But Munich 1900 didn't start off well for Schlechter. He drew his first two games, both of which he should have won, suggesting he was still just the "drawing master."

All this turned around with this game, which began a Fischer-like sequence in which Schlechter won six games in a row and got 8.5 points in 9 rounds). Thus, this game was a major turning point in Schlechter's career.

But the game was actually not one of Schlechter's best, or anything close to it. Schlechter seemed unsure how to deal with Popiel Ponziani's Opening and appeared to be in a haze for most of the game, winning only thanks to very weak play by Popiel.

For whatever reason, Schlechter's career took off with this game. Let us celebrate this turning point even if the game itself provides no reason for celebration.

1. e4 e5
2. Nf3 Nc6
3. c3

Ponziani's Opening. Schlechter adopts a passive line, perhaps hoping to avoid any prepared line by his opponent.

3... Nf6

The alternative 3...d5 was probably better, but the text is also a recognized line and sufficient for equality.

4. d4 d6

Very passive. 4...exd4 was much better.

5. Be3

Fortunately for Schlechter, Popiel made no real effort to exploit Schlechter's passive play. He had many better options here: e.g., 5. Bd3 or 5. Bb5 or 5. Qc2 or even 5. h3.

5... Be7

Why not 5...Ng4? Schlechter's customary precise play is missing for much of this contest.

6. Nbd2

Popiel could have seized his chance for initiative with 6. d5, or perhaps 6. Be2 or 6. Bd3.

6... 0-0

Once again, Ng4 was indicated.

7. Bd3

The Tournament Book stated that 7. d5 was better. It is hard to disagree.

7... exd4

Again, Ng4 was best.

9. e5 Ng4

Finally!

10. 0-0

10. Bf4 was best.

10... f5

Why not 10...NxB?

11. exf6 e.p.

11. Nb3 or 11. Nb1 were superior options.

11... Nxf6

Another wimpy move. 11...Bxf6 and 11...NxB were both much better.

After the foregoing weak play, Popiel had emerged with a small advantage:

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Popiel's one weakness (if indeed it is such) was his isolated d-pawn. In his favor was the open c-file and what initiative there was.

The spotty play continued, though--for a while at least--there were no catastrophic blunders:

12. h3 Bd6
13. Rc1

Though taking the c-file had obvious attractions, 13. Re1 at this stage was better.

13... Qe8
14. a3 Qe5

This Queen sortie wound up working like a charm, but only because of Popiel's poor play.

Popiel was still better:

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15. Ng5

There was no reason to invite the trade of Queens. Popiel should have concentrated on building his position. Thus, 15. Re1 or 15. Be2 were better.

15... h3

Schlechter should probably have initiated the Queen trade here. But Popiel solves that problem for him.

16. QxQ

16. Be2 was better.

16... NxQ
17. Ngf3

From this point, and slowly but surely, Popiel allows his game to deteriorate. 17. Bh7+ followed by 17. Bg6 was better here.

17... Nf4!

Their are flashes of the real Schlechter in this game.

18. Bb5 Ne7
19. Rfd1

He might as well have played 19. BxN here.

19... c6

The main alternative was 19...Neg6

20. Bf1 Neg6
21. Rc3

The beginning of a wrong plan. 21. Re was better.

21... Bd7
22. Kh1

Popiel seems to have been playing in a haze here. 22. h4 or 22. Re1 were better.

22... Rae8

This left:

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23. Ng1

Another weak move by Popiel. 23. b4 to anticipate a possible a5 by Black seems best. The text does nothing to advance Popiel's game.

23... Ne7!

Preparing for Nf5 and a King-side attack. At this point, Schlechter appeared to be assuming a serious initiative.

24. g3 Ne6
25. Ndf3 Nf5
26. Kg2 g5

Schlechter was on the march at this point. Would he roll over the faltering Popiel?

27. b4

The position was now:

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27... Neg7

A needless retreat.

28. Bc1!

Correctly keeping his dark-square Bishop.

28... Ne6
29. g4

Nice to see some sign of life from Popiel. But the text creates to many weak squares around his King. 29. Rc2 was better.

29... Ne7
30. Bd3 Ng6

Schlechter should not have set this Knight up for capture. 30...Be8 or 30...Ref6 were better.

31. BxN! RxB

The dust has settled and now it is Schlechter who has lost the edge:

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With the forking 32. Ne5, Popiel would have forced the trade of Schlechter's Black-square Bishop and had at least equal chances. But from here on, his play collapsed.

32. Ne2?

Giving Schlechter a chance to exploit the weak squares on Popiel's King-side.

32... h5

The Tournament Book gave this move a "!", and I agree.

33. Nxg5?

After this lemon, Schlechter held all the cards. Popiel should have played 33. Ne5 or 33. gxh5

33... hxg4

The position was now:

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34. h4?

Popiel's only legitimate chance lay in 34. hxg4. The game should now be over.

34... Nf5

The game appeared to be over at this stage.

35. Rh1 Rgf6
36. f4 Re8

This should win, but 36...Rh6 was much stronger.

37. Kf2

Popiel remains in a daze. 37. Ng3 was his best chance.

37... Rh6
38. h5 Kg7
39. Rd3 Reh8

This is plenty good, but 39...Kf6 was more accurate.

40. Rg1

This left:

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In the diagrammed position with which I ended my last post, Schlechter could have nabbed a pawn and won simply with 40...Rxh5 41. Rxg4 Nxd4 (since the White Rook on g4 would now be hanging). Even more devastating would have been 40...Nh4! follows by Rf6.

But Schlechter still seemed to be asleep at the switch and instead played:

40... Ne7?

Now Popiel could have been very much back in the game with the not too hard to find 41. Nf3! (and if then 41...Rxh5 42. Ne5 with all sorts of counterplay). But Popiel erred with:

41. Ng3? Rf8

This is probably now sufficient for victory, but 41...Kf6 was better.

42. Re1 Ng8?

Another one of Schlechter's moves in this game that I find hard to fathom. 42...Nf5 was obviously better.

The position was now:

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Popiel is probably still lost, but he could have made matters very interesting by sacrificing the exchange here with 43. Re5?! But, yet again, his response was poor:

43. f5?

This left:

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To this point in this game, Schlechter had played like a lox. Furthermore, he had yet to win a game in the Munich 1900 tournament and his standing at 1-1 was not especially impressive. But from the above position the Schlechter many of treasure awoke, blew Popiel off the board, and ran off six wins in a row:

43... Ne7!
44. Kg2?

44. Nf3 or 44. f6+ were better, but the outcome would doubtless have been the same.

44... Nxf5

Picking up the pawn Popiel had hung two moves earlier.

45. N5e4

The Tournament Book assigns a ? to this move. 45. NxN+ certainly looks better, but it is hard to imagine that Popiel could have hed his wretched position after 45...BxN and 46. Rxh5.

45... Nh4+!
46. Kh1 Re6

With both Knights hanging, Popiel could safely have resigned here:

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47. Rde3 dxN
48. Nxe4 Nf5

Schlechter could have played the even more brutal 48...Bf4, but the game is clearly over.

49. Bb2?

Allowing a pretty finish by Schlechter, but by this stage it makes little difference. Perhaps he thought Schlechter would give him a chance with 49...NxR? 50. d5+ Ref6 51. RxN cxd5 52. h6+ Kxh6 43. NxR (leaving White "only" two pawns down). But Schlechter--now playing like Schlechter--played a much better move:

49... RxN

This left:

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50. RxR allows 50...Ng3+ with a winning fork. So...