Hastings, 6 August 1895 (Queen's Gambit Declined). One of Pillsbury's finest games and an early sign that the young American was a serious contender — he attacks on the King's side while Tarrasch presses on the Queen's, the race ending in mate. Notes by I. Gunsberg.

1. 4.Bg5 No good results from this early sortie of the Bishop. The attack, or, perhaps better strategy, would-be attack, differs from similar play in the French Defence, inasmuch as White has not P to K 5 at his command. Generally speaking, both the first and the second player in this opening require their Bishop on the Queen's side.
2. 11.Re1 If White had had his Queen's Bishop posted on Q Kt 2 with his Pawn on Q Kt 3, we should then certainly have recommended the exchange of Black's Pawn. The Bishop would then prevent P to Q 5, and the two Black Pawns on Q 4 and B 4, unable to advance, are for White a convenient object of attack, as frequently proved by experience.
3. 11…c4 This move places a premium on White's move of P to K 4. So that if Black in the ending wishes to reap the advantage of the superior Pawn position on the Queen's side, he must do everything possible in his power to meet the impending King's side advance.
4. 13…b5 Played in accordance with the plan of action indicated in the previous note; Black's idea being to clear away the Knight which guards the Black Rook's Pawn, as well as the Queen's Pawn, so as to be able to play Q to R 5. The weakness of the Queen's Pawn may also be pointed out here, as having a prejudicial reflex effect on the King's side. Black, for instance, could not play Kt x Kt on account of 14. P x Kt, Kt to Kt 5; 15. B x Q, Q x B; 16. Kt x P.
5. 15…Nf8 This move will always be found a useful defensive resource when a King's side attack is threatened.
6. 19…f6 It was to be foreseen that White would seek to continue the attack by means of Kt to Kt 4 and P to B 5. Black could have forestalled these moves by playing B to B sq before playing P to B 3, and exchanging the Knight if it plays to Kt 4.
7. 27…b4 Now the position affords an object lesson as to the effect of White's early move of 4. B to Kt 5. The attack on the King's side, which this move was intended to promote, has apparently been met, and therefore Black begins to advance from his Queen's side, where White's Pawns are insufficiently supported.
8. 29…Nd7 Quite right. It was useless to attempt to defend the compromised Queen's side; White was, therefore, justified in abandoning it, and making up his mind to either do or die on the King's side. He now threatens Kt x P, and if P x Kt, then Q x B P, ch, R to Kt 2, R to R 4, &c. Therefore Black cannot take the Rook's Pawn just yet.