I believe that at our level it is normal to make serious mistakes in matches, our level of reasoning is not as precise as that of high-level players
- Their vision is unusual - they know which squares are vulnerable or well protected. They know how to protect all the pieces harmoniously, identify tactics, and take advantage of the slightest mistakes
- They have a lot of preparations and know very well what to do in the position
What you are doing is a great path, but to completely dominate a match you need a lot of positional experience. I'd say that in the 1000-1400 rating range, it's a bit murky as to what to do. Many players leave the main lines and go to the chaotic ones. In these cases, it's best to have your tactics up to date to exploit enemy vulnerabilities and pay close attention to avoid making simple mistakes.
I've been stuck at unrated games for awhile so I can practice things but, I really don't feel like I'm actually improving at all. I've been doing some puzzles, watching opening guides, learning tactics and such, but it all seems to go out the window when the game actually starts. Might just be a me issue, but I thought I'd get some thoughts.