Hi Amac.
My personal experience, is that when playing with a stronger opponent, I am usually better off if I open up (and simplify) the position, therefore favoring trades versus trying to close the position up. This because with less pieces on the board, I tend to blunder less (which, at the time, is my biggest problem).
Of course, if my opponent is much stronger than me, then opening up does not help either, because he will just kill me in the ending!
By the way, this is my first post here – hi everyone, hope to “meet” you soon!
Andrea
When you are playing more knowledgeable players, is it better to trade pieces readily to open up the board and reduce the number of lines available? This thread isnt intended to be about those matches with a novice or intermediate player with a master player but rather for those games between novice and intermediate players or intermediate players playing more experienced and learned intermediate players. As I consider the games that I have more success, it generally appears to favor a more open game which creates more situations that I am comfortable playing. Positional games against better players tends to favor my opponent and creates tactical situations that expose my lack of study or vision rather rudely with some rare exceptions.