Puzzle of the week #102

Submitted by eugen on Fri, 01/29/2010 - 07:34

Middlegame decision time

Level
5-Queen
Chess Diagram
[Event "Puzzle #102"][Date "2010.01.29"][Result "1/2-1/2"][SetUp "1"][FEN "r1b2rk1/p4ppp/1p1Qp3/4P2N/1P6/8/P3qPPP/3R1RK1 w - - 0 27"]{Game line} 27.Ng3 (27.Qe7 h6 28.Nxg7 Kxg7 29.Rd8 Rxd8 30.Qf6+ Kg8 31.Qxd8+ Kh7 32.Qf6 Qh5 {Leads to a better position for black}) (27.Nxg7 {Leads to a better position for black}) 27...Qb5 28.Rfe1 Bb7 29.Re3 Qc6 30.Qxc6 Bxc6 {and after a few more less important moves the game ended as a draw}
It took me a while to find an interesting puzzle, but in the end I found this one. Please read carefully!
The above position looks equal. White spent 15 minutes looking at different ways to stir it and create trouble, but in the end went for the game line (see diagram). In the book of the tournament White published an interesting commentary about it:
"I searched for something decisive for 15 minutes. To my dispair the 2 main lines I was looking at led me nowhere"
Also see diagram. Your tasks:
1. Analyse the position and decide if White did the right thing
2. If you think he did the right thing, you are done; however if you think he could have played better, please show how

Total available points for this puzzle is 20. The answers will be published next week together with puzzle #103.

Puzzle #101 solution:
The author is Sigmund Franz Josef Lehner and he published it in the magazine "Illustriertes Familien Journal" back in 1864. A complete answer looks like the one provided by Andy Y:
White's fastest win is with 1.Rc2 ... Black has no good responses. See solution:
[Event "Puzzle #101"][Date "2010.01.22"][Result "1-0"][SetUp "1"][FEN "8/k7/1pK5/8/8/8/4R3/8 w - - 0 1"]1.Rc2 b5 (1...Ka8 2.Kc7 Ka7 3.Ra2#) (1...Kb8 2.Kxb6 Ka8 3.Rc8#) (1...Ka6 2.Ra2#) 2.Kc7 Ka6 3.Ra2#

Correct solutions:
Rick, Andy Q, Edwin, James, Owen, Jefrrey, Humphrey, Andy Y - 10 points
Amir - 9 points
Amir - 18 points for puzzle #100

Standings:
Humphrey, Andy Q, Owen, Andy Y - 30 points
Amir - 27 points
James - 26 points
Karl - 20 points
Alex - 18 points
Jeffrey - 12 points
Rick, Edwin - 10 points