The game was important in Pillsbury's (ultimately successful) effort to overtake Marshall for second place. Going into this the penultimate round at Paris 1900, Pillsbury was a half point behind Marshall. Thus, he needed this win to put himself in a position to wrest second prize from his young compatriot.

1. e4 c5
2. Nf3 Nc6
3. Nc3 Nf6
4. d4 cxd4
5. Nxd4 d6
6. Be2 g6
7. Be3 Bg7
8. 0-0 Bd7
9. h3

The position at this stage was:

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Here, Pillsbury--instead of playing the indicated 9...0-0 as suggested by Rosenthal in the Tournament Book--tried the presumptuous:

9... Qa5?!

While this move does end up working like a charm by causing Brody to blunder, Rosenthal's assessment of 9...Qa5?! as "not good" seems apt. With 10. Nb3, Brody could have chased away the Black Queen with loss of time and much the better position. Brody's actual move, by contrast, had a simple tactical refutation as Pillsbury promptly demonstrated.

10. Qd2?

"A mistake which compromises his game." (Rosenthal).

"This...is bad. 10. Nb3 is correct. Puillsbury now misses no chances and forces an easily won ending." (Sergeant-Watts).

The position was now:

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Black to move and win.

10... Nxe4!

Game over!

11. NxN(c6).

11. NxN (e4) would have been marginally better, but it would lose to 11...QxQ 12. NxQ NxN and Black is up a pawn. The text, however, leads to even more trouble for Brody, and to a quick conclusion of the game.

This left:

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11... QxN

"Well played." (Rosenthal).

Pillsbury would actually be worse (though not lost as Rosenthal incorrectly claims) after 11...NxQ 12.NxQ NxR 13. RxN. After the text, White has no hope.

12. QxQ

12. bxQ is notg much better.

12... NxQ
13. bxN

13. Bf3 was perhaps slightly better, but also hopeless.

13... BxN
14. Bd4 0-0

The dust has settled and Pillsbury has a won ending:

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The balance of the game was of no real interest.

15. f4 Rfc8
16. Bd3 e5
17. fxe5 dxe5
18. Be3 Bd5