White to Play

Pete Tamburro on Apr 13, 2026

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This tenth instructional game is special for me since I knew the winner. Herman was a magnificent storyteller at dinner and very jovial. I met him in the 1970s, almost 30 years after this game was played. Miguel Najdorf was one of the greatest players in chess history, so Pilnik beating him was no small accomplishment. Pilnik,H. - Najdorf,M. (B15) Mar Del Plata, 1942 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nf6 5.Nxf6+ exf6 6.c3 Bd6 7.Bd3 0–0 8.Qh5 g6 9.Qh4 c5 10.Ne2 Nc6 11.Bh6 f5 (better was 11...Re8) 12.Bg5 Qb6 13.0–0 cxd4 14.cxd4 Re8 15.Bc4 (with the nasty threat of 16.Bxf7+) 15...h5 16.Rae1 Re4 17.Nf4 Qxd4 18.Rxe4 fxe4 (SEE DIAGRAM—WHAT’S YOUR PLAN OF ATTACK?)

Even if you see the first move, cover the rest up and see if you can work it all out. 19.Nxh5! gxh5 If 19...Qxc4 20.Nf6+ Kf8 21.Qh8+ Ke7 22.Qe8 mate 20.Bf6! Qc5 20...Qxc4?? 21.Qxh5 21.Rd1 with the idea of Rd5 swinging over to the kingside 21...Kf8 22.b4 Nxb4 23.Qg3! Bg4 24.Rxd6 Nd3 If 24...Qxc4 25.Qe3 defending c1 and threatening Qh6 25...Ke8 26.Qh6 wins. 25.Bxd3 Qc1+ 26.Bf1 Rc8 27.h3 Black was threatening Qxf1+ followed by Rc1 mate! 27...Qxf1+ 28.Kh2 Qc1 29.hxg4 hxg4 30.Qxg4 Qh6+ 31.Kg3 Rc3+ 32.f3 Black Resigned

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