How can I improve positional chess? I keep losing because I get myself into a bad position

I don't think my problem is tactical chess, as my puzzle rating here is around 1700.

But my chess game ELO is just around 900. And what I've observed, is that (when I'm not blundering my queen), I keep losing because I simply get myself into a bad position. So basically I'm quite OK with getting the right move once I'm in a winning position, but I'm terrible if it comes down to getting into the right position in the first place.

So in short, I should improve in positional chess. But how? Are there any puzzles for this?

Also, are there any "reverse-tactics" puzzles, where you simply have to recognize your opponent's plan and try to prevent it from happening?

Your problem is tactical chess, at your level people hang pieces left and right and positional chess wont help you very much

@spectraltheory said in #1:

So in short, I should improve in positional chess. But how? Are there any puzzles for this?

Nope. And there's your first lesson: positional chess is what you have to resort to when there are no combinative solutions. ;)

@MrPushwood said in #3:

Nope. And there's your first lesson: positional chess is what you have to resort to when there are no combinative solutions. ;)

Exactly, that's what I'm talking about. I'm talking about what if you do your opening, your typical first couple of book moves, what's next? That's where I make my mistakes (if I don't blunder my queen in the game), because I simply don't see what I should do. My opponents pieces are not hanging yet, I can't apply any tactics, so I must play a move which is not horrible and will give me a positional advantage

@spectraltheory said in #1:

I don't think my problem is tactical chess, as my puzzle rating here is around 1700.

But my chess game ELO is just around 900. And what I've observed, is that (when I'm not blundering my queen), I keep losing because I simply get myself into a bad position. So basically I'm quite OK with getting the right move once I'm in a winning position, but I'm terrible if it comes down to getting into the right position in the first place.

Have you got any examples? I just had a look at your last four blitz losses and in all of them you seem to lose by giving away pieces or allowing relatively straightforward tactics.

@RamblinDave said in #5:

Have you got any examples? I just had a look at your last four blitz losses and in all of them you seem to lose by giving away pieces or allowing relatively straightforward tactics.

What's a tactic @RamblinDave?

@RamblinDave said in #5:

Have you got any examples? I just had a look at your last four blitz losses and in all of them you seem to lose by giving away pieces or allowing relatively straightforward tactics.

This is basically it, "allowing relatively straightforward tactics". So how can I avoid that? Are there puzzles for that?

There are general opening principles that govern what you should do in the opening:

• ensure control of the center
• bring horses and bishops to positions
• take the king to safety

Try to follow these rules.

https://www.you.ube.com/playlist?list=PL9RQPxG_e-LkKfDgKp5AVNcW5cppg-7ZW
There are lessons on opening principles here. I haven't watched them, I go by their names.

@PTX187 This seems sensible to me.

You can rest assured that most of your losses are because @PTX187 said in #8:

There are general opening principles that govern what you should do in the opening:

• ensure control of the center
• bring horses and bishops to positions
• take the king to safety

Try to follow these rules.

www.you.ube.com/playlist?list=PL9RQPxG_e-LkKfDgKp5AVNcW5cppg-7ZW
There are lessons on opening principles here. I haven't watched them, I go by their names.

Please do not post broken links!!!