Simplify through exchanges, and reach a level endgame.
Then play for a win. Simple Simon.
If you add a 5 second bonus to any of your time controls, AND you have a modicum of endgame knowledge, you should regularly be able to roll your opponents, (within reason, of course).
This simple technique works well for most opponents under USCF 1800 ratings, largely because they are (typically) fixated on the thrills and spills of delivering checkmate in the middlegame.
i know but i want to be a combinative player like alekhine not a dry grinder like capablanca
Practice.
If you don't like the middlegame, you don't like chess.
i feel like i need to increase my knowledge of the middlegame and i am also considering switching to d4 as my main opening
If you're uncomfortable in the middlegame, I would recommend playing through lots of instructive annotated game anthologies and studying a good book on strategy, like Pachman's Modern Chess Strategy (my favorite, even though it uses descriptive notation).
Aiming for simplifying to an endgame and outplaying the opponent in the endgame won't always be possible, and you will seriously limit your improvement by trying to avoid middlegames rather than working on improving your middlegame play.
This is all you need --
http://www.amazon.com/Understanding-Chess-Middlegames-John-Nunn/dp/1906454272/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1368023381&sr=1-1&keywords=john+nunn
So get to work, and hit the books. 
Opening systems are a whole nother kettle of fish.
I will continue to work and not give up. I know I am not a natural talent like Alekhine but maybe I can get somewhere with a structured approach.
I don't know if you've seen it already but I replied to your similar question in our finished game
bloodyjack i saw the messages, however can your recommend some books and/or a structured approached. i have one vol of informator.
All kinds of Chess Mentor courses are available to you as a diamond member. Silman has the aptly titled "Now what?" or if you want to get serious, his 300 lesson "Roots of Positional Understanding". There are also courses on exchanging pieces ( Silman) and David Pruess has a course on color complexes. As Zborg suggested with a smile "get to work and hit the books" . Digital or dead trees doesn't matter, you've identified a problem and now all you have to do is address it. Smileyface because I know how obvious that advice I just gave you was and how difficult it is to actually make significant progress.
i know but i want to be a combinative player like alekhine not a dry grinder like capablanca
Alekhine worked hard to reach that level. He was obsessed by chess, and spend all his time improving his game. Do you want to spend more than 10 hour a day studying and playing chess? If the answer is yes, then maybe you will not be as strong as Alekhine, but you could be a strong master.
Hi Pdve,
I recommend that you study Laszlo polgar's "Chess: Training in 5333+1 Problems, Combinations and games", Then solve problems from "The Chess Course", by Praful Zaveri, Followed by "Chess Tactics for Champions", by Judit Polgar.
It is my guarentee that you will have a strength of 1800-2000 elo in Middlegame/Tactics. These are the books which I studied(My current tactics rating is 2542) and now my students do so.
One more thing,
Play 1. e4 openings, as almost all the openings in e4 are highly tactical. for eg., King's Gambit, Scotch Game, Guico Piano, Bishop's Opening etc.
Play sicilian as black against e4 and king's indian against d4. This way you will improve your understanding of chess tactics and also will develop intuition for tactical blows. Don't play 1.d4 or Nf3 etc as these openings mostly convert into positional battles. I hope this will help you improve your middle game and also understanding of chess as a whole.
PM me for any doubts/Advice.
All the best for your future in chess :)
rahim_me i am adding you to my friends list. it would be great if you could help me improve by both general advice and concrete methods such as playing 15 min training games and pointing out positional and tactical errors. hope we can do this over the course of the next year.
cheers,
p
i know but i want to be a combinative player like alekhine not a dry grinder like capablanca
Alekhine worked hard to reach that level. He was obsessed by chess, and spend all his time improving his game. Do you want to spend more than 10 hour a day studying and playing chess? If the answer is yes, then maybe you will not be as strong as Alekhine, but you could be a strong master.
woodpusher thanks for the great advice. i am starting putting in AT LEAST 5 hours starting tomorrow. wish me luck.
Alekhine worked hard to reach that level. He was obsessed by chess, and spend all his time improving his game. Do you want to spend more than 10 hour a day studying and playing chess? If the answer is yes, then maybe you will not be as strong as Alekhine, but you could be a strong master.
woodpusher thanks for the great advice. i am starting putting in AT LEAST 5 hours starting tomorrow. wish me luck.
If that's 5 hours to become a strong player, you will not manage it.
If that's 5 hours per day, you will most probably not keep it for long.
Practice.
If you don't like the middlegame, you don't like chess.
Quite true. And if you never make it to any endgame, you have no other option than to like them, right? 
I wish all of chess could be endgames whcih I really enjoy.
I find myself at a TOTAL loss in the middlegame and feel like a fish out of water. Any help please?