White to play and win

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=====ANSWER=====



22. Ng5!

At first glance this doesn't look so earth-shattering, until you realise that although black's queen has a lot of squares she can move to, every single one is guarded by a white piece!

22. ... Qxc2+

Black's only sane move.

23. QxQ BxQ

So now white just plays 24. KxB and goes from being a pawn down at the start of the skirmish to being a pawn up at the end, right? Right?

Wrong.

24. Reh1!

Not quite worthy of 2 exclamations but a very good move nonetheless. While KxB is good for white and gives him what is probably a winning position, this move completely crushes black.

24 ... e6

This is utterly forced, any other move allows white Rh8# next turn.

25 fxe5 Nxe5

Again, black's response is entirely forced because if he leaves that pawn on e5 white mates with 26. Rh8 Kh7 27. Rh7# as f6 will be cut off as a flight square

26 KxB

Now white removes the hanging bishop, after his attack is fully set.

26 ... Rce8

Black really only has 3 moves to pick from, Rce8, Rfe8 and Kg7. Rce8 and Rfe8 are basically identical in the position he is in. We will look at the g7 line in a moment.

27 Nh7 Nd7

28 Nxf8 Nxf8

29 Rh8+ Kg7

30 Bd4+ f6

31 R1h7+ Nxh7

32 Rxe8

And the fat lady sings.

If black were to play 26 ... Kg7 then

27 Rh7+ Kf6 (all other moves black has lead to his defeat rapidly)

28 Rf1+ Ke7 (black only has two playable moves and the other is ridiculous)

29 Bd4 Nc6 (only move black has that keeps the knight alive)

30 Bg7 Kd7 (he can't save his rook because 31 Rxf7 would spell his doom)

31 Bxf8 Rxf8

32 Nxf7

And it's obviously over.

Moral of this puzzle: don't play the first good move you see...there could be another even better one if you look further.