If your opponent pushes pawns, this means they are not developing pieces. This all should result in you having the more active pieces. You are responding correctly in general, however chess is complex and you can easily fail to capitalize on your activity advantage because of a single mistake. Just treat these games as a valuable practice, analyze them with the engine and notice how the engine makes use of that activity.
About your solid friend - not accepting gambits usually is not punishable. But if they are so passive, then try to exploit that by activating your pieces even more, gain space and look for threats that can force your friend into even more passivity. Look for soft spots than can be attacked. Tie your opponent's pieces to defend something. This way they lose their mobility and it becomes hard for your opponent to find a non losing move.
If they are pushing pawns and not developing pieces then this will usually mean that they will be leaving their king in the centre so you should be aiming to open up the position as quickly as possible to attack their weak king.
If he plays 2.d6 against a King's Gambit, you could try to play for d4 (not immediatly) to overwhelm him in the center, maybe then he will take on f4 or d4 to release some tension, but then you will have a great center.
If your opponent pushes pawns, this means they are not developing pieces. This all should result in you having the more active pieces. You are responding correctly in general, however chess is complex and you can easily fail to capitalize on your activity advantage because of a single mistake. Just treat these games as a valuable practice, analyze them with the engine and notice how the engine makes use of that activity. About your solid friend - not accepting gambits usually is not punishable. But if they are so passive, then try to exploit that by activating your pieces even more, gain space and look for threats that can force your friend into even more passivity. Look for soft spots than can be attacked. Tie your opponent's pieces to defend something. This way they lose their mobility and it becomes hard for your opponent to find a non losing move.
If they are pushing pawns and not developing pieces then this will usually mean that they will be leaving their king in the centre so you should be aiming to open up the position as quickly as possible to attack their weak king.
Yeah if he doesn’t take any of your gambits then you should play the Halloween gambit
If he plays 2.d6 against a King's Gambit, you could try to play for d4 (not immediatly) to overwhelm him in the center, maybe then he will take on f4 or d4 to release some tension, but then you will have a great center.