Pillsbury - Amatuer
Toronto, 1899.
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Chernev writes: "Despite the almost incredible difficulties Pillsbury imposed on himself, his conduct of this game and the concluding combination are far from prosaic. This (believe-it-or-not) was one of 12 chess and 4 checker games played blindfolded and simultaneously, while taking part in a game of whist!"
( - Irving Chernev in his book, "[The] 1000 Best Short
Games of Chess."
Game # 778, page # 410.)
For my part, I can say this game is a joy to behold. It is fresh, beautiful and invigorating. And Pillsbury's play even stands up to modern scrutiny.
One can hardly believe the great Pillsbury played this game both simultaneously and blindfolded. Most of us would be proud to play this game over-the-board in a normal one-on-one game!
- LIFE Master A.J. Goldsby I.
1. d4 d5; 2. Nf3 e6; 3. e3 Nf6; 4. Bd3 Nbd7; 5. 0-0 b6!?;
[5...Bd6!; 6.Nbd2 c5; 7.c3 0-0; 8.Re1, ("+/=") {See the position just below.}
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with the normal, albeit very small, White advantage.
(Its also a Colle System proper.) ]
6. Nbd2
Bd6!?; Pillsbury was very inventive and creative.
Here he is playing [basically] a Colle System long before Colle ever used it.
[6...Be7!
]
7. e4
dxe4; 8.
Nxe4
Bb7;
The sanest.
[ 8...Nxe4!?; 9.Bxe4
Rb8;
10.Bg5, "with
attack/initiative." ] .
9. Nxd6+
cxd6; 10.
Bf4!
Bxf3?!; (Maybe - '?')
Giving up both Bishops unnecessarily.
In his defense, Black wanted to play ...d5; but did not want to shut in his Bishop.
[ 10...Qc7; 11.c4
0-0;
12.Re1
Rfd8; 13.Qe2,
("+/=")
]
11. Qxf3
d5!?;
Black already has severe problems guarding the pawn at d6.
[11...Qc7??
12.Qxa8+; ("+/-")
Or 11...Qb8?
12.Bxd6
Qc8
;
{12...Qxd6??
13.Qxa8+, ("+/-")}
13.Ba3, ("+/-"); Or 11...Ke7
12.Qg3, ("+/-").]
12. Bd6!
Rc8; 13.
Rfe1
Rc6; 14.
Ba3
a5;
With his next move, White exploits the pin on the diagonal.
15. c4!
Ne4;
[15...dxc4??; 16.Qxc6,
("+/-") ]
16. cxd5
Ng5;
[Chernev writes: "The alternative
16...exd5; 17.Bxe4
dxe4;
18.Rxe4+!?, ("+/-")
is not attractive, and besides - there is always the chance of a slip-up by the blindfold player. He might snap up the Rook and forget about his Queen."
- Irving Chernev.
(Better is:
18.Qxe4+!
Re6;
19.Qc6!, ("+/-"),
{A.J.G.}) ]
17. Qg3
Rc8; 18.dxe6
Nxe6;
White now sacrifices an exchange for seemingly no reason.
19. Rxe6+!!
fxe6; [] Black must capture.
20. Qg6+!!,
This reportedly came as a big shock to Pillsbury's poor opponent.
[To be fair,
20.Bg6+!
hxg6; 21.Qxg6#,
also works. ]
20...hxg6; 21.
Bxg6#. 1 - 0
One of the most brilliant, beautiful and accurate blindfold games on record.
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Copyright, A.J. Goldsby I.
© A.J. Goldsby,
1991 - 2005. Copyright © A.J. Goldsby 2006.
(All rights reserved.)
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