Originally posted by vivify
I'm not yet at the 20-game mark, but I've already learned something: I SUCK at games where the board is cluttered. I'm much better when the board is open, and I have room to be creative. This is a recent game I lost, where the board looked like this at one point:

[fen]r1bqk2r/4ppb1/p2p1np1/1ppPn3/P3PN2/1PNB1P1p/2PBQ1PP/R4RK1[/fen]

Any advise on the be ...[text shortened]... play when the board is like this? And what's the best way to prevent this type of position?

It is far easier to play on a cluttered board than to play on a cutting board, quit whining.
There is no whining in chess except in The Clans Forum.

Originally posted by RJHinds
After looking at it for a couple minutes I see a fork attack with your knight on his queen and bishop with Ne6. That must be the best move. This keeps the axb5 move in reserve.

Only a couple of minutes?
Another couple of minutes and you might recall how pawns capture!