s t r a t i o n .
13...
1 4 f4

R e i n forci n g t h e steed on
e S . Now i f N x e S , then fx eS

gives Wh i te
on t h e f- file.
1 4 ...
1 5 Q f3

w h i ch
i n a ccu r a c y
An
loses t i m e . The Rook s h o u l d
re m a i n on f 1 so t h a t a ft e r
t h e l a t e r N e S a n d f2 - f4,
t h e re w i l l be a good a t t a c k
i n g m a n e u v e r v i a R f3 - h 3 .
1 1 ...

c4

B l a c k resol u t e l y
his p l a n .
1 2 Bb 1

a6

bS

follows
16 Ne2

o p p o rt u n i t ies
ReS
N f8

55

G am e O ne: H astings 1 8 9 5

T h e K n i gh t i s s h i fted
toward t h e Black K i n gs i d e .
Ne4

16...

B l oc k i n g t h e

d a n ge ro u s

b 1 - b7 d i agonal.
Rxe7
17 B x e7
1 8 B x e4!

fine

i d e a--si n ce

the

N e 4 b l o c k s t h e on l y good
l i n e for th e B b 1 , i t i s logi

c a l to t r a d e
K n ight.
18...

it

for

the
22 Rfl

Poss i b l y

dxe4
22

Rae8.
23 R f4
24 Qh4

Rd8

w as

better
Qd6
Rde8

if.
r
-
tEtO
.
: -

. f

.
,

t'

'E , ,
1 9 Q g3

f6

We a k e n i n g, b u t o t h e r w ise
the
pawn
m arch
f5 - f6
w o u l d be a const a n t th reat.
2 0 Ng4

T h reate n i n g 2 1 N x f6 c h
w i n n i n g t h e f- p a w n .
2 0...
2 1 r5

Kh8

C r a m p i n g B l a c k ' s K i ng
s i d e a n d a l l o w i n g Wh i te's
K n ights a n d Rook an a v
e n u e t h rough f4 .
2 1 ...

Qd7

, . .

'

2 5 N c3

P ressu r i n g t h e e - p a w n to
tie down B l a c k ' s p i e ces.
2 5 ...

Bd5

N e cessary t o d e fe n d t h e
e-pawn.
2 6 N f2
27 Rfl

Qc6

M e t h od i c a l l y m assi n g h i s
forces a g a i n s t B l a c k ' s K i ng
side.
2 7 ...

b4

P i l l sbury T h e E x traordin ary

56

In v i e w o f Wh i te's ob v i
o u s a tt a c k i n g i n t e n t i o n s,
B l a c k m u s t sti r u p cou n te r
p l a y w h e re h e s t a n d s b e t te r.
3 1 Net
28 N e 2

Qa4

R a i d i n g Wh ite's " ab a n
d o n e d " Q u e e n si d e p a w ns.
2 9 Ng4

I n d i re c t l y d e fe n d i ng t h e
a - p a w n s i n ce
n o w 2 9 ...
Q x a2? a l l o w s the w i n n i n g
s a c ri fice 3 0 N x f6!, g x f6 3 1
Q x f6 c h , R g 7 ( 3 1 ... Kg8 3 2
R g4ch) 3 2 Rg4.
2 9 ...
3 0 R 4 f2 !

Securing the Queenside

( fo r t h e m o m e n t) .
3 1 ...

c3

Consiste n t l y
using
his
Q u e e n s i d e p a w n m aj o ri t y t o
o b t a i n an a d v a n c e d p assed
c-pawn.
32 b3
33 h3

Q c6
aS

Nd7

A f i n e resou rce, aga i n

p re v e n t i n g 3 0 . . . Q x a2 si n ce
t h e n t h e re w ou l d follow 3 1
N f4, B f7 3 2 N g 6 c h , B x g6 3 3
f x g 6 , h 6 ( O r 3 3 . .. N f8 34

N x f6!, g x f6 3 5 R x f6, N d 7
3 6 R f7 w i n s ) 3 4 R x f6!,
N x f6 3 5 Rx f6, gx f6 36
Q x h 6 c h , Kg8 3 7 N x f6 m a te.
30...

Kg8

I n o rd e r to o p e n t h e a
f i l e for i n vasion a fte r a4
and axb3.
3 4 N h2

57

G a me One: H astings 1 8 9 5

C l e a r i n g t h e w a y for t h e
a d v ance o f t h e g-p a w n .
3 4...
35 g4

a4

Both si des' a t t a c k s
gathering momentum.
3 5 ...
3 6 ab

a re

ab
Ra8
40 gf
4 1 N x b3
42 N h6

gf
Rxb3

T h re a t: 4 3 Rg8 m ate.
N o te B l a c k ' s Rb3 i s o u t o f
p l a y for d e fensi v e p u rposes.
Rg7

42 ...

3 7 gS

Wh i te i n t e n d s t o u se the
g- f i le for a t t a c k . A lso, in
some cases g 5 - g 6 i s st rong.
R a3

3 7...

B l a c k p roce e d s to d i s
m a n tle Wh ite's Q u e e n s i d e .
38 Ng4

B x b3

Perh aps a bette r d e fense

w as 3 8 R x b3 sacri f i c i n g
t h e E x c h ange, b u t retai n i n g
t h e strong QB.

3 9 Rg2!

Now Wh i t e uses the g

f i l e to open u p a b r i l l i a n t
a t t a c k.
39...

Kh8

Not
m ate.

42

Re8

43

N f7

43 R x g 7 K x g 7
44 Q g3 c h !

stroke
A
s p e ct a c u l a r
w h i c h B l a c k m u st h a v e
o v e rloo k e d .
44

Kxh6

..

4 4 K f8
Wh i t e
A ft e r
p i c k s u p t h e R b3 w i t h 4 5
..

Qg8ch.

P i l lsbury T h e E x traordin ary

58

45 K h l !

T h re ate n i n g 4 6 R g l a n d
Q h 4 m ate. T h e t e m p t i n g 4 5
R f4 (Th reate n i n g 46 R h 4
m ate) allows B l a c k to per
petually c h e c k w i t h 4 5
Rb l c h a n d Rb2 c h .

..

4 5 ...

50 Qd6ch
51 Qxd7

Kh5
c2

Qd5

T h e only try.
46 Rgl
47 Qh4ch
4 8 Q f4 c h

Wi t h Rook, K n i gh t a n d
t w o a d v an ce d p a s s e d p a w ns,
Black seems t o h a v e a fight
i n g c h a n ce b u t Wh i t e ' s n e x t
i s con clusi v e .

Q x f5
Qb5

F o r c i n g B l a c k to g i v e u p
his Queen.
4 8 ...

Qg5

4 9 R x g5

fxg5

A b l u n d e r in a lost posi
tion.
52 Qx h 7 m a t e .

59

G ame One: H as t i ngs 1 8 9 5

GAM E TWO
HASTIN G S 1895
Wh ite: Mieses
B l ack: P i l lsbury
eS
1 e4
2 N c3

G i v i n g up t h e c e n t e r
w i t h 4 e f i s a strategical
b l u n d e r.
..

5 N f3
6 N d S?

00

A se r i o u s l oss o f t i m e
w h i c h a l l o w s B l a c k to s e i z e
t h e i n i t i at i ve.
6...

N x dS

7 B x dS

N c6

T h e V i e n n a game, a fa
v o r i te d e b u t of M i eses.
2 ...
3 B c4

N f6

Inviting Black to enter

m i n d-be n d i n g com p l i c a t i o n s
a ft e r 3 N x e4 4 Q h S , N d6 5

B b 3 , N c6 6 N b S , g6 7 Q f3 ,
f S 8 Q d S , Q e 7 9 N x c7 c h ,
K d 8 1 0 N x a8. H o w e v e r,

P i l lsbu ry h a s o t h e r i d e as.
3 ...

Bb4

S i m ple d e v e lo p m e n t
t h e recipe.

ts

8 c3?

Another
weak
move
which on l y forces B l a c k ' s
K B to a b e t t e r post. Neces
sary w as 8 0 - 0 .
I t i s a m u s i n g t o note t h a t
Black is playing a " R u y
Lopez" a t e m p o d o w n .
4 f4

The
most
aggress i v e
cou rse. Wh ite h o p e s to u s e
t h e f- f i le for a t t a c k i ng.
4...

d6

8...
9 fS

B c5

T r y i n g to rest r i c t the d e
v e lopm e n t o f B l a c k's Q B .
B u t n o w B l a c k st r i k e s i n
t h e cen t e r w i t h great e f fect.

60

P i l lsbury The E x traordin ary

Ne7

On 13 cd, B b 4 c h
for B l a c k .
13...
14 Bh6

ts

good

de

T h i s looks t h re at e n i n g,
b u t P i l l s b u r y ' s retort shows
w h o i s i n con t rol.
14...

A ft e r

N g6!

insipid

the

1 4 R e 8 , 1 5 Q h 5 , N g6 1 6 0 0 - 0 , Wh i t e
re a l l y w o u l d

h a ve c h a n ces f o r a t t a c k .
10 Bb3
11 d4

d5!

Wh i t e also s t r i k e s in t h e
ce n t e r. Howe v e r h i s e x posed
u n castle d K i n g will soon
c r e a te p roblems.
1 1 .. .
1 2 f6

1 5 B x f8

H e m i g h t as w e l l , b u t
now Black's two pawns and
m i n o r p i e ce f o r t h e R ook
p ro v i d e superior c h a n ces.
1 5...

Q x f8

ed

Wh i te struggles m i g h t i l y
to a t t a c k B l a c k " fi rst", b u t
h i s posi tion i s si m p l y not
good e n ough to support t h i s
aggressi v e pol i c y .
1 2 . ..

gf

16 R f l

A fte r 1 6 0 - 0 B l a c k w o u l d
w i th
con t i n u e
strongl y
1 6 ... f5 , follo w e d by Q h 6
and a very strong attack.
1 6 ...

Q h 6!

M o v i n g i n to a c t i o n . N o w
1 7 R x f6 loses to 1 7 Q h 4 c h
. .

13 N x d4

1 8 R f2 , e 3 .
1 7 Qe2

B x d4

61

G a me T w o : H astings 1 8 9 5

Removing
the
wellposted N d4 i n o r d e r to fol
l o w u p w i th f5 .
18 cxd4

2 2 Ke3

f4ch!

T h e crusher. N o w m ate
follows
a ft e r
23
Kxe4,
Qe2 ch 2 4 K d 5 , B e 6 m ate.

f5

Wh i t e R e s i g n s.

GAM E T H REE

19 g4?

T h e f i n a l e rr o r. Wh i t e
s t i l l s t r i v e s for a t t a c k . N e c
essary w as 1 9 g3 con t r o l l i n g

H A S T I N G S 1895
Wh ite: P i l lsbury
B l ack: Mason
1 d4
d5
2 c4
e6
N f6
3 N c3

f4.
1 9...

N f4

A smash i n g b l o w .
20 Qc4
2 1 Ke2

N d3 c h

O f course, on 2 1 Kd 1
t h.e re follows 2 1 . N x b2 c h
winning the Queen.

21.

Qx h2ch

4 Bg5

P i l l sb u r y w as t h e f i rst
w o r l d c l ass p l a y e r to re cog
n i ze the s t r e n g t h of t h i s
pinning move.
4...
5 N f3
6 e3

Be7
b6
Bb7

P i l lsbury T h e E x traord i n ary

62

A f i n e post for t h e
Q u e e n . N o w B a6 i s p ossib l e
which
weaken
would
B l a c k ' s e 6 . Wh i t e h opes to
stamp t h e c- p a w n as a
w e a k n ess.
1 0 ...

NdS

B l a c k hopes t o e ase t h e
p ressure b y e x ch a n g i n g a
few p i e ces.
1 1 Bxe7
7 Rcl

move
of
favorite
A
P i llsbu r y . F rom h e re t h e
R o o k e y e s action on t h e c
file.
de

7...

Black clears the ce n t r al

d i agon al for h i s QB.

Qxe7

T h e i d e a o f fu r t h e r t r a d
i n g b y w a y o f l l ... N x e3
loses t o 12 B x d 8 , N x e2 e h 13
B x e2 , R fx d8 1 4 R x e 7 .
1 2 N x dS

C l e a r i n g t h e c- f i le for
ope rations agai n st t h e cpawn.
12 ...

e x dS

Nbd7
8 B x e4
N o t 8 N e 6 which would

b l o c k the QB and, e v e n
m o r e i m po r t a n t , w o u l d stop
t h e c-pawn f rom re a c h i n g
eS.
9 0-0

0-0

1 3 Bb5!

P r e v e n t i n g 1 3 e5 sm ce
t h e n 1 4 B x d7 , Q x d7 1 5 de
wins a pawn.
.

1 3 ...
1 4 Re2

Qd6

S i m p le and strong.
1 0 Qe2

1 4...
15 B d3

e6
N f6

63

G a me T h ree: H astings 1 8 9 5

This loses a p a w n , but

t h e other c h o i c e 1 9 R fc8
a l l o w s the c le v e r shot 20

N x c6!, R x c6 2 1 Q x c8 c h ! ,
R x c8 2 2 R x c 8 c h , Q f8 2 3
R x f8 c h , Kx f8 2 4 Rc7 a n d

Wh i t e w i n s e a si l y .
2 0 Rx cS!
2 1 R x cS

R x cS
N d7

A poor m o v e w h i ch al
lows Wh ite's K n i g h t t o e f
fecti v e l y occu p y e S .
16 Rfcl
1 7 B a6!

Rac8

E x ce l le n t s t r a t e g y , re
m o v i n g the p r i m e d e f e n d e r
of Black's c-pawn.
B x a6

1 7 ...

I f 1 7 Q c 7 , t h e n 1 8 b4
r e t a i n s a powe r fu l g r i p .

1 8 Q x a6

Rc7

A d e ce n t t r y , h o p i n g to
reach a R o o k a n d Q ueen
ending which
cou l d be
t e c h n i c a l l y d i f fi c u l t to w i n .
2 2 R c6!

Wh ite k e e p s up the p ressu re.

22...

NbS

F o r c e d si n ce 2 2 . . . Q e 7 a l
l o w s 23 R c 7 , R d 8 2 4 QbS
a n d Wh i t e w i n s t h e K n i g h t .
23 Rx d6
2 4 N c6!
19 NeS

P i l i n g on t h e p ressure
a g a i n st t h e c - p a w n .
19...

cS

N x a6

E x ce l l e n t te c h n i que! The
ob v i ou s c a p t u re 24 R x d S
l e a ves Wh i te t w o p a w n s u p ,
b u t a ft e r 2 4 R c 8! se i z i n g
t h e open f i l e , B l a c k would
ob t a i n som e cou n terp l a y .

P i llsbury The E x traordin ary

64

g6

2 4 ...

3 0 R d7!

Wh i te c o u l d w i n t h e
Rook a n d p a w n e n d i n g a f
t e r 3 0 N x d5 , N x d 5 3 1 R x d S ,
b u t keeping the K n i g h t s on
t h e board m a ke s t h i ngs easi e r.
3 0 ...

Ne6

I f 24 . . RaS t h e n s i m p l y
2 5 R x d5 s i n ce 2 5 . . R c S loses
to 2 6 N e 7 c h .
RaS
2 5 N x a7
Kg7
2 6 N c6
27 a3
.

Restrai n i n g the scope o f

t h e " co r n e re d " N a6.
2 7 ...

ReS

Not 3 0 . . . R b 7 3 1 N x dS .
3 1 N x dS
32 Nxb6

R eS

A l s o possible w as t h e
sol i d 3 2 N c 3 to b l o c k t h e
Rook, b u t t h e t h i r d p a w n i s
h a r d to resi st.
3 2 ...
33 b4

2 S g4

Providing
p ro t e c t i o n
against b a c k ran k m ates.
2 S ...
2 9 Ne7

Nc7
RbS

B l a c k cou l d resign b u t h e
p re fers to f i g h t to t h e e n d .

3 4 a4

Rc2
NgS

65

G ame T h ree: H astings 1 8 9 5

The p a w n s m a r c h on. I n
te resti n g l y ,
Black
could
d ra w a ft e r 3 4 f4 (?) by
3 4 N f3 c h 3 5 K f l ( N o t 3 5
K h 1 , R x h 2 m a te) 3 S R dl !

3 6 N c4 , N x h l c h 3 7 Kg 1 ,
N f3 c h 3 8 K f l (Ag a i n n o t 3 8
K h 1 , R h 2 m ate) 3 8 N h l c h
3 9 Ke l , N f3 c h , et c., w i t h
.

perpetual check.
3 4...
35 aS

Ne4

Wh i t e i g n o res B l a c k ' s i n
v asion s i n ce h e sees i t i s
h a rm less.
3 5 ...
3 6 a6

Wi n a w e r' s
Nowadays
pinning 3 Bb4 is more
usual.

N x fl

Q u ee n i n g i s now assu r e d
so ...

4 eS
5 f4

Wh ite's basic strategy is

t o use his c r a m p i n g p a w n
w e d ge ( d 4- e 5) as a p recon
d i tion for a n a t t a c k .
5 ...

B l a c k Resigns

GAM E FO U R
N U R EM B E R G 1 89 6
Wh ite: P i l l sbury
B l a c k: Las ker
e6
1 e4

6 de

dS

Also good i s T a r r asch's 3

N dl .
3 ...

N f6

cS

Mean w h i le B l a c k t r i e s to
d-pawn
the
undermine
w h i ch i s an i m p o r t a n t sup
port for eS.

B l a c k c h ooses the F r e n c h
D e fense w h i c h i s n o t e d f o r
i t s stu r d i n e ss.
2 d4
3 N c3

N fd7

7 a3

N c6

Pil lsbury The E x traordin ary

66

I n t e n d i n g to g a i n space
on t h e Queenside too, v i a
bl -b4.
7 ...

N x c5

B e t t e r w as 7 B x c5 .
..

8 b4
9 B d3

1 0 b5
1 1 N f3
1 2 B e3

T o rest r a i n f4- f5 , b u t
n o w t h e K i ngsi d e p a w n s a r e
weakened.

Nd7
aS

T h i s doesn ' t t u r n o u t
w e l l s i n c e Wh i t e g a i n s b o t h
t i m e a n d space.

g6

13 ...

14 Nel
15 Qe1

Be7

The Queen will be used

to p robe B l a c k ' s K i n gs i d e .

N eb S
N c5

1 5 ...

Nb6

Note t h a t Wh ite's m i n o r
p i e ce d e v e l o p m e n t is com
plete, while B l a c k ' s p i e ces
a r e sti l l i n a c t i v e .
12 ...

Nbd7

1 6 N fd4

Cle a ri n g t h e f- f i le i n
p re p a ration for a l a t e r f4
rs .

1 6 ...
1 7 Q f2
13 0-0

Wi t h

the

Bd7

t h re a t

N x e 6, N x e6 1 9 B x b 6 .

Wh i te's m a i n obj e c t i v e
now is to break open lines
f o r a t t a c k . T h e i n d i c ated
b re a k i s f4 - f5.

1 7...
1 8 Rab 1

N b a4
h5

of

18

67

G a me Four: Nuremberg 1 8 9 6

I f 2 1 . . .e f, t h e n 2 2 N f4
w i t h the t h re a t o f 2 3 e6 i s
t o o st rong.
2 2 N f4

Th reate n i n g 2 3 Q g3 - g 7 .
2 2 ...
23 R a 1
2 4 R x a4!!

h4
Be7

A '' d e c o y " s a c ri fi ce
remove t h e g u a r d of e6.
T h e attempt to rest r a i n
( w h i ch s u p p o r t s f4- f5)
o n l y w e a k e n s the K i n gsi d e
m o re.

2 4...

to

B x a4

g4

1 9 b6!

A fine aggressi v e c r a m p
i n g m o v e w h i c h gi v e s Wh i t e
a c cess to b S .
1 9 ...

N x d3

B l a c k sees h e can w i n
t h e a - p a w n , b u t doesn ' t
sense the i m p e n d i n g combi
n a t i v e b r e a k t h rough.
2 0 c x d3
2 1 f5!!

B x a3

The a t t a c k begi n s.
2 1 ...

gf

2 5 N d x e6!

Wh i t e i n t e n d s t o
the f- file at any cost .

open

fxe6
2 5 ...
B d7
26 Nxe6
I f 2 6 ... Q c 8 , t h e n Wh i t e
w i n s w i t h 2 7 Q x fS, Rg 8 (Or
2 7 ... Qc6 28 Bg5, Q x b6ch 2 9

d 4 , Qb4 3 0 Q f7 c h , K d 7 3 1
B x e 7 , Q xe 7 3 2 N c5 c h , K d 8
33 N xb 7 c h , K d 7 3 4 N c5ch,
Kd8 3 5 Q x d 5 c h , K c7 36
Qb7 ch and m a te i n th ree)
2 8 N c7 c h , Kd8 29 e 6 , B c6
3 0 Q f7, R e 8 ( 3 0 ... R f8 allows
m a te a fter 31 Q x f8c h!) 3 1
Q g 7 a n d t h e t h reat o f 32
R f7 is too m u c h to h a n d le .

68

P i llsbury The E x traord i n ary

1.1 N x d8

3 1 QgSch
31. R c l

N o w Wh ite's
m ate r i a l
a d v an t age w i l l w i n e ve n t u
ally though Lasker fights
until the end.
1. 1 ...

R x d8

Again,
Wh i te.

K f7

favor

trades

3 1. ...

Rxclch

Not 3 l R x b 6 b e c a u se o f
t h e p o we r f u l i n v as i o n 33

R c7.
33 Q x c l

Rc8

1. 8 B cS
34 Qel

Every
Wh i te.
1. 8
1. 9 B x e7
30 Qe3

trade

f a v o rs

ReS
Kxe7

To in vade via the dark

s q u a res.
30

Rc6

T h e g r e a t r a n ge o f t h e
Q u e e n i s t o o m u c h for t h e
scatte red B l a c k forces
.

3 4 ...

h3

T r y i n g to p l a y w i t h t h e
other rim pawn is also in
su f f i c i e n t: 3 4 a4 3 5 Q x h 4 ,
a 3 3 6 Q h 7 c h , Ke8 ( O r i f
36 ... K e 6 t h e n 3 7 Qg7) 3 7
.

Qg6 c h , K d 8 3 8 Q f6 c h , Ke8
3 9 e 6 and Wh i t e w i n s .
Rg8ch
35 gh
T h e poi n t o f 3 4 . . . h 3 .
3 6 K fl
B u t n o t 3 6 K h l b e c ause
of
3 6 ... d4!
( t h r e a te n i n g

3 7 . Bc6ch) a n d B l a c k w i ns.
.

3 6...

a4

G a m e Four: Nuremberg 1 8 9 6

69

42 K f4

T i g h te n i n g t h e g r i p .

37 Qb4

42...

b6

43 h4
44 Qb8

Rc6
Be8

Rg6

Wh ite t h reate n e d 3 8 Qd6.

3 8 K f3

a3

A despai r i n g t r a d e o f t h e
a for b p a w ns, b u t t h e re i s
n o g o o d de fense.
3 9 Q x a3

Rxb6

Bloc k i ng t h e Q u e e n from
a ccess to t h e K i n gs i d e .
45 Kx f5

Now it's clearly over.

45 ...

Rh6

46 Qc7ch

K f8

40 Q c 5

T h e Rook and Bishop a re

n o m at c h for t h e n i mb l e
Queen.
40...

Re6

O n 40 ... Rb5 41 Q d6 is
w i n n i n g, e.g., 41 .. B c8 4 2
.

Qc7ch.
41 Qc7
Not 4 1 Q x d5??, B c6 .
4 1 ...
Ke7

O n 4 6 ... B d7
good.
4 7 Qd8
4 8 e6

47
b5
Rh7

Kg5

is

P i l lsbury T h e E x traord i n ary

70

Also possib l e i s t h e m o re
d i re c t 4 e4, t h o u g h B l a c k ' s
resou rces a re t h e o re t i c a l l y
a d e q u ate. T h e te x t i n t e n d s
to com plete d e v e l o p m e n t
be fore p l a y i n g e 4 .
N f6

4...

An i n te re s t i n g possi b i l i t y
i s 4 r s w i t h t r a n sposition
i n to a Dutch Stone w a l l .
. .

49 KeS
SO Q d 6 c b

b4

Nbd7
B d6

5 N f3
6 B d3

B l a c k Resigns.

GAM E F I V E
8 UDA PEST 1896
Wh ite: P i l lsbury
B l a c k: Wi n a w e r
1 d4
dS
2 c4
e6
3 N c3
c6

T h i s m o v e w a s a d v oc a t e d
b y t h e g r e a t R u ssi a n p l a y e r
Mikhail
Tchigori n.
Also
p l a y able i s 6 B e 7 .

7 0-0

A l s o possible i s a n i m
m e d i ate 7 e 4 .
7...
8 e4

An e a r l y e x am p le o f
w h a t we n o w c a l l t h e S e m i S a l v D e fense.
4 e3

0-0

Wh i t e m a ke s a bid to es
t ablish more ce n t r a l con t rol.
8...

de

71

G ame Five: B u d ap e s t 1 8 9 6

A better i d e a i s 8 d c 9
B x c4, e5 w i t h o n l y a s l i g h t
.

p l u s for Wh ite.
9 Nx e4

Nxe4

R a t h e r p assi v e , but B l a c k
i n te n d s to re i n force h i s
K i n gs i d e w i t h B f8.
1 3 Qd3

S i m p li f y i n g to t r y t o re
d u ce Wh i te ' s p ressu re.
10 Bxe4

N f6

Qc 7

T h i s l e a d s t o t rouble.
b e t t e r t r y w as 13 B c7.

..

1 4 c5!

A fine i d e a, allow i n g
Wh i te's K n i g h t to o c cu p y
e5.

w h i ch
A poor m o v e
l e a v e s Wh i te i n con t rol o f

1 4 ...
15 Ne5!

B f8

At f i rst s i g h t a b l u n d e r,
b u t P i l lsbu r y h as c a l c u l a t e d
everything.

e5.
1 1 B c2

1 5 ...

B x c5?

B d3 ;
11
Better t h a n
Wh i te w a n t s to p l a y Q d3
w i t h t h reats against h 7 .
1 1 ...

h6

To p r e v e n t t h e a n n o y i n g
p i n n i n g m o v e 12 B g5 w h i c h
w o u l d a u g m e n t t h e p ressu re
o n h 7 (a f t e r Wh i te ' s com i n g
Q d 3) .
12 B e 3

ReS

F a l l i n g for i t. R e l a
t i v e l y best w as 1 5 g 6 .

72

P i llsbury T h e E x traordin ary

16 B x h6!

The c u te poi n t. Now i f

1 6 gx h 6 , t h e n 1 7 Qg3 c h ! ,
K f8 ( h 8 ) 1 8 N g 6 c h w i n s
Black's Queen.

1 6...

Now
17

if

17

N h5 .
1 7 Q x d4

B x d4
Qg3,

then

21 N g6

gxh6

1 8 Q f4!

Now i f 1 8 Kg7, then 19

Q g3 c h i s a w i n n e r (19 ... K f8
o r h 8 allows 20 N g6ch w i n
n i n g t h e Q u e e n) .
.

Nd5

1 8 ...

1 9 Qx b6!

A n o t he r t a c t i cal p o i n t
a r i se s: n o w 1 9 Q x e 5 allows
m at e i n t h ree with 2 0

B h 7 c h , K h 8 2 1 B g6 d.c h.,
Kg8 2 2 Q h 7 c h , K f8 2 3 Q x f7

m ate.
1 9...
20 f4!

U n re l e n t i ng.
fxe5 then

with
the
overwhelming
follow u p R f3 - g3.
Now o n 2 1 R h 7 2 2 Q f8
m ate, o r i f 2 1 . R g 7 t h e n 2 2

Black is a pawn u p for

the moment.

20

K f8 2 2 fx e 5 d.ch., Ke7 23
R f7 c h wi ns.
2 0...
Re7
If 20 Qg7, then 21 Qh4

f6

Now
21

if

Qg6ch,

Q h 8 c h , K f7 2 3 N e 5 c h ! , f x e 5
2 4 f e d.ch fol l o w e d b y 2 5
Q x g7, e t c.

B l a c k Resi gns.

73

G am e S i x : N e w York 1 8 9 7

6 ...

e4

7 Re1
8 Ne5
9 N c3

Be7
0-0
B f6

GA M E SIX
N EW Y O R K 1 8 9 7
Wh ite: S h o w alter
B l a c k: P i l l sbury
1 e4
e5
2 N f3
Nc6
N f6
3 Bb5

4 0-0

N x e4

A main line o f the

B e r l i n D e fense. 4 . . . d6 w o u l d
t r a n spose i n t o t h e Stei n i t z
D e fense.

Accord i n g
to
Mason,
rs i s best, but the text is
s a t i s f a c t o r y . P o o r i s 9 N fS
a s P i l l sb u r y p l a y e d i n an
other g a m e aga i n st S h o w a l
t e r.

9
s d4

..

Consi d e re d t h e m os t ac
tive.
5
6 B a4?!
.

Nd6

N f5
N fx d4!
Now i f 1 2 R x d4, t h e n
1 2 N x d4 1 3 Q x d 4 , d6 w i n s
1 0 B f4
1 1 Rxe4

A dubious g a m b i t . U s u a l
i s 6 B x c6, d x c6 7 de, N fS 8
Q x d 8 c h , Kx d8 w i t h a s l i g h t
p u l l f o r Wh ite,

for Black.
1 2 N g4

Ne6

P i l l sbury T h e Ex traordin ary

74

gxh5 21 R x h 5 m ate) 2 0
B x f8, gx h 5 2 1 B x e 7 , N g6 2 2
B f6 , N x h 4 23 B x h 4 with a
l i k e ly d ra w .
1 8...

Ng6

1 9 Rg4

N d4

13 N x f6 c h Q x f6
14 N d S

Wh i t e m u st con t i n u e to
p l ay as a c t i v e ly as poss i b l e
t o compen sate for the p a w n .
1 4 ...
15 Q hS

Qd8
d6

Now Wh i t e ' s a t t a c k col

l a pses.
2 0 fS

To open more l i n e s.
2 0 ...
2 1 Rfl

N x f5
c6

2 2 N c3
23 Kh 1

Qb6ch
Qc5

1 6 B d2

Clearing
Rh4.
1 6 ...

the

path

for

NeS

Com i n g to t h e rescue by
w ay o f t h e c e n t e r.
17 R h 4
1 8 f4?!

h6

M issi ng 18 B x h6!, g6 1 9
N e 7 c h ! (Prob a b ly t h e m o v e
S h o w a l t e r m issed) 1 9 Q x e 7

( N ot 1 9 .. K h 7 20 B x f8 d . ch.,
.

of
t h re a t
the
2 4 N g3 c h w i n n i n g Wh i t e ' s
Queen.
Wi t h

75

G ame S i x : N e w Y o r k 1 8 9 7

GAM E SEVEN
24 Qh3

N fe 7
VIENNA 1898
Wh ite: P i l lsbury
B l a c k: T arrasch
e5
1 e4
N c6
2 N f3
N f6
3 Bb5

25 Ne4
2 6 Q x g4
27 Bb3ch

B x g4
f5
Kh8

D e fe nse-a
Berlin
The
very popu l a r d e fe n se i n t h e
l at t e r h al f o f t h e 1 9 t h c e n
tury.
4 0-0
5 d4

Expecting

2 8 . . . N x g6

29

t h ough e v e n
h e re Wh i t e i s lost. B u t P i lls
b u r y h as a m u ch more con
v i n ci n g reply.
N x c5 ,

N x e4

E x p e r i e n ce h as p r o v e n
that this move is better
than 5 Rel.

d x c5

2 8 ...

Wh i te Resigns

fxe4!

5...

Be7

T h e m ost sol i d l i n e . Also

p l a y able i s 5 ... N d6 though
Wh ite re t a i n s t h e b e t t e r
e n d i n g a ft e r 6 B x c6, dx c6 7
de, N f5 8 Q x d 8 c h , Kx d 8 .
N d6
6 Qe2

P i l lsbury T h e E x traord i n ar y

76

1 1 N d4
1 2 Be3

Ne6
N x d4

A ft e r 6 f5 7 de, 0 - 0 8
N c3 , N x c3 9 Q c 4 c h , K h 8 1 0
..

Q x c3 Wh ite i s better.
7 B x c6

to
e x c h a n ges
Wh i te
w e a k e n B l a c k ' s p a w n s t r u c
tu re.
7...
8 de

b x c6
Nb7

T h e poor pos i t i on of t h i s
K n ig h t i s the m a i n p roblem
i n t h e Berlin D e fense.
9 N c3

0-0

Simpli fying
helps the side
c r a m p e d p os i t i o n .
13 B x d4

normally
a
with

dS

T h i s l e a d s to posi t i o n a l
d i f f i c u l t i es b e c a u se o f t h e
w e a k n ess o f c S . B e s t w a s
13 c5 1 4 B e 3 , dS 1 5 e d e.p.,
B x d6 1 6 N e 4 w i t h a l m ost
.

even c h a n ces.
1 4 N a4

Zeroi n g i n on cS.
1 4 ...
1 5 c3

Bb4
B aS

10 Ret

Mode rn t h e o r y recom
mends 1 0 N d4 (Pre v e n t i n g
t h e d - p a w n f rom m o v i n g
a n d allow i n g N f5) .
1 0 ...

N cS

H e a d i n g for b6 to f i g h t
f o r con t rol o f c S .

77

G am e Seven: V i e n n a 1 8 9 8

16 QhS

Com m e n c i n g p ressure on
t h e s p a rsely d e fen d e d K i ng
side.
1 6 ...
17 Re3
1 8 Rg3

Bb6
Be6

Th reaten i n g Q h 6 , f o r c i n g
a se rious w e a k e n i n g o f
B l a c k ' s K i n gs i d e p a w n s.
1 8 ...

19 Radl
2 0 b4

Kh8

2 2 N cS
23 Q x e S

fe
Q f6

B l a c k see k s s a f e t y b y e x
c h a n g i n g Q u e e n s, b u t u n
fo r t u n a t e l y f o r B l a c k t h e
ending is quite bad due to
h i s i n f e r i o r B i shop a n d
w e a k e n e d Q u e e n s i d e p a w n s.
2 4 Q x f6

R x f6

2 5 Re3
2 6 f3

Bg8

Qe7

P r e v e n t i n g 2 0 c5.

2 0...
2 1 R x d4

B x d4

N o w Wh ite's O R c a n
sh i ft to the K i n gsi de. A l s o
Wh ite's K n i g h t i s m u c h
m o re e f fecti ve t h a n t h e o b
s t r u cted B l a c k B is h o p .
2 1 ...

f6

Giving
ai r.
26
2 7 Re7

the

King

some

g6

O ft e n the a r ri v al of a
Rook o n t h e se v e n t h r a n k
signals t h e b e gi n n i n g o f t h e

P i l lsbury T h e Ex traordinary

78

e n d for the d e fe n d e r. T h i s
case i s n o e x ce p t i o n .
2 7...

R f7

2 8 Re6

aS

A bid for some cou n t e r

p l a y on t h e a- f i l e .

2 9 a4
3 0 R x c6

33

..

Rb8

3 4 N a6
35 Nb4
3 6 Ra6

Rb7
Ra7
R x a6

3 7 N x a6

K f6

Kg7

N o w i t' s j ust a m a t t e r o f
te c h n i que.
3 0 ...

Re7

T h e K i n g t r i e s to rush to
the Q u e e n s i d e , but it i s f a r
too late.
3 8 R d2
31 K f2
3 2 cb
33 bS

ab
B f7

Wh i te's strategy i s s i m
p le: push the Q u e e n s i d e
p a w n s tow a r d t h e Quee n i n g
squ a res.

T h re a te n i n g 3 9 R c2 w i n
ning the c-pawn.
3 8...

c6

D e spe r a t i o n , but 38 Ke6

f a i l s to 3 9 R e 2 c h , Kd7 40

R x e 7 c h , K x e 7 41 N x c 7 .
3 9 b6

Be6

79

G a m e Seven: V i e n n a 1 8 9 8

Lopez. H o w e v e r B l a c k has
fully a d e q u ate resou rces.
N x e4

4...

T h i s see m s t o be best.
Also p l a y ab l e
is
4 ... ed,
though Wh i t e seems to re
tain some i n i ti a t i v e i n t h i s
case.
40 N cS
4 1 aS

B c8

Wh i t e Resigns.

5 de
6 0-0

dS

T o be

consi d e r e d

is 6

N d 4.

GA M E E I G H T

6...

B cS

V I EN N A 1 8 9 8
W h i t e : S h o w alter
B l ack: P i llsbury
eS
1 e4
N c6
2 N f3
N f6
3 BbS

7 Nbdl

undermine
To
strongly p oste d N e 4 .
7...
8 Qel
9 Q x dl
A fte r 9
4 d4

A sharp line against the

B e r l i n D e fense to the R u y

0-0
N x dl
B x dl ,

cou l d p l a y 9 . . . N d4
con v e n i e n t p l a y .
9 ...

the

Ne7

Black
with

80

P i l l sbury T h e E x traordin ary

1 5 R fe 1

T r a n s fe rr i n g t h e K n ig h t
to the
K i ngsi d e ,
w h i le
a voi d i n g the possi b i l i t y o f
B x c6
weakening
Black's
Queenside.
1 0 Q c3
1 1 BgS

Bb6

1 1 ...
12 B d3

"Wi n n i n g" t h e t w o B i s h
ops.
1 6 B x fS

A ft e r 1 6 B g 3 , N x g3 1 7
h x g3 ,

This pin tu rns out to be

i n e f fe c t i ve, though B l a c k's
p os i t i o n i s sligh t l y b e t t e r
a n y w ay .
c6
h6

Bg4

N d4,

1 6...
1 7 B g3

Qd7

i s p r e fer

B x fS
Qe7

T h e Q u e e n s h i fts t o w a r d
t h e K i ngsi d e i n p re p a r a t i o n
for a n a t t a c k t h e re.
Be4!

Qc7

Unpinning and preparing

to obt a i n t h e B i s h o p p a i r.
14 a4

18

B l a c k ' s pos i t i o n
able.

1 8 Qd2

13 B h 4

N fS

aS

Wh i t e t h reatened to w i n
a p i e c e w i t h 1 5 aS.

This B i s h op ' s a c t i v e post

p l a y s a key role in the com
ing attack.
1 9 c3

rs

81

G ame E i g h t : V i e n n a 1 8 9 8

F o r c i n g open l i nes, s i n ce
o t h e r w i se g5 a n d f4 w i l l
b u r y t h e B g3.
20 e f e.p.
.21 N e 5

T h e only t r y si n ce l S
K f l loses to 2 5 B x g3 d.ch.
(among o t h e rs) .

Q x f6
Rad8

2 5 ...

R f5!

T h reaten i n g
26

Rh5.
26 ReS
27 NxeS

m ate

with

R x e5
Q h5ch

22 K h 1

Trying to duck out of

trouble, b u t n o w t a c t i cs
t a k e o v e r.
22
23 Ng4

B x f2 !

T h e ob v i o u s 2 3
m e t b y 2 3 B e3 ! .

Rfl

23....
2 4 Kxg2

B x g2 c h
Q f3 c h

ts

B l a c k s i m p l i f i e s i n to an
easi l y w o n h e a v y p i e ce e n d i ng.
2 8 Kg2
29 h x g3
3 0 Re 1

B x g3
QxeS
Q fS

Wh i te R e s i g n s

2 5 Kh3

P i l l sbury T h e E x traordin ary

82

6...

h 6!

GAM E N I N E
VIENNA 1898
Wh ite: Walbro dt
B l a c k: P i l lsbury
eS
1 e4
N c6
l N f3
N f6
3 BbS

Now i f 6 B h4, then a

l a t e r g5 t h re a t e n s to g r e a t l y
l i m i t t h e s c o p e o f Wh i te's
QB.
7 Be3
8 a4

Agai n t h e
f e n se , though
s t a n ce Wh i te
m a i n l i n es.

B e rl i n D e
in this in
avoids the

H o p i n g t o f o r c e B l a c k to
trade B i sh ops o n e3 w h i ch
o p e n s t h e f- f i l e for Wh i te .
H o w e v e r, t h e loss o f t i m e
in volved in this plan allows
Black a fine game.
8...
9 B x c6

0-0

T o con trol a S .

4 d3

9...

V e r y sol i d , b u t i n su f fi
c i e n t l y acti v e f o r a n y ad
v a n tage.
4...
S N c3
6 B gS

Bb6

D eS
d6

T h i s l e a d s to n ot h i n g.
Bette r w as 6 N a 4 t o e x
c h ange B l a c k ' s strong B c5 .

b x c6

83

C h apter N i ne: V i e n n a 1 8 9 8

1 0 aS
1 1 fxe3

B x e3
Rb8

M a k i n g use of t h e n e w l y
opened
b- f i l e
to
p robe
Wh i te's Q u e e n s i d e .
12 b3

N g4!

P re p a r i n g to open host i l
i ti e s o n t h e K i ngside w i t h
fS .
13 Qe2
14 e f

fS
B x fS

I ro n i c a l l y , B l a c k w i l l be
the one who w i l l u s e the f
f i l e to g o o d e f fe c t.
15 e4

Be6

T a k i n g a d v a n t age o f t h e
w e a k e n e d d a r k s q u a res.
19 Ne2

g5!

N a i l i n g down c o n t r o l o f
t h e o u tpost o n f4.
2 0 Kh2

M a rs h a l l i n g
p i e ce s tow a r d
sector.

Qd7

his heavy
t h e c r i t i cal

2 1 N fg 1

T r y i n g to d e fuse t h e i m
p e n d i n g a t t a c k b y e x ch a n g
i n g Rooks.
2 1 ...

N f4

1 6 h3

C h as i n g t h e K n i g h t, b u t
c r e a t i n g m o r e w e a k nesses
on t h e dark s q u a res.
1 6 ...
1 7 Qe3

N f6
cS!

D e fen d i n g
against
18
Q x a7 but, m o re i m po r t a n t ,
preventing
Wh i t e
from
o pe n i n g t h e c e n t e r with d 3 d4.
18 0 - 0

NbS

But Black a voids Rook

t r a d e s a n d establishes a
po w e r f u l b ase o n f4.
22 N x f4

g x f4

P i l l sbury T h e E x traordi nary

84

Now the g- file w i l l b e

i nstru m e n tal i n the a t t a c k .
2 3 Q f3
2 4 g3?

Kh7

T h i s o n l y h asten s d e f e a t
b y ope n i n g l i n e s w h i c h o n l y
B l a c k can use.
2 4...

A cle v e r w a y t o t r i ple on
t h e g- file s i n ce 2 9 R x f6 al
lows m ate in one.
2 9 Ne2
3 0 Q f3

Rg6
RgS

fg ch

I n t e n d i n g to s h i f t to h5
a ft e r 3 1 ... Qg6.
2 5 Q x g3
26 Qe3

31 Qe3
3 2 Kh l

Rg8
Qg7

de f e n d
c a n n ot
Wh i t e
aga i n s t t h e t h re a t o f B x h 3 .
I f 3 2 R f6 , t h e n 3 2 ... Rg2 c h

Wi th a th reat.
2 7 R f2
2 7 Q f3 B l a c k
R b f8 .
R b f8
2 7...

On
27

Qg6

h as

3 3 K h l , R h 2 c h! 3 4
Q g2 m a te.
3 2 ...
B x h3

Wh i t e R e s i g n s.

Kx h2,

85

G am e Ten: V i e n n a 1 8 9 8

GAM E T E N
VIENNA 1898
Wh ite: P i l lsbury
B l a c k: Tre n c h ard
d5
1 d4
e6
2 c4
N
f6
3 N c3

7 B d3

Also poss i b l e a r e 7 R e t
o r 7 cd ( t h e E x c h ange V a r i
ati on).
de

7...

To c l e a r t h e l o n g d i ago
n a l for t h e QB and m a k e
t h e Wh i t e K B lose t i m e b y
moving again.
8 B x c4
9 00

c6
b5

4 Bg5

Agai n
P i l lsbu r y ' s
favorite move a n d t h e corne r
of
ston e
the
modern
Queen's Gambit.
4...
5 e3

Be7
Nbd7

S l i g h t l y m o re f l e x i b l e i s
5 . . . 0 - 0 s i n ce i n som e cases

t h e O N m i g h t be placed on
c6.
6 N f3

0-0

B e t t e r i s C a p a b l a n ca' s
maneuver
9 N d5
e as i n g
Black's game b y trading o f f
some p i e ces.

1 0 B d3

a6

P rote c t i n g the b p a w n to
be able t o p l a y a l a t e r c6
c5, c h allengi n g Wh i t e ' s cen
te r a n d ope n i n g t h e long
d i agon al f o r B l a c k ' s QB.
1 1 Q c2

Kh8

A m ys t e r i o u s m o v e .
12 R a d 1

Mean w h i l e Wh i t e con t i n
u e s to d e v elop a n d c e n t ral
i ze h i s forces.

P i l l sbury T h e E x traord i n ary

86

1 2 ...

Bb7

N o w Wh i t e h as a crush
i n g bind. Note that Black
c a n n o t f re e h i s QB by c6 - c 5
n ow .
f5

1 6 ...
17 Nd6

F rom h e re t h e K n i g h t
d om i n ates t h e p os i t i o n .
13 N e 5
S t e p p i n g u p t h e p ressu re
by establish i n g a strong
ou tpost on e5.
Nxe5
13 ...
A b i t i m p at i e n t .
14 dxe5
N o w t h e d- f i l e a n d d 6 i n
p a r t i c u l a r become p o we r fu l
assets.
N d5
1 4...

Rad8
BaS

1 7 ...
18 Qc5

15 Bxe7

dark
the
Trading
s q u a r e d Bishops i n o r d e r t o
i n v ad e on t h e b l a c k s q u a res.
1 5 ...

Qxe7

To rule out Qa7.

Qc7
1 9 f4
2 0 B x f5!

A n i ce shot.
e x f5

2 0...

A b e t t e r t r y (though
q u i te hopeless i n t h e long
ru n) w as 2 0 N x e 3

2 1 Rxd5

Rd7?

O b v i o u s l y n e r v o u s a fte r
2 0 B x f5! B l a c k w a l k s i n to

anoth e r s i m p l e t a c t i c.
1 6 N e 4!

22 N x b 5

Qc8

G am e T e n: V i e n n a 1 8 9 8

2 3 R x d7
2 4 Q x c8

cxb5
R x c8

87

A ft e r 3 e d (S tr ategi cally
d u b i ous si n ce i t gi ves u p
t h e cen t e r) e i t h e r 4 Q x d4
(Morp h y ' s f a v o ri te) or 4
N x d4
Is
for
favorable
Wh i te.
..

N b d7

5...

b6

D e f i n i t e l y the best post

for t h e Bishop si n ce B l a c k ' s
f 7 i s o ft e n e x p ose d to t a c t i
c a l shots.

25 Rfd1

T h re aten i n g m at e .
2 5 ...
26 e6

4 N c3
5 Bc4

R f8

B l a c k R e s i gns.

F e a ri n g 6 N gS B l a c k
loses t i m e a n d w e a k e n s h i s
K i n gs i d e .
6 Be3

c6

GA M E ELEV E N
VIENNA 1898
Wb ite: P i l l sbury
B l a c k: B l a c kburne
e5
1 e4
2 N f3
d6

P h i l i d or's
D e fense,
a
but
p assi v e ,
som e w h a t
d u rable l i n e o f p l a y .
3 d4

N f6

C o n t rol l i n g dS a n d i n s o m e
c a s e s a l lo w i n g a use fu l g a i n
o f space w i t h b 7 - b 5 .
7 Qe2

Qc7

P rob ably b e t t e r i s si m p l y
7 Be7,
followed
by
castling.
. .

8 a4

Restraining
b7 - b 5 .

possible

P i llsbury T h e E x traordin ary

88
8

ed

T h i s s u r re n d e r o f t h e
cente r i s v e r y a n t i - posi
t i o n al. A g a i n 8 B e7 w as i n
d icated.

9 N x d4

T h e K n i g h t could n ot b e
a l l o w e d to rem a i n on f5,
but now t h e g- f i l e w i l l be
use ful.

NeS
1 4 gx f5

gS

Otherwise t h e g 7 p a w n
comes u n d e r p ressu re.
1 5 fg e.p.

10 Bb3

N x g6

B g4

A poor i d e a w h i c h o n l y
h e lps Wh ite's a i m s o f at
tack.
1 1 f3
1 2 g4!

BhS

Wh i t e corre c t l y se i zes t h e
opportu n i t y
to
use
his
K i n g s i d e p a w n s to g a i n
m o re space.
12

B u t n o w B l a c k ' s K i n g
side p a w n s a re all i s o l a t e d .
16 0-0-0

0-0-0

Bg6

K i ngsi d e
Obviously
cast l i n g i s o u t o f t h e q u es
t i o n , b u t t h i s d rops t h e a
pawn.
1 7 B x a7
Naturally.
1 7 ...
13 N f5

B x fS

dS

89

G ame Eleven: V i e n n a 1 8 9 8

T h e attempt to t r a p the
b 6 f a i l s to 1 8

B a 7 with 1 7
Qa6ch.

N f4

18 ed

T h e re a r e s e v e r a l w a y s
t o w i n a n d P i llsbu r y d e
c i d e s to p l a y soli d m o ves,
si n ce B l a c k ' s p o s i t i o n i s
doomed.
Bd6

2 3 ...

Mov i n g t h e R d 8 allows
ReSch winning i nstantly.
2 4 B x d8

R x d8

A pawn and the Ex

c h a n ge d o w n , B l a c k s h o u l d
lose. Wh i t e m u s t b e c a r e f u l
though.
Bb4

2 5 aS
2 6 a6!

Now on 26 B x e 1 27
R x e 1 , ba 28 Q c S c h , Kb8 2 9
R e 7 i s d e cisi v e .
ba
2 6...
B aS
2 7 c3
.

Trying
water".

to

"muddy

the

1 9 Q f2

Wi t h t h e i d e a o f Bb6.
1 9 ...
20 Nxd5
2 1 Bb6

N6x d5
cxdS
QeS

,.
,
r - ,

d
.
.
f+I
R

..

2 8 Q a7

Zeroi n g i n o n t h e beleagu e re d K i ng.

Black should gi v e i t u p ,
b u t b e i n g a s u p e rb t a c t i
c i a n , B l a c k b u r n e i s loo k i n g
f o r e v e r y possi ble s w i n d le .
22 Rhe1
23 Kb 1

Q gS

28
2 9 Re7

Now
quickly.

the

3 0 B a4!

Q f6
Qc6

end

comes

P i llsbury T h e Ex traord in ary

90

N o w 30 Q x a4 allows 3 1
Q a 8 (or b 7) m ate, w h i le
3 0 ... Qb6 f a i ls to 3 1 Q a 8 c h ,
Qb8 32 Q x a6 c h , Q b 7 3 3
Q x b 7 m ate.
..

The s h a rpest response.

4 ed
5 B g2

N x d5

B l a c k Resigns.
A n o t h e r possi b i l i t y i s 5
N ge2 a n d t h e n B g 2 .
N x c3
S...

GA M E TWELV E
LONDON 1899
Wh ite: Lee
B lack: P i l l sbury
e5
1 e4
2 N c3

Wh ite's
We a k e n i n g
Queenside though the b- f i l e
g i v e s Wh i t e d e c e n t p l a y
t h e re i n conj u n ct i o n w i t h
t h e p ressu re d o w n t h e h 1 - a8
d i agonal.
6 b x c3

N c6

T h e V i e n n a G a m e , a rel
a t i v e o f t h e K i n g's G a m b i t
s i n ce Wh i te n o r m a l l y s t r i ves
for a n early f4.
2...
3 g3

N f6

variant,
u nusual
An
fully
though
p l a y able.
Wh i t e h opes h i s K B w i l l
h a v e good scope on t h e long
d i agon al.
3 ...

dS

7 Ne2

T h e best squ a re. 7 N f3

b l o c k s the K B ' s d i agon al.
7...
8 0-0
9 b3

B c5
0-0

T h i s i s w e a k e n i n g . T o be
consi d e re d i s 9 R b l .

91

G a me T w e lve: L o n d o n 1 8 9 9

Be6

P re v e n t i n g
B x c4) .
14 B a3
1s Q c t

14

c4

( 1 4 ...

D eS

rs

10 Kh2

A little better was 1 0 d 3 .

1 0 ...

B dS!

Trading
off
Wh i t e ' s
v a l u able K B or forci n g
Wh i te to w e a k e n h i s p a w n
s t r u c t u re w i t h f3 .
1 1 f3
12 d3

Bb6
Qe7

S te p p i n g u p t h e p ressu re
against
Wh i te's
comp rom i se d K i n gs i d e .
16 Re1

Perhaps

bette r

w as

16

B x cS , Q x cS 1 7 Q a3 .
R fe 8
16...
17 c4

T h i s o n l y w e a k e n s d4.
1 7 ...
18 N c3

B f7

A g a i n w e a k e n i n g con t rol
over d 4 .
1 8 ...

13 a4

T r y i n g to f i n d some p l a y
on
the
Queenside,
but
B l a c k ' s m ore h a rm o n i o u s
development and central in
f l u e n ce g i v e h i m a c l e a r
a d v a n t age.
13 ...

Rad8

B x a3

P i l lsbury T h e E x traordin ary

92

2 4 ...

19 R x a3

I f 1 9 Q x a3 t h e n 1 9 ... Qg5
w i t h the strong foll o w u p
f5- f4.
19...
2 0 Rb3

Q f6
b6

Now the Queen side i s se

c u re d and Black can t u rn
h i s f u l l attention t o t h e
K i ngside.

e x d4

-
%L// /
/ Y, v :

<!). !! <!). ft ft <!). ft

ft A
r;
. Y,
.!.!. .!.!.

.!.!.

2 5 RbS
21 Ne2

f4!

T h r e a te n i n g 26 R fS , b u t
t h i s i s p a r r i e d e f fortlessl y.
2 5 ...
26 aS

cS
Re2

T h e " fi rst wave" l a n ds.

2 7 Kg 1

Black

2 7. . .
t h re a t e n e d
h x gS 2 8 h x gS ( O r 28 f x g 5 ,
f 3 ) 2 8 . . . Q h 4 c h 2 9 K g 1 , Q g3

w i n n i ng.
2 7 ...

Rde8

28 ab
2 9 h4

ab

To open i n roads on t h e
d a r k s q u a res.
2 2 g4

Wh i t e must try to k e e p
l i n e s close d.
2 2 ...
23 Rfl
24 N x d4

hS
N d 4!

Forced because o f t h e
double attack on e2 and b3.
N o w B l a c k w i l l i n v a de
down the e- file.

G ame T w e lve: London 1 8 9 9

Black

t h re a t e n e d

R8e6 followed by 30
a n d 3 1 Qg3 .
Qxh4
2 9...
3 0 Q x f4

29
Qh4

Now
quickly.

Black

93

finishes

3 0...

Rxg2ch!

3 1 K x g2
32 K g 1

Re2 c h
Qh3

T h e re ' s n o d e fense
33
R f2 , Re l c h a n d m ate n e x t.
-

GAM E T HIRTEEN
LON D O N 1 8 9 9
Wh ite: S t e i n itz
B l a c k: P i llsbury
eS
1 e4
N f6
2 N c3
3 f4
dS

Consi d e r e d t h e most e f
fe c t i v e l i n e a g a i n s t t h e V i
enna Game.
4 d3

Wh i t e Resigns.

An i n v e n t i on o f S t e i n i t z
w h i ch h a s l o s t f a v or.
4...

d4

An
i n te re st i n g
space
gai n i n g move, but most i n
c i s i v e i s 4 . . . e f! a n d a ft e r 5
B x f4 , B b 4 6 e d , N x dS 7
B d2 , B x c3 8 b x c3 , 0 - 0 9
N f3 , R e S c h w i t h a d v a n tage

for B l a c k .
5 N ce2
6 N f3

Nc6
B d6

94

P i llsbury T he Ex traordi n ary

T h reaten i n g
12 Qh4ch
w i th a s t r o n g a t t a c k i n g po
sition.

1 2 Q c2

To m e e t 1 2 ... Q h 4 c h w i t h
13 Q fl .
1 2 ...

cS

7 c3

Wh i te is t r y i n g to u n
dermine
ce n t e r
Black's
p a w n s. A b e t t e r i d e a i s 7 fe,
B x e S 8 N x eS , N x eS 9 N g3

w i t h p l a y o n t h e f- file.
7...

B g4!?

A p a w n s a c r i f i ce d e
signed to seize t h e i n i t i a
tive.
8 fe
9 N x eS

BxeS
NxeS

10 Qa4ch

G e t t i n g o u t of t h e pin in
o r d e r to p l a y 1 1 N x d4.
1 0 ...
1 1 Nxd4

c6
NbS

13 N fS
1 4 e x fS

B x fS
0-0

N o w Wh i te m u s t flee t h e
open e- file.
1 5 K f2

Qd7

T h reate n i n g f S a n d
( a f t e r R a d 8) a n d t h u s
c o v e r i n g his p a w n w h i le
taining a fine attacking
sition.
1 6 Kg 1

Q x fS

d3
re
re
po

9S

G am e T b irte en: London 1 8 9 9

c4

17 Be3

Now d3 w i l l f a l l
1 8 Q f2

Q x fi c h

-t'
1!!,1
,
.

rt!
111

w
1!!1
!;l- Wf'p

1!!1111, lhl, ""'-

,

... lli!l1

/;I-Ji1111

tl1

... IIIIi

mAil

1 9 KdZ.

"'"' "

R f e 8 .'

2 0 N g 4 c h
T h re a t e m n g
.
wmning the Be3
2 0 B d4
Z 1 B x d3

rrl
il
--
f

rt!J?d :P
rl
.

t .

....

iii
f!!llli ffii
lli!l1 '1ii@ f!!llli, !@I
...
11
1 181ra lit! i

'
a m"

25 Kxe 1

N gZ c h

Z 6 KdZ

T h e Wh i t e K m
" g i s ac
ti ve, but the two e xtra
p a w n s a re t 00 much o f a
b u rden.
2 6

27 c4

B l a c k has w n a p a w n ,
b u t t h e te c h n i c a t a s k i s n o t
easy.

1!!1111

a6
Nb4

22 Rae 1

O t h e r w i se

2M
" R e 2 c h .

2 2

N f4
23 R x e 8 c b R x e 8

24 Re 1

Rxe1

28 K x d3

2 9 B c3

3 0 Ke4

N f3
f6
N x h2

96

P i l lsbury T h e E x traord i n ary

N o w w i t h th ree conp a w n s,
p asse d
n e cted
B l a c k ' s task i s e as y .
31 b4

Whi te's only c h a n ce i s to

obt a i n a p asse d p a w n on
the Queenside.
3 1 ...

K f7

To
help
guard
Q u e e n s i d e p a w n s.
32 a 4

3 3 bS

the

Ke6
N g4

Now 3 7 B x e S , f x e S 3 8
leaves B l a c k w i t h a n
easy w i n .
KxeS

37 ba

3 8 B fl

ba

A t a c t i c a l e r ror i n a lost
posi tion.
3 8...

3 9 K x f6
A ft e r 39

3 9 ... N x c 4 .
3 9 ...

g6ch
Ke4

simply

Ng4ch

Wh i t e R e s i g n s.

GAM E FOURTEEN
LON DON 1899
Wh ite: B ir d

B l a c k: P i l lsbury

T h e K n ight
t h e c e n t e r.
3 4 aS

3 5 B d4

retu r n s

to

Kd7
hS

T h e re is no reme d y f o r
B l a c k ' s th ree p asse d p a w n s.
3 6 K fS

NeS!

1 e4

2 f4

eS

T h e u l t i m ate a g g ressi v e
o p e n i ng, t h e K i n g' s G a m b i t
w a s a fre q u e n t c h o i c e o f
m a n y 1 9 t h ce n t u r y p l a y e rs.
2 ...

dS

G a m e Fourt e e n: L o n d o n 1 8 9 9

P i l l sb u r y
a d opts
the
F a l k b e e r Cou n t e r G a m b i t ,
one o f Black's most acti ve
responses to t h e K i n g' s
Gambit.
3 ed

A l s o p l a y able i s 3 N f3 ,
t h ough i n t h i s c ase B l a c k
e q u a l i zes easi l y w i t h 3 d e
4 Nxe5, Bd6.
3 ...

7 Qe2

Bette r i s 7 d 4 . Now B l a c k
i s a b l e to restr a i n t h e a d
v a n ce o f Wh i te ' s d - p a w n ,
w h i ch i n t u r n h a m p e rs
Wh i te's d e v e l o p m e n t .
7...
8 N e3

e4

97

9 Qfl

B e5

0-0

This awkward maneuver

i s a c l e a r i n d i c at i o n o f
Wh i te's d i f fi c u l t i e s .
9...

Qe7

4 Bb5eh

T h i s c h e c k l e a d s to n o t h
i n g. Better was 4 d 4 o r 4
Ne3.

4...

5 de

Also good i s
6 B e4

c6

be

5 N x e6 .
N f6

10 N d 1

reg rou p i n g;
Stei n i tz i a n
u n fortu n ate l y Wh i te ' s posi
lacks
f u n d a m en t a l
t i on
sou n d n ess.
1 0 ...

1 1 Ne3

aS

N a6

This K night is heading

f o r a f i n e c e n t r a l post o n

d5.

1 2 a3

To
prevent
1 2 ... N b 4
t h reaten i n g 1 3 B x e3 a n d
14

N x e2 e h .
1 2 ...

..

N e7

P i l lsbury T h e E x traord i n ary

98

1 3 g3

1 4 h4

" C re a t i v e " ,
w e a k e n i n g.
1 4 .. .

N cdS

1 9 Q x d2

but

also

N x e3

C re a t i n g a t a rget on
1 5 d x e3

Q a 7!

e3.

Immedi ately
faste n i n g
onto the weak e-pawn.
1 6 Q e2

Rd8

T h reate n i n g
followed b y Rd1 ch.

17

B g4

1 7 B d2

Now Black can break

t h rough tacti c a l l y , b u t t h e re
w a s n o good w a y t o d e fen d .
1 7 ...

1 8 Q f2

B g4

R x d2 !

19

On
..

1 9 Kx d2

Rd8ch.

1 9 ...
2 0 Qg2

Black plays
B x e3

To g u a r d the

Ngl.

2 0 ...

21 Bel

Qd4
B d2 c h

22 K f l

N dS

T h e K n i g h t i n v ad e s t h e
w e a k ness at e3 w i t h t h e
t h reat o f w i n n i n g Wh i te's
Queen.
2 3 B x g4

H e m i g h t as w e l l t a k e i n
o r d e r t o g e t some m ate r i a l
for t h e Q u e e n .
2 3 ...

Ne3ch

99

G a m e F o u r t e e n: L o n d o n 1 8 9 9

2 4 K f2

N x g2 d . c h .

This line of d e fen se to

the R u y was w o r k e d out by
Steinitz
and
rightly
is
n am e d a fte r h i m . I t ' s m ai n
asset i s i t s sol i d i t y , b u t i t i s
also r a th e r p assi v e .
4 N c3

Bd7

s d4

T h re a te n i n g t o w i n t h e
e - p a w n w i t h 6 B x c6 , B x c 6 7
de,

2 5 Kfl

Perhaps a sense of h u
m o r ? I n a n y e ve n t, Wh i t e i s
completely lost.
2 5 ...

2 6 K f2
2 7 Ke2

Ne3ch

N x g4 d . c h .

Qe3 ch

de

N xeS.
S .. .

Q x d8 c h ,

Rad8

ed

w as
alte rnative
the
S N f6 ,
cou n t e r i n g
t h re a t b y p u t t i n g more
p ressure on Wh i t e' s e 4 .
The

6 N x d4

g6

Whi te R e s i g n s .

GA M E FI FTEEN
LON D O N 1899

Wh i t e : P i l lsb ury
Black Steinitz
eS

1 e4
2 N f3
3 BbS

N c6

d6

A n i n n o v a t i v e a p p ro ach.
T h e u s u a l move i s 6 N f6
foll o w e d b y B e 7 .

7 N x c6

Saddling
Black
with
w e a k e n e d Q u e e n s i d e p a w ns.
7 ...

8 Bc4

9 Qe2

b x c6
B g7
Ne7

P i llsbury T h e E x traordin ary

100

I n o r d e r t o trade o f f t h e
d an ge rous B c4.
14 Bxe6
15 e5!

fxe6

Black
Bloc k i n g
the
and
d i agon a l
Bish op's
p u t t i n g p ressure on B l a c k ' s
ce n t e r p a w ns.
Not 9 N f6 be cause
t h e strong re p l y 1 0 eS!

1 5 ...

0-0

16 0-0

dS

of

1 0 h 4!?

V e r y s h a rp. Wh i t e se r v e s
n o t i c e t h a t h e i n te n ds to a t
t a c k as soon as B l a c k castles
K in gs i d e .
h6

1 0 ...

P robab l y an e rror.
gS

11 hS

T r y i n g to keep
close d , b u t Wh i te's
m o v e opens u p p l a y .

lines
next

gf

1 2 f4!

Wh i t e t h reaten e d 1 7 e d .
17 Rad1

Pinning the d-pawn and

t h re a te n i n g N e 4 follo w e d
b y N f 6 c h o r N cS.
17...
1 8 N a4!

Qe8

To occu p y the w e a k c 5 .
1 8 ...

A ft e r 12 g 4 ( T r y i n g t o
k e e p l i n e s closed) Wh i t e
p l a y s fS! , w i n n i n g t h e g
p a w n soon.
. .

13 B x f4

Be6

Rb8

101

G am e F i f t e e n: L o n d o n 1 8 9 9

better de fense w as
fol l o w e d b y N g8 .

1 8 ... K h 8

N f5

1 9 N c5

2 0 g4!

T a k i n g a d v a n tage of t h e
w e a k e n e d K i ngsi d e . N o w
2 0 . . . N e 7 allows 2 1 N x e 6 .
2 0 ...

Qe7

2 1 gx f5 !

R x f5

2 5 Rg2

Now

t h re a t e n i n g

B x h6.

25...

2 6 Q g4

Othe r w i se
d e v astati n g.

Kh7

2 2 N d3

2 3 R f2

To meet

24 Rh2.

23

2 3 ...

T h re a t e n i n g
24 Rh2

Rxh5

c5

2 4 . . . c4.

Qe7

IS

B x e5

.
r
- - ft
'

ft ft

Qh4

Qg6cb

A ft e r 2 1 Q x c5 c h , Wh i te
w i n s w i t h 22 B e 3 follo w e d
b y 2 3 f6.

2 2 ...

Q f7

27

2 7 N x c5!

Now w i t h a p i e ce for a
p a w n , Wh ite h a s a w i n n i ng
m aterial
a d v a n tage.
Yet
c a u t i o n i s requ i re d si n ce
Wh i te's K i n g i s i n a d r a f t y
p os i t i o n .

26

t=l

28

On

2 7 ... R x f4

Q x g7 c h ! ,

Rx g7ch,

and
with

3 1 N x f4 .

2 8 Q g6 c h

Or

Qh7

Kx g 7

2 8 ... K h 8

30

Q f6 c h

Wh ite p l a y s
Q x g7

30

Q x g6
29

Bxe5ch,

Qx h6ch,

RxeS

a n d m ate n e x t.

2 9 h x g6 c h Kg8
30 B x e5

29

N x e6ch

RxeS

31

P i l lsbur y T h e E x t ra o r d i n ary

1 02

N f6

3 ...

3 1 Nd7

4 B d3

B l a c k R e s i gn s.

GA M E S I XTEEN

Also
fi rst.
4

good

5 0-0

TORONTO 1899

6 Nbd2

B L I N D FOLD

IS

N b d2

Nbd7

b6

B d6

S I M U LT A N EO U S
Wh i t e : P i llsbur y
B l a c k: A m a t e u r

1 d4

This game w a s o n e o f
fou r
chess
and
twelve
c h e c k e rs games p l a y e d b y
P i l l sb u r y b l i n d fol d e d . F o r
good
m e asure
he
also
p l a y e d a g a m e of w h i s t on
the s i d e!
1...

2 N f3

d5

e6

The natural
s t r a i n i ng 7 e 4 ,
bette r.

3 e3

I t i s i n te r e st i n g t o n ote
P i l lsbu r y ' s adoption of t h e
Colle system a n u m b e r o f
y e a rs b e fore Edgar C o l l e
late r
(and
Geo rge
K o l t a n o w s k i) p r o v e d its v i
tality.

7 e4
e5

is

Bb7,

re
clearly

de

P r a c t i c a l l y forced s i n c e 8
was t h reate n e d .
8 Nxe4
9 N x d6 c h

Bb7

Obtaining the two Bish

ops.

G ame S i x teen: Toronto 1S99

9...

103

cxd6

D ra w i n g a b e a d o n the
stranded Black K i n g.
13...

1 4 B a3

Rc6
aS

B l a c k h as no g oo d m o ve s

1 5 c4!

T a k i n g a d v a n t age of t h e

pinned d-pawn
1 0 B f4

Developing with a gain

o f time.
10...

open up

to

m o re l i n e s o f a t t a c k .
15

Ne4

B x f3 ?

A poor i d e a . T h e re w as
n o n e e d to t r a d e t h e w e l l
posted B b 7 . 1 0 Q c 7 w a s i n
d i cated.
.

1 1 Q x f3

dS

Black is a l r e a d y
c ri t i c a l con d i t i o n .

in

1 2 B d6

O c c u p y i n g t h e a3 - fS d i
agon al to p i n B l a c k ' s K i n g
i n the center.
12 ...

R eS

I f t h e N d7 m o v e s (to
p rotect dS b e t t e r) then s i m
p l y 1 6 cd, Q x d 5 1 7 Q x dS,
N x d5 1 S B b 5 w i n s .
16 cd

NgS

P u re despe r a t i o n .
1 7 Q g3
1S d e

Preparing
finish.
1 3 R fe 1

1 S...

ReS

sparkling

N x e6

104

P i l lsbury T h e E x t r a o r d i n ary

4 B gS !

T h e move t h a t P i l l sb u r y
m ad e famous.
4...

Be7

S e3

0-0

6 N f3

On

18

fe

N x e 6 2 0 Q g6 c h !
19 Rxe6ch!

19

Rxe6ch!,

m ates.

Wi t h an elegant f i n i sh i n
m i n d.
fx e 6
1 9 ...
h x g6
2 0 Qg6ch!

Forced.

2 1 B x g6 m ate.

A n oth e r l i n e o f p l a y ,
w h i ch
p op u l a r
became
abou t 2 0 y e a rs a ft e r t h i s
game,
is
the
E x c h a n ge
V a ri ation -- 6 cd, ed -- to be
followed u p l a t e r w i t h t h e
m i n o r i t y a t t a c k (b2-b4-b5
and b x c6). H o w e v e r, the
text i s m o r e l i k e l y t o l e a d
to a com p l e x m i d d le g a m e
w h i ch s u i ts P i llsb u r y ' s s t y l e .
b6

6...

GAM E SEV E N TEEN

PARIS 1900

W h i t e : P i l lsb ury
B l a c k: Marco

1 d4
2 c4

3 N c3

dS
e6

N f6

7 B d3

Also possible i s 7 c d , e d
in order t o block the Black
QB t h o u g h m o d e r n t h e o r y
i n d i cates 7 N x d S 8 B x e 7 ,
Q x e 7 9 N x d S , e x d S i s O.K.
for B l a c k , d u e l a rge l y t o
the
consi de r a b l e
sim pli
fi cation i n v o l v e d .

7...

Bb7

105

G a m e S e v e n t e e n: P aris 1 9 0 0
8 cd

Wh i te w a nts to c l a ri f y
t h e p a w n pos i t i o n i n t h e
c e n t e r a s a p r e l u d e to a
K i n gsi d e b u i l d u p w i th N e 5
a n d f 4 -- a p a t t e r n P i lls
bury i n v e n t e d a n d u s e d
w i t h great success.

for a t t a c k , si n ce his c e n t e r
i s u n d e r less p ressure.
1 l B el

a6

ed

8...

T h e a l t e r n a t e c h o i c e w as
8 N x d 5 h o p i n g to re d u ce
t h e p ressu re b y t r a d i n g
p i e ces.

9 Ne5

Nbd7

P re p a r i n g to m o b i l i ze t h e
Queensi de pawns with b5.
1 3 Q f3

C on t ro ll i n g
e4
and
shi fting the Queen toward
t h e K i n gs i d e for atta c k i n g
p u r poses.
b5

13...

14 Qh3!

Excelle n t l y p l a ye d . Now
Wh i t e t h r e a t e n s 1 5 N x d7:

10 f4

Consol i d a t i n g t h e
10...

10

bette r

c5

e.g.,

Kh8

Ne5.

d e fense

Qxd7

B f5

0 , N x e 5 13 f x e 5 , f 6 .

By al
l o w i n g t h e N e 5 to re m a i n ,
B l a c k soon faces a strong
attack.
c4

Black thus creates a

Q u e e n s i d e p a w n m aj or i t y ,
b u t i n t h e p rocess rele ases
the p ressu re o n d 4 . T h i s a l
l o w s Wh ite m o r e c h a n ces

16

d.ch.

the Queen.
is

Ne8 11 B x e7, Qe7 12 0

1 1 0-0

15

17

Bx h7ch,

winning

g6

1 4 ...

T h e a l t e r n a t i v e , 1 4 ... h 6 ,
allows t h e w i n n i n g sacri fice
15

Ne4

Bx h6,
17

gxh6

R f3 !

1 8 Rg3ch,
m a te) 1 7 ... N d f6
15 f5!

T h e attack
h i g h gear.
1 5 ...

16

Qx h6,

( T h reaten i n g
N x g 3 19 Q h 7
1 8 Rh3.

s w i ngs i n to
b4

P i l l sbury T h e E x traord i n ary

106

So t h a t a ft e r t h e e x
p e c t e d 16 Ne 2 then 16 Ne 4
h e l p s obs t r u c t t h e d a nger
ous B c 2 .

1 6 fg!

C ra sh i n g
t h rough
the
b a r r i cades at t h e cost o f a
p ie c e .
1 6 ...

16

hg

Wh i t e
.

b x c3

R x f6 , f g

m ate)

a ft e r

wins

17

B x f6, N x f6

18

1 9 R x f6!

Much

stronger

19...

aS

B x f6 .

Hoping t o
K ingside with
20 Raft

than

bolster

2 0 ...
2 1 B x g6!

the

R a6 .

T h r e a te n i n g
21
f x g 6 2 2 R x g6 m ate.

19

B x g6 ,

Ra6

fxg6

( 1 8 . B x f6 1 9 Q x h 7
..

B x g6!,

19

h x g6

R x g 6 m a te. Also, on
1 7 Q e 6 c h , K h 8 18

N x d7

20

1 6 fg
N x d7,
.

(18. Qxd7 19 B x f6ch

w i n s t h e Queen) 1 9 R x f8 c h ,
..

N x f8
B x e7

18

QeSch ,

Kg8

19

Wh i te w i ns.

1 7 Q h 4!

N c3

Calmly leav ing the

under attack.
b x c3

1 7 ...

On

17

NxeS

b x c3 1 9 e x f6
1 8 N x d7

Paring
d e fe n d e rs.
18

18

dxeS,

i s cu r t a i n s.
away
Q x d7

T h e re

R x f8 c h ,

K x f8

24

cou l d

B x f8

Qh8ch,

Q h 7 c h , K f8

the

follow

23

22

Rx f8ch,

K f7

2S

(O r 2 5 . . . K e8 26
Qg8 m ate o r 25 ... Ke6 26
Qxd7
Q x g6
m ate)
26
w i n n i ng h a n d i l y . I n v i e w o f
t h i s B l a c k R e si g n s .

107

G a m e S e v e n t e e n : P aris 1 9 0 0

GA M E E I G H TEEN
M U N I C H 1900

Wh ite: P i l l sbury

B l a c k:

1 e4
2 N f3
3 Bb5

v.

B ar d e l e b e n
e5

Nc6
N f6

7 B x c6

" t h re a t e n e d "
Black
w h olesale e x c h a nges start
ing with 7 N x d 4 , so Wh i te
t r a d e s on c6 t o stop t h i s .

7...

B x c6

Forced
si n ce
d rops t h e e - p a w n .

b x c6

8 Qd3

Protecting the e - p a wn
again
and
thereby
t h reaten i n g t o t a k e t w i ce o n

D e fense ,
Berlin
The
t h o u g h B l a c k q u i c k l y t r a n s
poses i n to t h e S te i n i tz D e
fense b y a voi d i n g 4 N x e 4 .

4 0-0

5 N c3

Also good i s
5 ...

Be7

Whi te t h re a t e n e d
followed b y 7 N x e 5 .

6 B x c6

6 d4

e5.

Again with a th reat to

6 ...

B d7

8...

ed

B l a c k doesn' t w a n t t o
gi v e u p t h e c e n t e r p a w n ,
b u t t h e re w a s n o satis fac
tory de fense f o r e 5 (8 N d 7
9 B e 3 th reate n s to w i n a
p i e ce w i t h 1 0 d 5
9 d5
i m m e d i a t e l y a l l o w s 9 N c5).
...

5 Ret.

d6

e5.

- -

9 N x d4

Bd7

. . .

T o r e t a i n t h e B ishop p a i r
a n d w a t c h o v e r f5.
1 0 b3
1 1 Bbl

0-0

ReS

Hopi n g t o use t h e e - f i l e
t o p u t som e p ressure on
Wh i te's e 4. H o w e v e r Wh i t e ' s

P i l l sbury T h e E x traord i n ary

108

more aggressi v e d e v e lop

m e n t a n d a d v a n tage in
space gi v e him a d e f i n i te
e d ge.
12 Rae l

B f8

B x dS
Qd7
17 Qd8
Wh i t e
1 8 N gS ( T h reat

1 6 N dS
1 7 e x dS

A ft e r
c o n t i n ues
e n i n g 1 9 B x f6 and 20 Q x h 7
m ate) 1 8 g 6 1 9 f S , R x e 1 2 0
R x e 1 , N b S ( O r 20 B g 7 2 1
fg, h g 22 R f l! f o l l o w e d b y
Q f3 w i t h w i t h e r i n g p ressu re
d o w n the f- file) 2 1 fg, hg
..

13 f4
14 h3

Qe7

Preventing
Ng4
in
response t o e5 a n d g i v i n g
t h e K i n g s o m e a i r, j us t i n
case.

...

22 N x f7!, Kx f7 23 R f l c h ,
K g 8 2 4 Q x g6 c h , N g 7 2 5 R f7

a n d Wh i te w i n s .
1 8 B x f6

1 4 ...

cS

T h i s w e a k e n s dS a n d d6,
b u t B l a c k feels h e m u s t do
som e t h i n g acti v e to cou n t e r
Wh i te's form i d able a r r a y .
1 5 N f3

O f cou rse
B x fS
Rxe1,

n o t 1 5 N fS ,
1 6 e x fS , Q x e l
17
R x e 1 ch with much

i m p ro v e d c h a n ce s for B l a c k .
1 5 ...

B c6

R u i n i ng B l a c k ' s p a w n
structu re a n d le a v i n g B l a c k
w i t h a w e a k B i s h o p against
a n active K n i g h t.
1 8 ...

g x f6

109

G am e E i g h teen: Munich 1 9 0 0

2 5 Kh2
2 6 ab

19 Nh4

H e ad i n g for
w e a k ness on fS.
1 9...
2 0 Q fS!

the

bS

Gladly
goi n g i n t o
c o m p l e t e l y w o n e n d i ng.
2 0 ...
2 1 N x fS

new

ab
R a2

F i n a l l y a t h r e a t, b u t i t
c a n n ot rep a i r t h e d a m age
a l re a d y d o n e on t h e K i ng
side.
27 Re2

c4

2 8 be
2 9 R c3

be

Q x fS

N ote t h e d i f fe r e n c e i n
t h e acti v i t y o f t h e N fS vs.
the locked in B f8.
2 1 ...

Reb8

S t a m p i n g t h e c - p a w n as a
n e w t a rget.
2 9...

2 2 h4

aS

B l a c k does w h a t h e c a n
t o get som e cou n t e r p l a y .
23 hS
2 4 R f3

h6
a4

Rb4

A b l u n d e r , t h ou g h t h e
posi t i o n w as lost i n a n y
case.
30 Re8

T h re a te n i n g s i m p l y
R g3 c h a n d 3 2 R x f8 .
30...

Rbb2

31

P i l lsbury T h e Ex traordin ary

1 10

3 1 Rg3 c h

B l a c k Resigns.

Black's
U n d e rm i n i n g
estab l i s h e d
p re m a t u r e l y
s p e a r h e a d o n c4.
6...

cb

7 ab
8 Bb5ch
9 00

e6
B d7
a6

GA M E N I N ET E E N
8 U F F A LO 1 9 0 1
Wh ite: P i l lsbury
B l a c k: Mars h a l l
d5
1 d4
c5
2 N f3

A n aggressi v e and l i t t l e
k n o w n con t i n u ation, t h u s
w e l l s u i t e d to M a rs h a l l' s
s t y le.
3 e3

c4?

A
strategi c a l
mistake
w h i ch rel i n q u i shes t h e p res
su re on Wh i te's d4.
4 N c3

f5

To p re v e n t e 3 - e 4 .
5 Ne5

T h re a t e n i n g 6 Q h 5 c h , g 6
7 N x g6 , e t c .
5...
6 b3!

N f6

will
Wh i te
Hoping
e x c h ange o n d7
which
w o u l d e ase B l a c k ' s game.
The alternative, 9 Bxb5 10
N x b 5 , a6 1 1 c4 ensu res
Wh i t e ' s Q u e e nsi d e i n i t i a t i v e .
- -

1 0 B d3
1 1 N e2!

N c6

posi t i o n al
A
fine
m a n e u v e r. P i llsb u r y
saw
t h a t a ft e r a t r a d e on e 5 , h e

111

G a me N i neteen: B u ffalo 1 9 0 1

c a n re t a k e w i th t h e d - p a w n ,
t h u s ope n i n g u p t h e d 4
squ a re for t h e K n i g h t.
1 1 ...
12 dxeS

NxeS
Ng4

b r a n d s i t as a despe rate ges

t u re.
1 6 Qe 1 !

" E n d i ng"
all
i ll u sions.
Wi th t h e Q u e e n ' s o f f t h e re
is n o a t t a c k a n d Wh i te's
a d v a n t ages re m a i n .
1 6 ...
17 Rxe l
1 8 B a3 !

Qxel
Nh6

A g a i n fi n e p o s 1 t 1 o n p l a y ,
si n ce n o w
1 8 B x a3
19
R x a3 l e a ves B l a c k ' s o t h e r
B i shop " b a d " .
.

1 8 ...
13 f4
1 4 N d4

B x d4

D eS

T h e e x ce l l e n t post i n g o f
this
K n i g h t,
plus
the
c r a m p i n g p a w n on e S , gi v e
Wh i t e a c l e a r posi t i o n a l a d
v a n t age.
14...
15 h3

Qh4
hS

B u t n o w t h e B a3 w i l l
r a d i ate p o w e r o n t h e d a r k
s q u a res.
1 9 e x d4
2 0 D eS !

B e6

I n f i l t r a t i n g on t h e w e a k
d a r k squ a res.
20...

N f7

A l i t t l e bette r w a s 2 0 h 4
next
(Stop p i n g
Wh i t e ' s
m o v e) a n d on l y t h e n N f7,
p re p a r i n g g7 - g 5 .
..

Played with the verve

for w h i ch M a r s h a l l w as
H o w e v e r,
h e re
f a mous.
Wh i te's posi t i o n a l a d v an tage

P i l lsbury T h e E x traord i n ary

1 12

2 7 R x a6
l l h4

Rc7

Rh6

On 2 7 RbS then simply

2 S B b 6 follo w e d b y 2 9
Bxb5.
2 S B x b 5 c h K f7
29 RaS

NhS
b5
p re ve n t 2 4 b 5 ,

2 2 K fl
23 b 4

To
n o w t h e a-p a w n
very weak.
2 4 Ra5

w i ll

but
be

T h reaten i n g to m a te w i th
3 0 B e S c h , KgS 3 1 B g 6 d . c h .
2 9 ...
Kg6
30 BeSch Kh7

Bb7

25 Real

T h re a t e n i n g 2 6
winning material.
2 5 ...

Bxb5ch

ReS

Now Wh ite o v e r r u n s t h e
Q u e e n s i d e w i t h a " li t t le"
s a c r i f i ce.

S a fe at l ast, b u t n o w t h e
b - p a w n f i n ishes resi s t a n c e
q u i c k l y.
3 1 b5
32 b6
33 g3

N g6
Rb7

Black Resigns.
2 6 R x a6!

B x a6

1 13

G ame T w e nty: H a nover 1 9 02

GA M E TWENTY
H A N O V E R 1 9 02
Wh ite: A t kins
B l a c k: P i l lsbury
eS
1 e4
N c6
2 N f3
N f6
3 BbS

P re ve n t i n g 7 N dS , though
a t a loss of a t e m po.
7 0-0

B x c3

To stop 8 N d S .
h6
8 b x c3
9 Be3
I f 9 B b 4 , then 9 Rg8
followed by gS g i v e s B l a c k

e x ce l l e n t a t t ac k i n g c h a n ces.
The a c t u a l g a m e t r a nsposes
i n to this t y p e of p a t t e r n .
Again
fense.

the

Berlin

De

9...

Bd7

4 d3

P l a y able,
but
rather
p assi v e. B e s t i s t h e u s u a l 4
0-0.
4...
5 N c3

R eS

To be consi d e r e d i s S c3 ,
h o p i n g to form a p a w n
ce n t e r l a t e r.
s ...
6 BgS

d6
B b 4!?

1 0 N d2

Hop i n g to get i n f4.

1 0...

gS!

Preventing
f4
setting up an attack.
1 1 Rb l

a6

w h i le

P i llsbury T h e E x traord i n ary

1 14

12 B x e6

B x e6

Wh i te w a s t h re a te n i n g 1 9
f4.
1 9 R fe 1

1 3 f3

T r y i n g to consoli d ate.
13 ...

N bS

Regrou p i n g i n o r d e r to
b u i l d a n a t t a c k on t h e
K ingside.
1 4 d4

ce n t r a l
belated
This
a c t i on c a r r i e s n o force.
1 4 ...
1 5 g3

Now
16
answered by

b6
Rg8

f4
is
well
1 6 N x f4! 1 7
g x f4 , g x f4 d . e h .
1 6 Kh 1
Qe7
Rg6
1 7 Qe2
Ng7
18 B f2

K f8

S h i f t i n g t h e K i n g to
allow the O R t o come t o t h e
K i ngside i n a f e w m o v es.
fS!
20 N f l
2 1 dS
A ft e r 2 1 e f B l a c k h as
2 1 . g4!
with
powerful

t h reats.
2 1 ...

BbS

2 2 e4
23 g4

B d7

O t h e r w ise 23 g4 is v e r y
tough to m e e t .

23...

f4

1 15

G ame T w e nty: H anover 1 902

C r a m p i n g Wh i te ' s p i e ce s
a n d p r e p a r i n g t o open t h e
h - f i l e w i th h 5 .
2 4 Kg2

25 h3

the

Queen

30 N f l

Qh7

3 1 K f2
32 hg
33 N x h 2

hg
Rx h2ch
Qh4ch

34 Kfl
3 5 Q f2

Q g3
Rh8

Kf7

Rh6
Ne8

M a n e u v e r i n g t o a m o re
a c t i v e post on f6.
28 R h 2

Wh ite's o n l y h o p e i s to
t r y t o n e u t r a l i ze t h e h - f i l e .

B l a c k i s ste a d i l y m a k i n g
i n roads.
36 Rb3

2 8...

Kg6

h5

Cle a r i n g t h e b a c k r a n k ,
so the QR can join the
attack.
26 Nd2
27 Rh1

29 Bg1

Allowing
a c cess t o h 7 .

N f6

B a4

1 16

P i l lsbury T h e E x traor d i n ary

GA M E
TWENTY O N E
H A N O VER 1902
Wh ite: P i llsbury
B l a c k: Levin
rs
1 d4

37 R d3 ?

A b a d b l u n d e r i n a poor
position.
3 7 ...

Q x f2 c h

Wi n n i n g t h e c - p a w n .
3 8 Kx fl
39 R a3

B x c2
aS

D e fense,
The
D u t ch
always a f a v o r i t e of aggres
sive p l a y e rs.
2 e4

The
famous
S t a u n ton
G am b i t. P s y c hologi c a l l y it
i s t h e p e r fect response to
the D u tc h , s i n ce B l a c k m u st
d e fen d c a re f u l l y -- h a r d l y
t h e pre feren ce o f m ost ag
gressi v e l y m i n d e d p l a y e rs.
fe
N f6

2 ...
3 N c3

T h e rest i s easy, p a r t l y
b e c a u se Wh i te ' s Q u e e n s i d e
p a w n s a re s t i l l w e a k .
40 Ke2

Rh3!
B x e4.

T h r e a te n i n g 4 1

4 1 Kd2

T h e re i s n o d e fe n se.
4 1 ...
42 Rb3

Bxe4
Rg3

Wh i te R e s i gn s .

Poor i s 3 d5 b e c a u se o f
4 Q h 5 c h , g6 5 Q x d S .
c6
4 BgS

R e ason able
altern atives
a r e 4 g6, 4 N c 6 a n d 4 b 6 .

5 f3

1 17

G a me T w e n t y O n e: H an over 1902

O f fe r i n g a p a w n for a
l e a d i n de velopm e n t -- t h e
essen ce o f gamb i t p l a y .
5...
6 N x f3

10 000
1 1 Rhel

QaS

A s i n gle g l a n ce s h o w s
every
Wh i t e
p i e ce
tn
e x ce l l e n t p l a y , a n i l l o m e n
f o r B l a c k ' s c h a n ces.

ef
dS

1 1 ...
1l Re6!

0-0-0

A f i n e con c e p t i o n , b loc
k a d i n g the e - p a w n
and
smoth e r i n g B l a c k' s u n d e v e l
oped K i ngsi d e .
To
6

be

e6.
7 B d3

con s i d e re d

is

12

Ne4

Bg4

T o rest r a i n Wh i t e f rom
playing NeS.
8 h3
9 Q x f3

B x f3

the
has
Wh ite
Now
B i s h o p p a i r, a l e a d i n d e
v e l o p m e n t, a n d w e a k n esses
a t eS, e 6 and e7 to assai l .
9...

Nhd7

Black sacri fices a pawn

to
try
to
gain
some
freedom.
13 B x e 4
1 4 Qg4

dxe4

Not 1 4 N x e 4 b e cause o f
14

Qxa2.
1 4...
1 5 Q f4

hS
N f6

P i llsbury T h e E x traord i n ary

1 18

2 1 N x f4

1 6 ReS
17 Nxe4
18 NcS

Qc7
RdS
2 2 Ng6!

H e a d i n g for e 6 .

St ron g e r t h a n 2 2 N x dS .
2 2 ...

18...

cxd5

Nd7

Rg8

Forced
si n ce
l o s e s to 2 3 R f l .

2 2...Rh7

23 Bxe7

T h reate n i n g

24
N x f8 2 5 N e 7 c b .
Kc7
2 3 ...
N x f8
2 4 B x f8

19 Ne6
2 0 RxdS

B x f8,

Qd6

Wh ite s i m p l i f i e s i n to a n
e asi l y won e n dgame.
20

Q x f4 c h

A ft e r 2 0 . . . c x d S 2 1 Q x d6 ,
B l a c k' s
Rfl
22
posi t i o n i s e q u a l l y h o p e less.

25 Ne7

Wi n n i ng a n o t h e r p a w n .

e x d6

B l a c k R e s i g n s.

119

G ame T w e nty T w o : H anover 1 9 0 2

A fte r 6 N f6 ,
q u i te st rong.

GA M E
TWE N TY TWO

7 Ne5

Wi t h t h e t h re a t 8 B c4.
Bd6

7...

Very

H A N O V E R 1 902
Wh ite: P i l lsbury
B l ac k: S w i derski
1 d4
d5
e6
2 c4
3 N c3
b6?!

1s

e5

bad

is

f6

Qh5ch.
8 Qg4!

P ress i n g o n
w e a k e n e d g7.
8...

the

j u st

K f8

A sorry m o v e , b u t 8 g6
i s very bad too.

9 B c4

B xe5

A dubious e x p e r i m e n t as
P i l l sb u r y shows.
4 N f3
5 cd
6 e4!

fine
A
move.
6 ...

Bb7
ed

gambit
de

style

To d e fe n d f 7 , b u t n o w
Wh i te's d a rk s q u a re d B i sh o p
w i ll be powe r fu l .
10 dxe5

Qd4

A t f i rst t h i s seems goo d ,

b u t now come s a s u rp r i se.
c6
1 1 B dS!
A ft e r
1 1 B x d5
12

Qc8ch, Ke7 13 B g S c h , f6 1 4
R d 1 Wh i te w i n s.
1 2 B x e4

Q x e5

P i llsbury T h e E x traord i n ary

120

18 Bd5

T ru e, B l a c k h a s an e x t r a
p a w n , b u t Wh ite's d y n a m i c
l e a d i n de v e l op m e n t p l u s
B l a c k ' s e x posed u n castled
King provide overwhelming
compensation.
1 3 B f4
14 Q b 4
1 5 0 - 0 - 0!

N f6
Qe7

Q c5

19 R x e 8 c h !

Blast i n g h i s w a y t h rough
Black's d e f e n ses.
Kxe8

19...

O f cou rse n o t 1 9 R x e 8

2 0 B d6 c b .
2 0 Q x g7
cx d 5
O n 2 0 Q f8 Wh i te w i n s
w i t h 2 1 B x f7 c b , Q x f7 2 2
Q x h 8 c b , Q f8 (22 ... K e7 23
Q x d 8 ch) 23 R x d 8 c b .
Kd7
21 Qx b8cb
..

C u te. N o w 1 5 ... N x e 4 loses

to 16 Rd8ch.
1 5 ...

Ne8

1 6 Qg3
17 Rbe1

N a6
Rd8

Black cou l d resign, b u t

p re fe rs to " h a n g o n " a f e w
m o re m oves.

22 Q x b 7

T h e rest i s e a s y .
2 2 ...
2 3 Q x f7

Kc8
d4

12 1

G a me T w enty T w o : H anover 1 902

T h i s looks
source b u t ...

like

re

GA M E
TWE N TY T H REE

2 4 Qe6ch Rd7
MONTE C A R L O 1 902
Wh ite: P i l lsbury
B l a c k: T arra s c h
e5
1 e4
N c6
2 N f3
a6
3 Bb5

2 5 Qg8ch

Commencing an
m a n e u v e r.
2 5 ...
2 6 Qg4ch
2 7 Be3!

elegant

Rd8
Rd7

T h e p o i n t . N o w f a r from
w i n n i ng the N c3 , the B l a c k
d - p a w n i s lost.
27 ...

B x g2

T h e Morp h y p r e f e r e n ce .
4 Ba4
5 0-0

N f6
Be7

Solid. More active

m ore r i s k y i s 5 N x e 4.

and

6 N c3

An
old e r
( t h ough
p e r fectly sou n d) c h oi ce. The
m o d e rn p l a y e rs p r e f e r 6
Rel.
6...

28 Rxd4

B l a c k Resigns.

b5

lll

P i l lsbury T h e E x traordin ary

7 Bb3

d6

N o w , s i n c e the e - p a w n i s
p rotected, B l a c k can go
a ft e r t h e Wh ite KB w i t h
N a5 .
8 d3
9 h3

N a5

P re v e n t i n g 9 ... Bg4.
1 3 B dl
9

0-0

N c6?

B l a c k had to j us t i f y t h e
t i m e i n vested i n N a5 b y
con t i n u i n g w i th 1 3 ... N x b3
( U n l u c k y 1 3 t h ?) .
1 4 c3

Be6

was
better
l i ttle
A
1 4 . B d 7 b e c a u se n o w Wh i te
g a i n s t i m e b y h is n e x t .
..

15 Ng5

B x b3

1 6 axb3
1 7 N f3

h6
R fe 8

1 0 Nel

H e a d i n g for g3 , f rom
w h e re it can su r v e y t h e i m
p o r t a n t o u t post a t rs.
1 0 ...

c6

A strange d e cision si n ce
h e p l a y s c 6 - c5 t w o m o v e s
l a t e r.
1 1 Ng3
12 Qel

Q c7

R e s t r a i n i n g B l a c k f rom
p l a y i n g d6-d5 b y i n d i re c t l y
p u t t i n g p ressu re on e5.
12 ...

B l a c k i s p assi v e l y p l a c e d
a n d can o n l y t r y to forti f y
h i s pos i t i o n .
1 8 N f5

T h i s f i n e o u tpost p l a ces
B l a c k u n d e r great p ressure.

G ame T w e n t y T h ree: Monte C arlo 1 9 0 2

18. .
.

B f8

2 4 Q x f3

123

g5

1 9 g4

P re p a r i n g to sm ash open
m o re l i n es b y g 4 - g 5 .
1 9 ...
20 Kh2

Clearing
his Rooks.
2 0 ...
21 Rg1

Nh7

the

g- f i l e

for

T h e poi n t o f B l a c k ' s
d e fense. B u t as P i llsb u r y
soon d e m o n s t r a t e s, i t i s
q u i te f l i m s y .
2 5 Kg2

Cleari n g t h e w a y for h i s
R ooks on t h e h - f i l e .

Qd8
N g5

2 5 ...
26 R h 1

Re6
B g7

T h e on l y w a y to resist
for a w h i l e w as 2 6 . . . Rg6.
N o w comes a b r i s k f i n i s h .
2 7 N x g7

K x g7

A feeble de fensi v e t r y ,
b u t there was n o d e fense to
Wh i te's
rap i d l y
grow i n g
i n i t i a t i v e a n y w a y.
22 b4

Eleme n t a r y , b u t
ful.
22 ...

p o w e r

N x f3 c h

28 bxg
hxg
29 Rh7ch!

P i llsbury T h e E x traordinary

124

Ob v i ou s l y o v e r l oo k e d b y
T a rrasch.
Kx h 7
2 9...
3 0 Q x f7 c h

Mate follo w s on t h e h
file.
B l a c k Resigns.

v e r y d ra w i s h a n d 5 N x d4
allows 5 e 5 .

5 B x c4

A l i t t l e t a c t i c: S de?? 6
B x f7 c h w i n s t h e Q u e e n .
e6
5...
N f6
6 ed

GAM E

TWENTY FO U R
M O N T E C A R L O 1 902
Wh ite: P illsbury
B l a c k: G u nsberg
1 d4
d5
de
2 c4

The Queen's Gambit Ac

c e p t e d , w h i ch g i v e s u p t h e
ce n t e r t e m p o r a r i l y , h o p i n g
to restore t h e b a l a n ce w i t h
c7 - c5 .
3 N f3

cS

7 0-0

Be7

R e a c h i n g a n absol u t e l y
m o d e r n position c h a r a c t e r
istic of the Queen's Gambit
A c c e p t e d ; Wh i te's i s o l a t e d
pawn
con fers
a t t ac k i n g
c h a n ces t h ro u g h i ts con t ro l
o f e 5 , b u t B l a c k ' s posi t i o n
i s sol i d .
8 Qe2

Nbd7

Mo re f l e x i b l e w a s st m
ply 8 0-0.

9 N c3

4 e3

cd

H o p i n g to s a d d l e Wh i te
w i t h an i solated d - p a w n ,
s i n ce t h e r e p l y 5 Q x d4 i s

Nb6

125

G a m e T w en t y Four: M o n t e C arlo 1 9 0 2

B l a c k co r r e c t l y foll o w s
t h e form u l a o f control l i n g
the square i n front o f the
i so l a t e d d - p a w n .

N o w i f 15 . .. B x e 5 , t h e n
1 6 fx e 5 ope n i n g t h e f- file
i s v e r y strong.
1 5 ...

g6

N b d5

1 0 Bb3
1 1 Bg5

Also

possible was 1 1
t h e te x t i s s t i l l
consi d e re d more acti v e .
Be3, but

0-0

1 1 ...
12 N e 5

T h e estab l i s h m e n t o f t h e
K n igh t on t h e i m po r t a n t e5
square porte n d s m aj o r op
e rations against t h e K i n g
s i d e.
N x c3

1 2 ...

T r y i n g t o stop a
open i n g v i a f4 - f5 x e 6 .

line

1 6 R f3

Wh i t e c a l m l y s w i ng s h i s
h e a v y pieces i n t o t h e b attle
zone.
B g7
f6
T h i s w e a k e n s e 6 a n d g6.
b6
18 N d3
1 6 ...
17 R a f l

G i v i n g Wh ite h a n g i n g
p a w n s, b u t a l s o gi v i n g u p
t h e st rongpoi n t on d5, s i n ce
n o w c3 - c4 is a v a i l ab l e .
1 3 b x c3

N d5

See k i n g secu r i t y i n e x
c h a n ges, n o t a b a d i d e a.
1 4 B d2 !

Wh i c h
d e c l i n es.
1 4 ...
1 5 f4

Wh i t e

p ro m p t l y

B f6

1 9 fS!

A f i n e l i n e ope n i n g
com b i n a tion a fte r w h i c h

P i l lsbury T h e E x traordin ary

126

Wh i te's a t t a c k begi n s
gain momentum.

to

gf

1 9 ...

Natu rally
n ot
19 ef
si n ce 2 0 N f4 w i n s a p i e ce.

2 0 R h3

Anoth e r poi n t o f 1 9 fS!

appears
h S h as been le ft
u n p rotecte d by 1 9 g f.

On 2 4 K h 8 Wh i te w i n s
q u i c k l y w i t h .2 5 N g 6 c h ,

K g 8 2 6 N e 7 d . d b l . c h ., K h 8
.2 7 R g 8 m ate.
.25 Rh3
2 6 Q x fS

Bh8

--

2 0 ...
2 1 QhS

R f7
B f8

Now any move o f the

N d S allows 2 7 Q x h 7 c h a n d
.2 8 Q x f7 m ate .
.2 6 ...
.2 7 N x dS

cute

Qd7

t w i st

Q x fS i s a n s w e r e d
N e 7 c h a n d 2 9 N x fS
.2 7...

- -

by

27
.2 8
.

B x dS

2 2 R x fS!

A d e e p Rook sacri fice,

w h i ch l e a d s to a w i n n i n g
e n d game
eleven
moves
l a t e r.
2 2 ...
23 N f4
2 4 Rg3 c h

e x fS
Bb7
Bg7

N o w p l a y s i m p l i f i e s i n to
a won e n d i ng, a p a w n u p .
2 9 ...
30 Bh6

R f8
B g7

127

G am e T w e n ty Fo ur: M o n t e C arlo 1 9 02

Ra4

3 7 Re3
38 dS!

N o w t h i s p a w n m a rches
to v i cto r y .
3 2 ...
33 B x f7

R x a2
Ra6

3 8...
39 d6

Kh8
Rx f7

The o n l y m o v e .
3 4 K f2

T h e K i n g m o v e s i n to ac
tion to assist h i s a d v an c e d
p assed d - p a w n .
3 4 ...
3 5 Ke2

rai d
bS

Forcing a new Queen.

4 1...
42 d8

Rxe6
=

B l a c k R e s i g n s.

Rc7
Rc4

H o p i n g to
Wh ite a-p a w n .
3 6 Kd3

Kg7

40 Re6
41 d7!

the

128

P i l lsbury T h e E x traordin ary

GA M E
TWEN TY F I V E
M O N T E C A R LO 1 9 0 2
Wh ite: Von S c heve
B l a c k: P i l lsb ury
d5
1 d4
2 N f3
c5

S h a rp e r than the more

usual 2 N f6 or 2 e6.

3 de

Wh i te p l a y s t h e Q u e e n ' s
Gambit Accepted a tempo
u p . C e r t a i n l y not a b a d
i d e a, b u t h i s i n te n t i o n o f
h o l d i n g o n to t h i s p a w n
g e t s h i m i n to d i f f i c u l t i es.
3 ...

N o w e4 i s t h reate n e d ;
a l s o 7 B x c5 8 N x c5 , Q a 5 c h
reco v e r i n g t h e c5 p a w n .

N f6

7 b4
e4
8 Ng1
On 8 b5 Black
Qa5ch!.
8...
b5!

h as

Another s h a rp s h o t set
t i n g o f f Black's a d v a n t age.
9 Nb2

A ft e r 9 c x b e .p ., ab 1 0
10 c 4 s i m p l y
N b 2 (On
good)
is
e.p.
lO dc
1 0 B x b 4 c h is strong.
. . .

9...

4 N c3
5 a3?

N d 5!

N c6

T r y i n g to retain t h e c 5
w rong, bette r
pawn is
w o u l d be 5 B g5 .
5

d4!

Seizing
space.

more

6 Na4

e5

central

H e a d i n g for the t e r r i b le
w e a k n e ss o n c3 .
1 0 e3

N c3

129

G a m e T w e nty Five: Monte C arlo 1 9 02

11 Qd2
12 ba

aS
B x c5

Black
con t i n ues
power ful moves.
19 Ret

B l a c k ' s c r u s h i n g a d v an
tage i n d e velopme n t a n d
c e n t ral con trol i s s t r i k i n g.

with

Rd8

T h re aten i n g 2 0 ... N f3 c h
w i n n i n g Wh i te ' s Q u e e n .
2 0 Q c3

N f3 c h!

A n y w ay!
13 N e 2
14 Bxe2
15 ed

N x e2
R x aS
N x d4

2 1 g x f3

B x f3

Wi t h t h e t h r e a t o f m ate
by 2 2 Qg6 c h .
..

16 0-0
1 7 R d 1?

0-0

2 2 B h3
23 K f l

Wi n n i ng
A poor m o v e w h i ch o n l y
l e a ves f 2 u n d e fe n d e d .
17
18 Bfl
..

Qb6
Bg4

Qg6ch
QhS

d i re c t l y

s i n ce

2 4 B g 2 , Q x h 2 2 5 B x f3 al
l o w s 2 5 Q x f2 m a te.

Wh i te R e s i g n s.

P i l lsbury T h e E x traordinary

130

GA M E
TWENTY S I X
M O N T E C A R LO 1 9 0 2
Wh ite: P i l l sbury
B l a c k: Wo l f
N f6
1 d4
e6
2 c4
b6
3 N c3

7 e5

Gaining
s p a ce.

ce n t ra l

Ne4
Be7

7...
8 N f3

T he

m o re

tempting

move

8 . . . B b 4 loses a p i e ce a ft e r 9
Bb5,
10
N c6
Qa4ch!,
B x c3 c h 1 1 b x c3 , Q d7 12 e 6 ,
fe 13 N e 5 , N x c3 1 4 Q c 2 .
9 0-0
0-0

A l l o w i n g Wh i te t o b u i l d
a m assi v e p a w n c e n t e r.
B l a c k h a d to control e4 b y
or
( N i m zo v i t ch)
3 Bb4

3 ... d5.
4 e4

Bb7

Of cou rse!
1 0 Q c2

5 B d3

Q u i c k d e v elopm e n t " a l a
Morp h y " .
5...
6 cd

d5
ed

P u t t i n g t h e q u e stion to
B l a c k's outpost on e 4 .
1 0 ...

N x c3

A ft e r 10 ... f5 1 1 e x f e.p.,
N x f6 1 2 N g 5 t h r e a t e n s h7
and e 6 to w h i ch t h e re i s no
good d e fense.

13 1

G a m e T w e n t y S i x : Monte C arlo 1 9 0 2

1 1 Bx h7ch

1 1 ...
1 2 b x c3

the

Kh8
g6

N at u rally.
fxg6

N o w w i t h t h ree p a w n s
and the attack on Black's
e x posed K i ng, Wh i te i s i n
c o n t rol.
14...
15 Qh6ch

1 8 f4

Ke6

T r y i n g to escape to rela
t i v e sa fet y o n the Q u e e n
side.

13 B x g6!
13 ...
1 4 Q x g6

Also a fte r 1 7 K h 7 the

reply 1 8 f4 foll o w e d b y
R f3 i s too st rong.

Wh i t e
foresees
coming attack.

Qe8
Kg8

B x gS
1 6 NgS
1 7 Q x gS c h Kf7

1 9 fS c h
2 0 Q g7 c h
21 e 6

Kd7
Kc8

Wh i te's
far
p asse d p a w n s
sistible.
2 1.

22 Q h 7
2 3 Qg6

a d v an c e d
a re i r re
Rg8

Rh8
B a6

P i l l sbury T h e Ex trao rdinary

132

A ft e r 23 ... Q x g 6 24 fxg6,
Rg8 25 g7 t h e re i s n o de
fense t o R f8.
24 Qxe8ch
an

G o i n g i n to
won e n d i ng.
2 4 ...

easil y

Rxe8

3 1 Rg5

T h reaten i n g Rg7
l o w e d b y e 7 a n d f7.
3 1 ...

To m e e t
32

25 Rel
2 6 Bg5
2 7 B x d8

Rh7.
32 Ree5
33 Rg8ch

32

B d3
Rg7
Rh6
Kc7

N c6
Nd8

T h e s i mplest.
2 7 ...

Kx d8

3 4 R x c8 c h K x c8
3 5 e7

B l a c k R e s i g n s.

2 8 f6

T h e p a w n s roll on.
2 8 ...
2 9 ReS
3 0 R ae l

Rh8
c6
R eS

fol
with

133

G ame T wenty S e ve n: Monte C arlo

GA M E

TWENTY SEVEN
M O N T E C A R L O 1903
Wh ite: P i l l sbury
B l a c k: Mieses
dS
1 d4
2 c4
eS

The
sharp
Albin
C o u n t e r G a m b i t , a fre
q u e n t c h o i ce o f v i rtuoso
t a c t i c i a n s l i k e Mi eses.

7 0-0-0ch B d7

A ft e r 7 Ke8 8 B x e7 ,
N g x e 7 Wh i te h as 9 N b S ! .

d e?!

3 de

8 B f4

Wh i t e a v o i d s e x ch a n ges
to keep B l a c k c r a m p e d .
8...

a6

To s u p p o r t the c4 p a w n
w i t h b 7 - b S a n d to p r e v e n t
a l a t e r N b S w h i ch , i n con
B f4
the
with
j u n ction
wou l d pose t a c t i c a l t h reats
aga i n s t c7.
9 NdS

D e f i n i t e l y i n f e r i o r to
t h e usual 3 d4, s a c r i f i c i n g
a p a w n i n r e t u r n f o r some
i n i ti a t i ve.

T h reaten i n g

c7
N x c7 , K x c 7 1 1 e 6 d . c h .
ReS
9...

4 Qx d8ch Kxd8
S N c3
Nc6
6 BgSch

Wh i te's ad v a n t age rests

p r i m a ri l y i n his lead in
d e v e lopm e n t and B l a c k ' s
a w k w a r d l y posted K i ng.
6 ...

Be7

1 0 N f3

bS

10

P i l lsbury T h e E x traordinary

134

1 1 e3

Nb4?

18 Bel

B c6

A serious t a c t i c a l m i s
t a k e t h o u g h B l a c k ' s posi
tion is bad a n y w a y.
12 Nxb4

B x b4

A ft e r
18 Rxh8
Wh i te's
Bishop se i zes t h e h 1 a8 d i
agon al w i t h 1 9 B f3 .

19 Rhe1
13 e6!

Clearing
K n i g h t.
13 ...
14 N e S
1 5 N f7 c h

eS

for

the

2 0 rs
fe
B d6
Ke7

16 Nxh8

es

Black must try to keep

l i nes c lose d.
2 1 B f3

e4

A ft e r
2 1 B x f3
R x e S c h w i n s e asi l y .
K f7
2 2 g4
23 gS!

N o w , o f cou rse, Wh i t e
h as a won game. I t is i n
s t r u c t i v e to s e e h o w h e f i n
i s h e s t h e te c h n i cal task.
16...
1 7 e x f4

Rxh8

N o t 1 9 B x g2 b e cause o f
2 0 R g 1 a n d 2 1 R x g7.

B x f4
N f6

The most aggressi v e .

2 3 ...
2 4 gx f6

e x f3
g x f6

22

G a m e T w e n t y Seven: Monte C arlo

135

GA M E
TWENTY E I G H T
MO N T E C A R L O 1 9 0 3
Wh ite: P i l lsb ury
B l a c k: S c h le c h te r
d5
1 d4
2 c4
c5

Not 24 Kx f6 2 5 R e 6 c h
p i c k i n g u p the B c6.

2 5 Re6
2 6 R de 1

Be8

N o w a decisi v e i n v asion
a t e 7 cannot be p r e v e n t e d .
B l a c k Resigns.

A r a r e l y t r i e d s y m m e tthe
to
d e fense
rical
Q u e e n ' s G a m b i t.
3 de

A l s o g o o d i s 3 cd.
Wh i te's e x t ra t e m p o allows
him to m a i n t a i n a n i n i ti a
tive.
3 ...

d4

The ma1n fault w i t h

B l a c k ' s ope n i n g s t r a t e g y i s
t h at i t i s too aggress i v e .
4 a3

aS

O t h e r w ise Wh i te reta i n s
t h e e x t r a p a w n w i t h 5 b4.
5 N f3
6 e3

N c6
e5

P i l lsbury T h e E x traor d i n ary

136

7 ed

e4

Consiste n t l y aggress i v e ,
b u t s t i l l u n sou n d .

13 fx e3
14 NdS

T h re a t e n i n g
8 N gS
9 Q c2

Qxd4
N f6

B x cS

to

play

N c7.
1 4 ...
15 0-0-0

Bd6

A s u s u a l P i l l sb u r y p ro
ceeds w i t h m a x i m u m v i go r .
15...

B f5

10 Be3

Developing with a gain

o f t i m e w h i l e p rotect i n g
h i s e x t r a p a w n on cS.
1 0 ...
11 N c3

QeS
Ng4

Black, r e a l i zi n g t h e c r i t
i c a l n a t u re o f h i s posi t i o n ,
stri v es for com p l i cations i n
p re fe re n ce to l l . . B f5 .
.

B l a c k struggles to a c t i
v ate h i s rem a i n i n g forces.
16 QxeScb N x e5
1 7 N f3

Wh i te i s h ap p y to s i m
pli fy, being a pawn up in
t h e e n d i n g.
1 7...

12 Qxe4

N x e3

0-0-0

137

G a me T w e nty E i g h t: Monte C arlo 1 903

A bad b l u n d e r in a b a d
posi t i o n .
18 Nxe5

Wi n n i n g a p i e c e s i n ce
1 8 ... B x e5 allows 1 9 N e 7 c h
a n d 2 0 N x f5 .
Black R e s i gns.

GAM E
TWENTY N I N E
M O N T E C A R L O 1903
Wh ite: P i ll sbury
B la c k: Wol f
1 d4
d5
e6
2 c4
N f6
3 N c3

is
possib l e
Also
C h a rouse k's f i nesse 3 B e 7
w i t h the i d e a o f re d u c i n g
Wh i te's options rega r d i n g
the placement of his K N or
QB. For example, now
Wh i t e ' s p re fe r r e d B g 5 i s
not
possible,
while
e3
w o u l d o n l y lock in t h e QB.
..

In v i e w o f t h is, Wh i te's
o t h e r reaso n a b l e d e velop
ment options a re v i rt u al l y
l i m i te d to N f3 (4 g3 w o u l d
t r a n spose i n t o a C a t a l a n ,
but this would be running
from the intended Queen's
G a m b i t) . B u t t h e i m m e d i
a t e 4 N f3 g i v e s u p t h e op
tion of ( a fte r e 3) N ge2 a n d
N f4 or N g 3 .
4 B g5
5 N f3

Nbd7

O n e o f t h e o l d est t r aps
in the book i s 5 cd, e d 6
N x d5? s i n c e B l a c k w i n s
w i t h 6 N x d5! 7 B x d8,

Bb4ch.
5...
6 e3

7 Rcl
8 cd

Be7
0-0

b6

Open i n g t h e c- fi le a n d
b l o c k i n g t h e a 8 - h 1 d i ago
n a l (si n c e now B l a c k c a n
n o t open i t w i t h a t i m e l y
d e) .
8...
9 Ne5

ed

138

P i l l sbury T h e E x traordin ary

O c c u p y i n g the a d v an ce d
outpost as a p r e l u d e to a
K i n gs i d e e f fort w i t h f4,
B d3 , 00, Q (or R) f3 .
9

Bb7

13 B f5

More aggress i v e t h a n t h e
u s u a l 1 3 B el o r 1 3 B b l .
13
14 R f3

b5
ReS

H o p i n g f o r some c e n t r a l
cou n te r p l a y a n d rese r v i n g
a n option o f N f8 , forti f y
i n g t h e K i ng's posi t i o n .
15 Rh3

A l re a d y s t o r m
a re gat h e r i n g.
B e t t e r w as 9 N x e 5
.

d x e 5 , N g4.
10 f4
11 B d3

clouds

10
15

g6

..

a6
c5

B l a c k w an t s to create a
Q u e e n s i d e m aj o r i t y w i t h c4
followed by b 6 - b 5 - b 4 .
12 0-0

Wh i t e w i l l follow h i s
u s u a l p l a n h e re o f m assi n g
against t h e B l a c k K i ngsi de.
1 2 ...

c4
16
th reate n e d
Wh i te
B x d 7, N x d7 1 7 Q h 5 a t t a c k
ing both f7 and b7.
N x e5
16 Bb1
A fte r 1 6 N f8 Wh i te's

attack cou l d con t i n u e w i t h

1 7 f5.
1 7 fx e 5
18 Bxe7

N d7
Rxe7

139

G a m e T w enty N i ne: Monte C arlo 1 9 0 3

- . -
..-

?f

ff
JJt

ft ft

t'\ t
.:L
W

P robab l y

better

T h e K n ig h t c a n n o t be
taken: 2 2 ... Q x a 4 2 3 Q x e 7 .
23 N c5
24 Rh6

B c8
aS

was

1 8 . . . Q x e7 .
1 9 Q f3

A t t a c k i n g d5 an d b r i n g
i n g t h e Queen i n t o a c t i o n .
1 9 ...
20 Rfl

N f8
2 5 R f4

Wh i te's h e a v y p i e ces all

bear
down
on
Black's
w e a k e n e d K i n gs i d e .
2 0 ...
2 1 Q f6

Qd7

I n v a d i n g t h e " h ole" on

Wh i te's p i e ces
on t h e t a rget.
2 5 ...

close i n

Rb8

B u t n o w t h e storm be
g i n s.

f6.
2 1...

b4?

2 6 B x g6!

Rb6

A fte r 2 6 ... N x g6 Wh ite

b re a k s t h rough with 2 7
R x g6 c h ! , h x g6 ( 2 7 f x g6 2 8
Q f8 m a te) 2 8 R h 4 a n d
m ate a t h 8 c a n n ot be p r e
v e n ted.
. . .

27 Qxb6

A great s u r p r i se. N o w i f
We ak. This only d r i v e s
Wh ite's K n i g h t t o a f i n e
p o s t o n c5.
2 2 N a4

Qc7

2 7 ... Q x b 6 t h e n 2 8
a n d 2 9 R x b 6 w i ns.
2 7 ...

B x h7ch

N x g6

P i ll sbury T h e E x traord i n ary

140

GAM E TH I RTY
V I E N N A 1 903
Wh ite: Gunsberg
B l a c k: P i l lsbury
eS
1 e4
2 f4
ef

T h e K i n g's G a m b i t A c v i able
fully
a
cepted,
means of d e fense.
ReS

2 8 Q f6

T a k i n g t h e Rook a lso i s
hopeless: 2 8 N x f4 2 9 e x f4
fol l o w e d b y R h S gS, etc.

3 N f3

dS

29 Rfl
3 0 QgS

Be6

The rest i s easy.

3 0 ...

Kh8

S t ri k i n g
c e n t e r.

back

the

4 eS

T h i s i s w e a k . N o r m a l is
4 e d w i t h rough l y e v e n
c h a n ces.
3 1 QhS
3 2 N x e6
33 Rxe6

N f8
R x e6

B l a c k Resi gns.

4...

gS

N o w Black w i l l b e able
t o a d v an tageou s l y h o l d on
to his e x t r a p a w n .
S h3

N h 6!

We ll p l a y e d . The K n i g h t
h e a d s f o r the h o l e on g3 .

G ame T h irty: V i e n n a 1 9 03

6 d4

N f5

7 B d3
8 R h2

N g3

141

F i n e l y p l a y e d . N o w 12
N x c5 i s well a n s w e re d b y
1 2 ... Q a 5 c h .
12 c3
N o w 13 N x c5 is a t h reat.
Qb6
12 ...

N o w t h e Rook i s l o c k e d
out o f play.
8...
9 Nbd2

h6
c5

T h reate n i n g
w i n n i ng m a t e ri al.
13 N x c5
1 4 Qc2

1 3 ... B g 1 !

Q x c5

Wh i te s c r a m b l e s to cas
tle Q u e e n s i d e .
1 4 ...
1 5 B d2

B d7

Allow i n g a s i m p l e t a c t i c.
1 5 ...

P ressu r i n g t h e d - p a w n .
10 de

O t h e r w i se 1 0 . . . N c 6 a n d
Q b 6 i s ve r y good for B l a c k .
1 0 ...
1 1 Nb3

B x c5

E x pe c t i n g the Bishop to
retreat.
1 1 ...

N c6!

N x e 5!

142

P i llsbury T h e E x traordin ary

S i n ce 16 N x eS ,
a n d m at e n e xt.
16 0-0-0
1 7 Q x d3

Qglch

N x d3 c h
0-0-0

Wi t h t w o e x t ra p a w n s
and the attack, Black wins
in a walk.
18 Nd4

Rhe8

Now Black
m ateri al.
23...
2 4 Qd2

19 h4

Re4!
20
2 1 Qx d4, Ne2ch.
2 0 Kb l
Bg4
Kb8
21 R e t
1 9 ...

T h re a t e n i n g

2 2 hg
23 B e l ?

hg

R x d4

m o re

Re3
Nfl

Whi t e R e s i g n s.
H e w as a chess " m eteor"
b r i ll i an t l y s t re a k i n g a c ross
the s k y . H a r r y
N e lson
P i llsb u r y came and w e n t
q u i c k l y , b u t h i s l i fe a n d
g a m e s w e re e xt r a or d i n a r y .
P i l l sb u r y
n a ry!

T r y i ng t o get s o m e scope
for t h e i n carcerated R oo k .

wins

the

E x traord i

Gre at B o o ks Fro m C h e s s D i g e s t

143

O R D E R T H E F O L L OWI N G F R OM C H E S S D I G E S T , I N C .

C- 953 COLLE S YS TEM-GM Geo rge K o l t a n o w s k i 1 2 t h

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a n o p e n i ng. 88 p ages, algeb rai c, p ap e r b a c k . $ 6 . 1 5 .
L - 463B THE WOR LD CHAMPIONSHIP 1 9 72 FIS CHER VS.

SPA SSKY-Evans & S m i t h . T h e i n s i d e story w i t h e v e r y m o v e

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book e v e r p u b l i s h e d . P a p e r b a c k . $ 7 .95
E- 9 9 CHESS INS TR UCTIONS : Move By Mov e - C h e ss D i gest
( K e n S m i th) . T h e greatest games p l a y e d i n t h e 1 970's w i t h e v
e r y Wh ite & B l a c k m o v e e x p l a i n e d . P ap e rb a c k . $ 8 .95
J-81 EXER CISES IN THE ENDGAME: D i ag r a m m e d Move
B y Move-Chess D i gest ( K en S m i th). N o board and men n e e d e d
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J-65 MA KING CHESS ENDINGS EA S Y TO S TUD Y Vol 1 -

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J- 64 UNUS UAL ENDINGS - C h ess D i gest ( K e n S m i th). C re
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J-80 CHALLENGES IN THE ENDGAME
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t h e t a c t i cs o f t h e e n d ga m e . T h e p ra c t i c a l v a l u e i s t h e re for
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L- 583 THE 1 986 WORLD CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP: KA S

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J- 54 QUEEN AND PA WN ENDINGS -A v e rb a k h . The book i s
-

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1 44

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ch ess. P a p e r b a c k . $ 1 4.20.
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BY

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