What do you do in a closed position?

Hi All!

When I play good in the opening against a better & cautious opponent the position becomes closed & I become clueless! My problem is that when I face a closed position everything (both my opponent's position & mine) appears good to me so I don't know what to play or how am I supposed to select one from all the possible moves. I haven't included any example because it's not about a certain position but about closed positions in general. Could you please advise me about this?

Thanks in advance.

You use common sense?
In closed positions the pawn structure is very important. So you analyze it and come up with what in english is called as levers. 

Here is an example of a lever:

Levers are used to open the position up where you are stronger, or to create a weakness which you can later on attack.

In the diagram I posted White wants to weaken the d6 pawn and attack it, (hence why he played c5) he also wants to play cxd6 to open the c-file which he happens to control. With the c-file under White's command he can then attack both d6 and c7 with his knight on b5.

Thank you for the useful info

OPEN UP THE POSITION WITH TAL TACTICS

Don't write in all caps. Didn't anyone teach you manners?

@EFV1728

What does "Tal Tactics" refer to?

.. Any number, of inferior 'de-coders'.. {'human' or otherwise}, could figure out, my answer.. Though, probably Not, in All situations.

in closed positions you should sacrafice your knights on pawns so you can open the position and your bishops will be good. 

Play through some games of Tigran Petrosian, and Korchnoi.

Korchnoi: Move by Move by Cyrus Lakdawala

Petrosian: Move by Move by Thomas Engqvist

Get your pieces on good squares, and keep tension until you're ready to break through (through a pawn break or the like)...it does to take two players to keep a game closed and someone has to open it to win.  If the game is really closed be aware that the position might favor knights.  

If both you and your opponent have played book moves, the  closed position that you have reached has well known middlegame plans for both sides.  The key is to recognize where the  pawn  breaks are and when the break(s) should be executed.  The reason the pawn breaks  are key is because the  pawn break is the first move of the  middlegame plan of attack.

If you have not  played book opening moves then  the closed position you  have reached requires careful analysis.  Locating the pawn break(s), recognizing the correct middllegame plan(s) of  attack, and when to  execute those indicated  pawn break(s) are your  guideposts.

Closed positions  usually indicate closed pawn structures.  In closed pawn structures Ns are superior to Bs.  Rs are meekly dependent on pawn  breaks to create half-open or open files for activity and attacking chances.  If the  center is closed then flank  attacks especially against the enemy K's castled position is very likely  to succeed.  It is  well known that the best  defense against a flank attack is counterattack in the middle.  If you are the flank attacker keep the pawn center closed.  If you are defender against a flank attack, unblock the center.

Space advantages in closed positions are easier and  best exploited by keeping the position closed.  The reason  for this is  that closed pawn structures provide fewer squares for pieces to attack  and defend the position from.  So to illustrate when a square for defense is  necessary against an attack, and that square is not available because that square is  already occupied by another piece or  pawn.

Finally, always be looking for tactics.  Take  care not to  overlook a  backward defense of a pawn or piece that you are attacking.  Both tactics and backward defenses are tricky and difficult to see in an overcrowded closed position.

Thank you all for the useful info

Thank you for the useful info

This adds a whole new dimension to the game.

like a heart you may leave it closed or you may open it if you have a key.

Thank you for the useful advice

Basically, a closed position is a position where pawns on both sides of the board are blocking each other’s path. In this position, knights are stronger than bishops. You should utilize the squares your pawns control to your advantage and get your knights to secure outposts.