How to 'Think'?

Here, at move 13, I didn't know what to 'think' next. I did not have any idea, couldn't really find any meaningful move, couldn't make a plan, just moved a pawn for literally no reason I knew of. How can I find the best moves in this type of positions?

I am playing as white.

Black has a weak king stuck in the center, that's what White should exploit. So :

at move 13 White should play c4 to try to open the center to expose the black King.

at move 14 White should play Na4 to target the weak squares b6 and c5 close to the black King.

Okay, but Na4 is putting my knight into corner. Why isn't that a problem?

At. 13. c6. I want you to always remember this. Whenever you see this nonsense of pawns all on the same color, always think "how can I put a knight in front it, and keep it there?" This will happen again and again.

a4->a5 to freeze those pawns, and then Knight hops to a4, ready to get to b6 or c5.

My first question would be how could you play 14. Na4 if you played 13. c4 instead of 13. Nc3.

But you are interpreting the rules too mechanically. Yes sure in general you should keep especially knights near the action. But sometimes the border or even the corner can be the best location for a piece, even for a knigth. Thats especially true for positional positions, when the game is relatively calm and you can form longer term plans, but I think this is more of a tactical position.

Thats said personally I would say you should finish development, then find your route of attack. A pawn storm at the queen side is as possible as doubling the rooks on the f file.

I am sorry, but I didn't quite understand what you said.

There are generally two types of positions:

- Positional. There is no attack possible, longterm plans dominate.

- Tactical. Here longterm plans are simply too slow.

In positional play, you can for example identify a good location for a piece, such as c5 for the knight, as Henson_Chess has suggested, especially if supported by a pawn on a5, if black allows that, so the Nc5 cannot be challenged by the b7. Black doesnt have to allow a5 though, which is already two moves, and Nb1-c3-a4-c5 is a slow plan of 3 moves.

Right now black is very much boxed in. Problems to do anything with the Lc8, problems to get the Ng8 out, and the rooks are besides the other issue. Thats why I think this knight maneuver is a good idea but too slow for the position. If you give black too much time, they can sort out their problems. Thats why I would focus on fast development, and attack.

Was that easier to understand ?

Move 14, not 13, right?

One plan would be to try and attack the center and the black king stuck in there. Moving the c3 knight and then c4 is good. Your move (a3) followed by b4 is also good. Na4, going to c5 or b6 is also good.

But if you want to highlight the most crucial moment of the middlegame, this isn't it. 2 moves later (move 16) your opponent blundered a piece, and you ignored it. You should ask yourself "Why?"