Equal positions are so hard to play!

Rely more on yourself and less on external factors to decide what to do, you'll play better such positions, but also stop playing chess.

Telestu,

I think Silman would say that you're position is dynamically imbalanced, nearly equal, with a slight edge for Black.

a ) Queens are equal

b) Black's Rook controls an open file, White Rook on a semi-open file.

c) Bishops are nearly equal but Black's light squared one (although useful) looks like a giant pawn with semi-Bishop powers at the moment

d) Black's N is well posted  while White's N potentially could be.

e) White's b2 pawn is separated from the a pawn.. other pawns being equal

f) White has space advantage on Queenside, Black Kingside

All of that sounds good.

Well, white's rook is on an open file too though, and I don't know that I'd say black has an advantage in space on the kingside (but some people define space as something like piece activity so maybe that's fine).

White can play b4 at some point, the pawns aren't totally separated, but yeah, long term they can be liabilities just like both side's isolated d pawns.

The Bc6 blocks the rook so right now it is semi-open.  The Ne4 is good. Don't move unless it helps.

The Re8 is good.  Ditto.  The space advantage points to Black kingside attack or Queenside defense.  Your options are narrowing.  Find the plan.  Work the tactics.  Silman was right.

You can't call the c file semi open and the e file open.

Technically these labels only depend on the pawns, but anyway, it's worse to be blocked by your own piece than it is to be blocked by an enemy piece. The c1 rook adds pressure while the e8 rook is staring at its own knight.

may be true but I can open the e file as Black at will by moving my knight.  The Bc6 is a giant pawn blocking the c file.

Didn't read many posts past the OP, but this is what gives most intermediate-advanced players the hardest time: planning. Like 2Q1C said, list the imbalances. Find the weakest point in your opponent's position and your own. Work to eliminate your weaknesses while chipping away at the opposition's. Figure out your good and bad pieces and the other player's, eliminate your bad pieces and his/her good pieces through exchanges or positional maneuvering. Positional play is the hardest aspect of chess to master. Study Karpov, Petrosian, Kasparov, any of the truly great masters; pinpoint the critical positions in their games and why they made the moves they did, even if those moves were inaccurate in the game. Larsen is a player I don't hear mentioned a lot as a positional player, but he excelled at POSITIONAL attacking. He honed in on any weakness and just when his opponent had it covered, found another to exploit. Diversion is critical. In short, study positional play. Hope it helps, urk. Good luck

An open file isn't important by itself. Usually it's important because  you can use it to infiltrate to e.g. the 7th rank. White's rook is not dreaming of c7, and it's doing work where it is. Black's rook is certainly dreaming of being useful in the future. The rook and knight position aren't harmonious, but they have potential.

Urk:  just thought you would want to know.  I met Bent Larsen at the San Antonio Chess Club in 1972.  He was in town for the1972 International Church's Fried Chicken Chess Tournament. 

So Blueemu and Bent Larsen are old drinkin' buddies from way back.

Don't want to take other player's fun of analyzing this position.  It is a very, very good test of exactly what urk was posting about in this thread (Equal positions are so hard to play!).

After analyzing a total of 15 different moves which all lead to advantage to white I finally analyzed the move 1...Re6.  Only this move maintains the balance that as was discussed throughout the thread is the  critical factor.

My conclusion is that the with best play the position is a draw.  The most double edged move is 1...Bd7 with this move Black seemingly leaves enprise both of his pawns at d5 and b7 which are subject to capture by either Qxd5 or Qxb7.  Actually Black is threatening the  tactical ...Bxh3 which after gxh3 permits ...Qxf3 because the White Q is no longer at b3 to defend the N at f3.

Thank you Telestu for a deliciously rigorous position!

Blueemu was a great kid player but it seems life got in the way of chess.
Worships at the temple of Fischer, my kind of player!!

Capablanca was the first human chess computer.

Fischer stood on his shoulders, but he was Eleanor Rigby.

Ah look at all the lonely people
Ah look at all the lonely people

Eleanor Rigby, picks up the rice
In the church where a wedding has been
Lives in a dream
Waits at the window, wearing the face
That she keeps in a jar by the door
Who is it for

All the lonely people
Where do they all come from?
All the lonely people
Where do they all belong?

Father McKenzie, writing the words
Of a sermon that no one will hear
No one comes near
Look at him working, darning his socks
In the night when there's nobody there
What does he care

All the lonely people
Where do they all come from?
All the lonely people
Where do they all belong?

Ah look at all the lonely people
Ah look at all the lonely people

Eleanor Rigby, died in the church
And was buried along with her name
Nobody came
Father McKenzie, wiping the dirt
From his hands as he walks from the grave
No one was saved

All the lonely people
Where do they all come from?
All the lonely people
Where do they all belong?