The Hardest Game to Win is a Won Game + 10 Puzzles

In all my years of teaching, probably the #1 issue that comes up is WINNING THE WON GAME and how to do it. I think I've figured out a few reasons that every single one my students (and myself as you'll see) has had issues with WINNING THE WON GAME: 

1. Trading down/keeping the game simple, is not the most exciting thing to do. Everyone wants to do amazing calculations, sacrifices, tactics, etc. but if you're already winning the game, you really should be making the position as simple as you possible can.
2. Some of my students don't feel comfortable in the endgame, so they feel like they need a bigger edge than a +1-2 material advantage. My counter to this, is that the best way to get better at something, you're not comfortable at, is to get some practice in it. Even if it hurts you, in the short-term, it'll do wonders for your rating in the long term. Once your rating goes up, you won't be getting as many winning positions, and you really will have to do those amazing calculations, sacrifices, tactics, etc. in note #1 (above).
3. Still more of my students don't feel comfortable when they don't have a definite plan. In order to get the winning advantage, sometimes you might have had to come up with an aggressive plan. What do you know?! That aggressive plan worked! Your opponent had to sacrifice a Knight for just a pawn to stave off your attack. Your attack is more or less over but you came away with +2 material advantage. So really the "plan" should be to regroup/better your pieces, offer trades when beneficial, and play "simple chess". This is, of course, a huge shift from your aggressive plan of attacking your opponent's King. If you can incorporate this MINDSET SHIFT into your chess games, you'll see your rating start to skyrocket!
4. Finally, making the game "simple" is easier said than done. Your opponent is waiting for any opportunity because they're desperate; a desperate opponent is very dangerous! Meanwhile, you are up material and it's only human nature for you to let your guard down. This is why it's so important to simplify the game when you're opponent is in desperation mode and you're in "lackadaisical" mode.

Below are some games and puzzles to help you in your endeavors! Good luck solving!

Just so you don't think that I always win every game that I was winning, here is painful loss where I was vying for my 1st IM norm: 

Puzzles

Try your luck in the following puzzles. Each of the "correct" answers are either the absolute best move or just a good move, that keeps a winning advantage while simplifying the position.

Puzzle #1: Black to Play

Puzzle #2: Black to Play

Puzzle #3: White to Play

Puzzle #4: White to Play

Puzzle #5: Black to Play

Puzzle #6: Black to Play

Puzzle #7: Should White Play 27. Rc1?

Puzzle #8: Black to Play

Puzzle #9: Black to Play

Puzzle #10: White to Play

Hope this helps you all and please feel free to share any games where you had a big lead and simplified to win or didn't and lost

Answers and explanations to the puzzles will be given on my next stream on Thursday, January 19th at 3:45M PST. Please check out my stream: https://www.twitch.tv/beerdedchessmaster and give me a follow!

Thanks,

Craig