How to leverage developed pieces

Beginner here, 

So I have read in every beginner lesson that you should start first by controlling the center, then develop low level pieces (knights, rooks), then castle.

I am trying very hard to follow this plan, but I have a hard time against opponents that just don't develop and slowly push their pawns forward with very little to no hanging pieces. I just cannot find a way to break these pawn lines without exchanging a high value piece for a pawn, for the sake of breaching the pawn wall.

Here is an example game to illustrate the struggle (I am white). 

I can't find a breach in the pawn wall, even though I tried hard to have a good development early on. Now I am forced to either retreat (Kh2 here) or exchange a high value rook or knight just to break the pawns.

How do you guys handle that kind of situation? 

I am not a good player but what I think is:

1. I learned that castling opposite sites often leads to pawn storms at both sides. So try to attack your opponents queen side (the side he or she castled to);

2. The black knight on b4 looks vulnerable, as well as the black pawns at a7 and b7;

3. You say you have only one option for your knight (h2) but I see more options. One thing I noticed is that high level players don’t hesitate to put their knight on weird places if the are re-routing (I remember Carlson having a knight on the a and the h file at a certain moment). So maybe you shouldn’t see it as retreat but as re-routing.

I'm no expert but...maybe Re1 around move 9 or 10 to potentially pin the e pawn to the queen and then push d5. You are ahead in development so consider opening up the centre with some pawn trades and centralising rooks. Even if it means sacing a pawn. A development advantage is temporary, your opponent may catch up so crack on and attack in the centre. The pieces on your opponents king side were asleep.

After Rook e1 and d5, Black can just play e5 to close the center which is not something you usually want in these kind of structures.White should probably play Nd2 and then a3 to kick the knight out. If he takes on d3, he opens up the c file for your rooks against the king. If Na6, you can take and damage his pawn structure. Black is just worse cause his development sucks and he has no good and fast way to get active play on any side of the board.

When you have a lead in development you should seek pawn exchanges to open the position. This will create possibilities for your better developed pieces.

Here is an excellent video on this topic:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3B34oKM0oI&list=PLQsLDm9Rq9bHKEBnElquF8GuWkI1EJ8Zp&index=11

Hi Galanwe, great questions. Every position is different so you should veer from generalizations. I can tell you, however, that here your rooks and queen need to join the game. This is part of development as well. You have a superior position here. Black has wasted time with a lot of pawn moves and their pieces are poorly placed.

To continue with the initiative - well you first should save the Knight with Nd2 - but after that if he takes your bishop, you can recapture with the c pawn and put your rook on c1. After this you can begin an attack on the queenside with moves like b4, b5 or b4, Qb3 or Qa4, b4, b5. You can use your pawns to break pawn shelters and simultaneously gain space for your pieces to coordinate and attack. They will most likely play Kb8, and then you will probably want to regroup your rooks to b1 and c1 with a crushing attack.

If they do not take the bishop, they should probably develop, but might also play e5 to block your dark squared bishop. If they do this it is probably very reasonable to just defend the pawn with your knight - Nb3. If he takes your bishop is free again and your knight has prospects. If he does not exchange, you probably want to save your bishop with Bc4. 

There is more to be said about the position, but I will leave it there. It looks like you are off to a good start with your game.

I have been coaching part time the last 3 years and I have a lot of experience getting beginners to 1400 level or so and even higher. I am willing to offer you a free 30 minute session if you are serious about improving. Feel free to message me.

hi

An advantage in development is increasingly important the more open the position is. In fully open positions, it can be devastating. In closed positions it can be nearly worthless.

So there are two corollaries to this:

1) Don't expect a lead in development to give you a winning advantage unless the position is very open.

2) If you already have a lead in development, try to open the position. This is most commonly done by exchanging Pawns.