Herman Pilnik was an Argentine chess Grandmaster of German and Polish-Jewish origin. He was born on January 8, 1914 in Stuttgart, Germany, and died November 12, 1981 in Caracas, Venezuela. Pilnik immigrated to Argentina in 1930, and by 1942 he seized the Argentine Championship title. He went on to win this title again in 1945.
Internationally, Pilnik was successful in the Mar del Plata tournament in 1942 and 1945. He played for Argentina in four Chess Olympiads in the 1940s and 1950s and contributed to Argentina's team gold medals in 1950 and 1952. Herman Pilnik was awarded the International Master title in 1950, and in the same year he received the title of International Grandmaster.
Pilnik left Argentina in 1957 to settle in Venezuela. He led the national team at three Chess Olympiads in the 1960s, and he also won the Venezuelan Championship in 1962.