Upgrading the force

 

Positions like this are overwhelming. Hence I will try to decompose the several aspects. One at the time.

Diagram 1.White to move

r1b2rk1/1pq1bppp/p3pn2/3n2N1/3R4/2N1B1P1/PPQ1PPBP/R5K1 w - - 0 15 

The move 1.Nxd5 (sacrificing the queen) can only be considered because the ensuing threat increases in force. You must threaten at least a check.You can only upgrade the force. You can'tm downgrade.

After 1.Nd5 Qxc2 you execute essentially a discovered check. It is a typical duplo move where you apply two threats while black can only react to one.

Diagram 2. White to move

You need to be aware of this double attack. It is the very reason why the A:D-ratio of d8 changes to [1:1].

After 1.Nd5 Qxc2 you know that you have to upgrade the force to a check because you have sacced your queen. But which check?

Diagram 3. White to move

2. Nxf6+ can be eliminated by 2. ... gxf6. It doesn't give lasting results.

2. Nxe7+ accomplishes two things:

• it removes a defender from f7
• it removes a defender of d8

Furthermore:

• Ne7 can't be taken, so the knight continues its influence
• Rf8 has become overloaded

After 1.Nxd5 Qxc2 2.Nxe7+ Kh8 you can exploit the overloaded Rf8 by forcing it to execute one of its functions, thus distracting it from its other duty.

Diagram 4. White to move

After 3.Nxf7+ the poor black rook must abandon his duty to guard d8

After this dissection of the position in its constituent elements, it already becomes much less overwhelming.

Every element is a mini-trick, or a mini skill/ Thus this is my take: I must learn mini skills by dissecting known puzzles instead of by learning new simple puzzles with a mini skill per puzzle.