The only difference between taking risks and making stupid mistakes is the outcome of the game... at least that's my ill informed ad hoc reckon.

I'm a terrible player, so it's hard to pass of stupid mistakes as taking risks, lol.

I agree... sometimes it's hard to be brave with lines that you can't fully calculate that MIGHT win!  ^_^

I recall a similar loss at the Marshall chess club.  I was rated 1750 or so USCF, and spent 25 mins (of a 45 min game) analysing a piece sacrifice against Boris Privman (rated 2250 at the time).  The sacrifice was winning but I could not confirm it in time, so I eventually chickened out.  I won an exchange instead and then lost in the endgame by time pressure.

I learned that Chess is not math; if you cannot find the defense or the win in your attack after looking for a reasonable time, but you look to retain the initiative or other advantage in the lines you do see, you should go for it, and let the opponent use the clock looking for a save.

Yes that is certainly an alternative to entering the risky tactical lines of the KG.

2 f4, d5.  I suck at that, when I take white

HAhahahaaa!  SOOoooooo true!!

I find it funny that, no matter how good you gets at chess, you always calculate one move to few.

Here's a game where I took a risk at the end of the game.  See if it paid off:

http://www.chess.com/article/view/do-you-feel-lucky-well-do-ya

Oh, I wanted it to work badly enough, don't worry about that!!

I just lacked the courage because I couldn't see the win at the fork in the road where g3 was needing to be played (move 17).  I chickened out because if it didn't work the threat to f7 was deadly.

In my opinion, this has nothing to do with any lack of risk-taking. I think you just didn't want to make ...g3 work badly enough. No doubt you know that against strong opposition, you won't get many chances, so seize the ones you do get!

Not many people are mature enough to post their losses. This was very informative, thanks!

Only problem with that is that the knight is pinned by the rook on e1.

21... Nxf5 looks excellent, freeing the knight from the queen's attack, and forking the queen and bishop. If he captures the knight with the rook, you just take the rook.

It also eliminates the pawn that later caused you so much trouble.

Yes, the g3 variation is what this topic is all about.  I looked at it for ages and decided not to take the risk and instead play safe.  As it turns out, I should have taken the risk.  If I had, I may well have spotted Be6... because it was practically forced!!

I find this often happens to me... and I wonder if I should take the risky line more often and see what happens!

LOL. i think u lost partially becuz of the g3 variation;