Getting out of a plateau

I'm struggling a lot with blitz in the 1600 - 1800 range. I'm 1800 as of now but I was 1600-1700 for several months. I feel like everyone in this rating range has no skill whatsoever, just taking free pawns in terrible situations. The winner seems to be chosen off of who takes the most pawns, completely disregarding any tactics or skill (because no one knows anything).

I don't know how to punish anything my opponents do. Often the engine calls the opponent taking the pawns a blunder, inaccuracy, or a mistake, but I don't know how to punish it. Often it's a several move combination that I don't understand. My puzzles rating is 2900 when I try (recently tilted due to a mouseslip and stopped paying attention to the puzzles), but I rarely seem to get the tactics in games. My only guess is I have some sort of strong attack but I don't know how to enforce it (by playing all the engine moves).

I don't know exactly what to ask here, but I need advice for getting out of 1800 blitz. I feel like I'm a very weak player compared to others and I don't know how to improve. Engines are confusing. Having no clue what to improve on, I've just been running the cloud analysis all the time and trying to memorize a bunch of moves in the opening as far as I can. I know this isn't a good way to improve but I don't know what else to do.

Any advice?

Thank you.

i dont think the engine is very confusing, granted im much lower than you almost the same as you in puzzles. The engine usually makes perfect sense to me its implementing it thats difficult, something will click for you eventually, especially if you notice your opponents bad moves that was a good sign for me, but my rating is crap. If nothing clicks you just have to keep waiting patiently maybe try to improve your puzzles or something. Read some books for advanced players on endgames maybe 

Because you're thinking is too fast. Usually for bullet range. For blitz you have extra time to think about stronger moves. You may want to play Rapid and then when you're good at Rapid. 

That's may be the time to go back to blitz!

short time controls are pointless

Sac the king, preferably your opponent's king. 

I just checked your last game. You had 89 accuracy that is pretty good. It seemed to me you didn't know what to do right out of the opening (philidor) and you took on dxe5 which just freed his bishop and released tension for no reason. Even I know d5 or Re1 was better. Then right away you didn't know what to do and played blunder Qd2 he took on Bxh3. Then you turned it around nicely. So I think middlegame plans is the right theme for you. We all blunder in certain stages of the game when we don't have a clear plan and just play a move which leaves something behind. In your case Qd2 left Nf3. I noticed tactics in 5 min is by far my weakest spot and completely ignoring my opponents threats . That's a bad one. So the move forward for both of us is to identify our weak spots and choose appropriate study plan. And don't play drunk is another one :-)) Btw if you just play and never studied 1800 is pretty good!

d3 by itself is a mistake in the philidor

or at least in his game it was my bad

You might try studying GM games that are played at slow time controls in order to get a feel for how a whole game is to be played.  Even in those games, converting a +pawn advantage is tricky and GMs will often go to = or losing positions at some point in the game in the process of trying to convert an advantage.  And they MUST beware of counterattacking chances at all times, so often it seems like they are playing not to press their advantage, but to consolidate their position. 

Playing less chess can also help, and if you are serious about improving in a permanent way then it really helps to spend more time analyzing your own games without the use of engines.  Engines aren't there 

Plateau???  I've plumbed rating depths lately...the site seems to have suddenly become MUCH stronger in last month or so...

There are now many many players who play mediocre chess SO fast and calculate tactics immediately, while never resigning.  However, they often have no idea of endgamess...if you can get to one.

Some of these guys have defeated me in five-minute blitz - and I've ranged from low-1300s to upper 1600s - with more than three minutes left on their clock

I have also struggled in the 1500-1700 for several months. But I watched a lot of chess tips and strategies on YouTube. I have also made an opening list because good openings are crucial for a smooth game. That's how I climbed the rating ladder and arrive at 2000 currently.  

But I also need some help climbing up from 2000 because I am really stuck now. Please give me tips too.

Most importantly, every single piece (including pawns) should be protected because once taken, the opponent will open more lines of attack. Place your pieces on the best squares and fight for the open files! I hope this helps you in your games!

Oh, lastly, try to prevent exchange sacrifices because players like you and me don't really know how to make the best of our pieces.

Play 15|10 rapid and analyse your lost games.

Thank you everyone for your answers! I'll try to play more rapid and study top games. And yes, I don't know any Philidor theory. I'll try to learn that too.