Positional Answer

In this position, white is more developed than black due to the knight being developed on d2 but black is also ready to castle and perhaps generate counterplay by trying to open the f-file with f5, f4.

But if black were to lose control of the centre, then white would be able to prevent this counterplay and also prevent black from developing his pieces on ideal squares. So …

1. dxe5! (reducing black’s influence in the centre) dxe5 2. Bd3 h6 3. O-O O-O 4. f4 Nd7 5. f5! prevents black from f5, f4 and black will also have trouble developing the bishop.

White eventually won in 41 moves.

Tactical Answer

In this position, black is threatening to play b2+ which wins white’s queen and allows at least one of black’s pawns to promote. But white can take adavantage of the fact black’s king doesn’t have that much room to move and can also prevent b2+ by …

1. Qa2+! (this queen sacrifice is essentially forced but is also the winning move for white) bxa2 2. Nc6! and believe or not, black can’t prevent mate coming on b3 or c2 at the same time, so white wins.