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Puzzle of the week #102

Submitted by Eugen on Fri, 01/29/2010 - 08:34.
Level: 
5-Queen
r-b--rk-
p----ppp
-p-Qp---
----P--N
-P------
--------
P---qPPP
---R-RK-

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:
27.Ng3 Qb5 28.Rfe1 Bb7 29.Re3 Qc6 30.Qxc6 Bxc6 and after a few more less important moves the game ended as a draw.
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
27.Nxg7 ...
27.Qe7 h6 (forced) 28.Nxg7 Kxg7 29.Rd8 Rxd8 30.Qf6+ Kg8 31.Qxd8+ Kh7 32.Qf6 Qh5
led me nowhere"
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 pointsi 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:
1... b5 2.Kc7 Ka6 3.Ra2#
1... Ka8 2.Kc7 Ka7 3.Ra2#
1... Kb8 2.Kxb6 Ka8 3.Rc8#
1... Ka6 2.Ra2#"

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

STANDINGS

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

Comment: 

Middlegamei decision time