On 1...Ne6, there follows 2.Rc2! Qc5 (2...Rfd8 3.Ne7+ Kh8 4.Qxh7+ Kxh7 5.Rh2#; 2...Rfe8 3.Rh2+–) 3.Rh2+–.

Black also cannot avoid mate after 2...Qa3 3.Qh6 Qxc1+ 4.Qxc1 Kh8 5.Nd6 Rad8 6.Qh6 Rg8 7.Nxf7#.

In a surprising way, the black army is unable to defend the f7-square and prevent smothered mate.

Spirit triumphs over material!

Black’s position is difficult, but after 50...Rb5!, attacking the pawn on c5, White would still have to show some good technique.

Now, Black suffers further material losses, and loses the game. Although the rook on d4 is in the centre, it is trapped!

51...Ke7 52.Nxe5! Rxd2 53.Nxc6+! (an intermediate check) 53...Ke6 54.Kxd2+–.

Black resigned.

The black bishop on d5 is in a very dangerous position, and White only needs to play c2-c4.

With the same idea, White could also get a large advantage with 18.Bd2 Nxe5 19.dxe5 Nf5 20.c4 Nxe3 21.Bxe3 Qb4 22.Qe2, and the bishop is lost. Even so, the text move looks more accurate, because it does not close the d-file to his rook, and it also wins more material.