Offering the quuen exchange is in no way essential. But when being ahead in material it is usally nice to exchange and simplify to avoid counterplay.
A lot of people like to hold on to their Queen (they probably dream of mate) when they should exchange it.
Ok, but it seems like if black knows it shouldn't trade for the inverse reason then what should white be thinking when black DOESN'T trade? For example, what if black simply sidesteps with Qf6? The dream that replaced the dream of mating with a queen is no longer on the table.
Yea that's typically when you trade queens.
Trading queens is NOT an option in this position below.
If he sidesteps with Qf6 then his Bishop can get in some trouble after Rb3.
So, it seems either:
1) queen trade is forced for black
or
2) the queen trade should NOT be the focus of white's thinking but rather targeting the c3 bishop
On move 23, I should have offered a queen trade. I got too obsessed with the d6 pawn possibly promoting, but I still don't see a clear alternative plan. Trade queens then what? Or, what should white be thinking if black doesn't trade queens?