KEG: A fine win by Schlechter topped off by a brilliant winning combination beginning with 18...Bxc3.Showalter played the Exchange Variation of the Ruy Lopez. This proved to be a formidable weapon in the hands of Emmanuel Lasker and Bobby Fischer, but Showalter seemed to have no clue how to play this line for an advantage, and quickly settled for equality.
After Schlechter's 11...Qd6, Showalrter's 12. b4 was "premature" (to quote the Tournament Book) (12. BxB was much better) and Schlechter pretty much solved his opening problems with 12...Bd4. Now, 13. BxB would not have been good for Showalter since after 13...exd4 his Knight would have been out of play (again as noted by the Tournament Book).
Schlechter began his assault on Showalter's position with 14...g5, but Showalter hung tough and was probably OK until his weak 17. Rd1. (17. NxB was best). At this point, my computer says that Schlechter should have played 17...h5. But I like Schlechter's 17...Ng6, pointing toward the key square f4.
According to the Tournament Book, Showalter was lost after 17...Ng6. This seems doubtful. With 18. NxB or 19. 0-0 Showalter, though worse, would seem to have a very playable game.
Showlater's losing move was 18. c3?, leaving the position as follows:
Schlechter here played 18...Bxc3, and Showalter was busted. After 19. BxB (what else!) Schlechter's 19...Nf4! was sheer murder.
While the game was effectively over after 19...Nf4!, I love Schlechter's final quiet killer: 25...Rd6.
Kibitzing
