What do I do next? Theoretically?

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KingGoKnightKnight

I tend to get lost in the middle game when something similar happens in person to games. If I am evaluating correctly: We have equal material, I have castled, linked rooks, and maybe a slightly better position. Theoretically what should I be looking to do next? What questions should I be asking myself? How do I develop a plan for the middle game? I am not looking for specific advice regarding this exact game..more general...Thanks in advance.

M_Erno

You evaluated the position correctly that is a good thing. When the opening ends, which you handled in this case well, the middle game starts. In this phase of the game you should make a plan. There are many types of positions with specific plans but obviously one can not learn them all. Instead of that you can learn strategic patterns just like the tactic patterns such as double attack or pin. But these strategic patterns are not so straitforward and you can not calculate them to the end like the tactic ones. You can learn these strategic ideas from books or videos or with the help of a coach.

One universal plan is to attack the opponents king to deliver a mate. How do you do that? You bring your pieces to the enemy king and with your pawns you eliminate the opponets pawns which are defending his king.

RussBell

Good Positional Chess, Planning & Strategy Books for Beginners and Beyond...

https://www.chess.com/blog/RussBell/introduction-to-positional-chess-planning-strategy

https://www.chess.com/blog/RussBell

Habanababananero

In a position like the one in the picture where you have a lead in development and good King safety and the opponent's King is still in the middle, I would try to open up the center. So exchange pawns or even sacrifice a pawn or sometimes maybe even a piece to create open files/diagonals for attack.

In the position in the picture something like d5 looks good to me. Then if they take exd5 their King and Queen are lined up on the open e-file and that is bad news for them since you will most likely be able to win their Queen pretty easily with tactics since after you move your Knight the Black Queen will be absolute pinned to the King.

ChessMasteryOfficial

You should either attack or improve your position. Usually the best targets for an attack are weak pawns or squares.