There was a lot going on in this position tactically. Winning material, taking all the enemies stuff and getting a queen is a time honored beginner tactic that is often best at higher levels as well. You chose bx7 based on, I guess, some vague instinct rather than analysis. Not a great idea at your level. Bxf7 just gives away material, and misses bxb7 which wins material. The threat is qxq, winning the queen, so black must trade queens first to save the rooks. Bxb7, qxq, rxq and now black can't save the rook and knight, and must play nc7, allowing white to win the exchange with bxr. So the line is bxb7, qxq, rxq, nc7, bxr, nxr and now white plays g5 and where can the knight go? Either g8 or h7. Black has largely undeveloped both knights, and has a lousy position in addition to being down material. White should win.
G4 was a seriously bad idea, allowing black to rip open your kingside. Also, the immediate 12. bxb7 was even stronger than in my analysis on move 13. Can you work that out?
The general answer to your question, in a less tactical position where you don't know what to do, is try and increase the activity of your pieces and restrict black's activity.
Mid/end game strategy
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Hello!
I am currently playing a game against level 3 AI and I am stuck on this position with absolutely no good plans at all on how to continue. I am a beginner to this game and I have noticed that once the opening-phase of the game is over, I have a hard time knowing what to do. I usually do a fairly decent job of developing my pieces and trying to control the center but once mid-late game begins I get totally lost.
What are some tips that would help me in this situation and in general with mid-late game situations?