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Material imbalance

#1

The exchange of the Queen should of taken the lead over the sheer material count, but I could not see the centipawn advantage I had in the end and so I settled for a draw. Do you see the missed opportunity after move 25. My bishop should of attacked the Queen.... and my knight would of gained a knight. If the Queen recapture the knight, it would have been mate with Bf6. The last move was not a blunder but a contempt move to draw the game, because I did not see the Bg7 tactic.

https://lichess.org/funMYqkK/white#20

The exchange of the Queen should of taken the lead over the sheer material count, but I could not see the centipawn advantage I had in the end and so I settled for a draw. Do you see the missed opportunity after move 25. My bishop should of attacked the Queen.... and my knight would of gained a knight. If the Queen recapture the knight, it would have been mate with Bf6. The last move was not a blunder but a contempt move to draw the game, because I did not see the Bg7 tactic. https://lichess.org/funMYqkK/white#20
#2

Don’t sacrifice your queen for two pieces unless you have an immediate follow up that either causes trouble to the black king or heavily restricts the opponent’s pieces. As a 1600, I would prefer you practicing tactics and not trying to play like Mikhail Tal. If you want to play chess just for fun, go ahead. However, if you want to genuinely improve, try following as many middlegame and endgame principles. For example:

When you don’t know what to do, improve your worst piece.
Only start an attack when you have all or almost all pieces developed.
Restrict opponent’s pieces.
Trade your bad pieces for your opponent’s ones.
In the endgame, rooks belong on the 7th rank, and king activity is very important.
When there are few pieces left create passed pawns.
Etcetera.

Also, BEFORE playing each move, check if you were to blunder a piece, a tactic, or a checkmate when playing it, and also check if your opponent did the same on their move.

Combining the above with consistent training, and 1800 should be in reach.

Good luck

Don’t sacrifice your queen for two pieces unless you have an immediate follow up that either causes trouble to the black king or heavily restricts the opponent’s pieces. As a 1600, I would prefer you practicing tactics and not trying to play like Mikhail Tal. If you want to play chess just for fun, go ahead. However, if you want to genuinely improve, try following as many middlegame and endgame principles. For example: When you don’t know what to do, improve your worst piece. Only start an attack when you have all or almost all pieces developed. Restrict opponent’s pieces. Trade your bad pieces for your opponent’s ones. In the endgame, rooks belong on the 7th rank, and king activity is very important. When there are few pieces left create passed pawns. Etcetera. Also, BEFORE playing each move, check if you were to blunder a piece, a tactic, or a checkmate when playing it, and also check if your opponent did the same on their move. Combining the above with consistent training, and 1800 should be in reach. Good luck
#3

Queen for couple of minor pieces plus two pawns is within usable range, i'd say.

Queen for couple of minor pieces plus two pawns is within usable range, i'd say.
#4

#3
Chess is not accounting. 9 > 3+3+1+1, but how far are the pawns and how protected are they? Can the pieces be coordinated? Are they protected? Is the king safe against attacks by the queen?

#3 Chess is not accounting. 9 > 3+3+1+1, but how far are the pawns and how protected are they? Can the pieces be coordinated? Are they protected? Is the king safe against attacks by the queen?
#5

When you don’t know what to do, improve your worst piece.

when you dont know what to do, attack other king

Only start an attack when you have all or almost all pieces developed.

depends on vulnerability of other king, strike when iron is hot

Restrict opponent’s pieces.

yep

Trade your bad pieces for your opponent’s ones.

i say let opponent keep their bad pieces and saddle them with more problems

In the endgame, rooks belong on the 7th rank, and king activity is very important.

i dislike endgames but this is true

When there are few pieces left create passed pawns.

so obvious yet many still dont push their pawns and do other things instead

> When you don’t know what to do, improve your worst piece. when you dont know what to do, attack other king > Only start an attack when you have all or almost all pieces developed. depends on vulnerability of other king, strike when iron is hot >Restrict opponent’s pieces. yep > Trade your bad pieces for your opponent’s ones. i say let opponent keep their bad pieces and saddle them with more problems > In the endgame, rooks belong on the 7th rank, and king activity is very important. i dislike endgames but this is true > When there are few pieces left create passed pawns. so obvious yet many still dont push their pawns and do other things instead