How do you convert this +3.5 position? I ended up in a losing position.

Ask 100 people how you should study, and you will get 100 different answers.  I can only speak from experience, what i have read, what i haven been told, and what worked for me. 

If you're serious about improvement?

Use a real board and pieces.

Use pen and paper.

Use books. 

Studies have been done on how the brain absorbs things in 3D and 2D, and you learn more in 3D.  Online study is fine if it works for you.  You can do tactics online, but if you cant figure out a tactic in 2-3 minutes then it probably a position you havent seen before.  Then try setting it p on a real board and pieces and try again.  I think you will be amazed at what a difference it makes.  You want to simulate OTB tournament conditions as much as possible.  Just my .02

lol

Books can be used offline. Great for doing stuff when you’re in a seven hour car drive...

Think of videos and online lessons as the Readers Digest version of books.  They are quicker, shorter, and easier.  That is the attraction.  You want to really dig down deep into chess knowledge then get a book and coach.  Most people dont want to put in the real work or time, they prefer the easy way out.  I havent played in an OTB tournament in almost 2 years.  I plan on playing in Reno this October.  My study habits now are based solely on the mental exercise.  Im 58, and i have no problem with knowing my best chess days are way behind me.  I am currently studying a chessbase course by IM Robert Ris called: "How to make a plan."  Its entertaining, i like the way he explains things, and i appreciate the fact that he gives positions that you need to try and figure out the best move.  Its also convenient, but it is the best way to learn? No, because the IM is not there to answer any question i have. 

mm yes but i have data in my phone

Yea I have a coach but I don't read books. I will try the over-the-board strategy to practice. I usually just do tactics, a few lessons, and play games. Occasionally, I go on youtube and watch some instructive yt videos. I will get some books from the library next weekend and see if that helps a bit. Do you have any books in mind that help specifically with good/bad pieces and how to use them? I feel like that is where I error.

@RAU4ever strikes again

Nice analysis...after move 20

Now I have to go back and look at that.

You just about covered everything. I find it much harder to poof into a position and analyze than piece it together when playing. But I miss things due to patience/time limits/complacency. I imagine (because I didn't take notes) when I looked at the game that I missed quite a few possible "in between" moves...I always do.

I do remember thinking g3 might be needed, but perhaps not until after f4 was played (could've been Queen to h-file).

Incidentally, after move 20 is where I like to do this exercise for games.

This thread turned into pure gold

I'll introduce you to a new concept: learning channels.

We learn in various ways. It might be by watching something (visual channel), or by listening to someone (auditory channel), or by practicing hands-on (somatic channel), or just by sitting and thinking about something (cerebral channel).

Watching youtube videos engages only two of these learning channels... visual and auditory. If you ADD to that some book-reading plus using a REAL chess board laid out in front of you, you engage twice as many learning channels. 

Note that with a book and a real board, you can pause and reflect on the moves and ideas whenever you feel the urge, rather than proceeding at the fixed pace set by a video presentation.

I don't know about internet having everything the books have, maybe not...but maybe.

You're obviously playing extremely well for someone that only has 1 book.

Has your coach shown you how to analyze like RUA4ever?

Another question, guess I could find it...how much time you spent on some of these moves? If not, I'd look for a book or 2 covering that. I have a few, but can't say as I failed to complete them cover to cover.

It's much easier for a pazter like me to analyze without time restraints after the fact. 

I have 2 Silman books, HTRYC (I think you're beyond that one) and the Complete Endgame course (not sure how complete it is though).

If you had annotated this game, you'd find more value in a thread like this (with the quality of replies received).

My coach shows concepts and games using those concepts, then explains them thoroughly and shows how you can find them in your games. Next time I will annotate my game before posting it in forums. Do you know any good books talking about good/bad pieces, how to utilize them, outposts, etc?

Alright then. I will try going over the moves and analyzing them over the board. Probably not today though, since I have a tournament and I will be reviewing my openings and doing some tactics.

I know of many good books covering that material. You seem to have a good understanding of it. That's really not going to benefit you very much imo.

Silman's (I guess he coined it, idk) "Imbalances" covers these things.

Gambit's Chess College series by Grivas covers things fairly well, but you may only actually use the 3rd/last volume (unless I missed 1).

Nunn's book Understanding Chess Middlegames covers a lot.

Aagard's books I like the most...but I have the older Excelling at Chess from Everyman

I'd highly suggest you ask around about the newer series he has from Quality Chess (I like the GM Prep books, so biased) Positional Play, Strategic Play, and Calculation (3 books).

On the topic of analyzing a position, here's a thread dealing with the subject that I put together a few years ago. You might find it helpful.

Try reading my posts and playing through the sample games from the first two or three pages of the thread.

GM Larry Evans' method of static analysis - Chess Forums - Chess.com

Alright, I will check them out.

Excellent article!

And on a Larry Evans side note. He owuld always show up at the Reno tournaments and do a Q&A.  The most asked question always something about Fischer.  But i was curious as to why he was with Fischer during the candidates matches, but during the match with Spassky?

Larry Evans said that Fischer told him that his wife was not allowed to come along, so Larry said ok I'm not going. 

I've read and liked it.

I never could actually count space in a game though. I found too hard to apply

Just count how many squares each piece controls/moves to.

Once you understand the principles, it probably isn't necessary to actually do the count. Just look at the position and say to yourself: "I'm up in space, my opponent is cramped... let's look for alternating threats to run him ragged."

You betcha, but its like counting all the squares to determine if the king can catch the pawn before it promotes.  Then!  You learn about being in the square of the pawn. 

Alright, I went through the game and saw all the components for analyzing a position.