Interesting ideas! It could have worked! You are right, the activation of my dark-coloured bishop is the key for counterplay

White can sacrifice the c3-pawn earlier by 8.e4!? and I feel Black should just continue his development, and not take it. Another interesting way is 8.Ne3!? and g2-g3. White always has annoying pressure on the Black squares if Black grabs the pawn.

Quite interesting

Thanks for sharing. I like your explanations around sacrifice and possible compensations.

Thanks very much, it looks much better now.

I´m not dogmatic. So, I have changed it now into Arial

Good article, but the Comic Sans ruins it.

Okay, thanks! I have changed "loose" into "be defeated"! :-)

By the way, the whole game you can see here: http://blog.chess.com/mauerblume/my-best-win--so-far

Excellent point about Fritz made by Lizardbill. Chess is governed by so many mathematical and geometrical certainties, but it's the human content that adds the drama and makes sure that White doesn't always win. And indeed that the "best move" doesn't always win.

In Chessmaster's annotated database, there's a gem of a comment attached to a Tal middle game (I forget vs whom, sorry), something like; "Chess theorists have debated a great deal over who has the advantage in this position. The answer of course is that the better player does."

Very interesting article and game. Thank you Mauerblume.

(Forgive my pedantry but, "loosing" is properly used in the sense of "loose an arrow" or "loose the dogs"; i.e. to release or set free. "Loosening" is the word that means untightening.)

mark422:You were very focused on not losing that pawn on c4.1)Is it because you knew you were playing against an opponent that was around the same skill level,2) or is that a preference, 3)or a chess rule that I'm not aware of to not lose pawns early in the game?

Well, Steve, sacrificing pawns in the opening (playing gambits) is normally not my preference. I have a more positional chess style.

So there is nothing wrong with playing gambits or sacrificing a pawn in middle game, but you should get a compensation for it.That might be gaining time or some positional advantage (quick development,strong center, control of an open file, a strong outpost etc.) or something else ( a strong king attack)

Compensation is the keyword for sacrificing material

And as it was mentioned here also, one shouldn't underestimate the psychological effects of sacrificing (surprise and shock) No one will be shocked when you sacrifice a pawn in the opening. He/she will be shocked when you do it in the right moment :-)

Nice recovery: Sometimes, when the pressure's on, you've got to hit back with a surprise, or get smacked around like a punch-drunk boxer. It might not be Fritz's chosen move, but this is a human game, and surprise and confusion are tools in the toolbox.

For some reason 'loosing' in place of 'losing' is very prevalent these days: 'loosing' is when you untighten something; 'losing' is what we try not to do in chess. Anyone know if this came from tv where being called a 'loser' went more like 'LOOOOOOO-SSSSER'?

@ZeroMotion: That's just my style of play. I stick with what I know heheh. I've tried different openings and variations, but notice I excel when I sacrifice a pawn. What would a pawn mean if I could control how my opponent plays?

NICE one mauerblume! the key word of this game for me is the tempo.... and the gut of the sacrificial adrenalin flowing with lots of nervousness in the outcome of the move! this is chess!

GOD BLESS AND LOOKING FORWARD TEAM MATE TO MORE OF GOOD POSTS OF CHESS IN OUR FORUM! how about Kingsman saksipotku(who's now in Brazil competting in active chess there... may u bring us victory!) and Kingsman Benhur91's favorite games... can u post it here too? 

I would never sacrifice a pawn just for the sake to "play a tempo game". There are many sharp openings out there, just play them.

I am not saying that sacrificing a pawn is always a bad thing, but for sure it is not something to generally go for and especially not something you should do every game within the first moves.

Look out for special circumctances like the one of mauerblume or a nice gambit variation of an opening.

I have three questions, and I know you're very knowledgable to assist me ;).  

I don't mind sacrificing a pawn because I'm finding out my style is to play a tempo game. Usually in the beginning of a game (maybe 7 moves in) I would give up a pawn to gain tempo. I didn't think it was important to try to maintain every pawn. (You later sacrificed it). You were very focused on not losing that pawn on c4.

1)Is it because you knew you were playing against an opponent that was around the same skill level,2) or is that a preference, 3)or a chess rule that I'm not aware of to not lose pawns early in the game?