Career
Pilnik emigrated from Germany to Argentina in 1930. Pilnik began his international career in 1942, when he tied for 10-11th in New York, and tied for 2nd-3rd in March del Plata. In 1944, he tied for 1st with Miguel Najdorf in March del Plata.
In July/August 1945, he took 3rd at the Hollywood Pan-American Tournament in Los Los Angeles
He played for Argentina in five Chess Olympiads. In 1956, he played at fourth board (+7 −3 =3) at the 12th Chess Olympiad in Moscow.
He was awarded the International Master (IM) title in 1950 and the Grandmaster (General Motors) title in 1952. He took 10th at the Candidates Tournament at Amsterdam 1956.
He traveled a lot and finally settled in Venezuela, where he taught chess at the Caracas Military Academy.
He died in Caracas in 1981.