Does anyone have any insight to share with me here?

My openning and middle game always seem to cost me more pawns than my opponent; a development I don't pay a lot of attention to until the endgame.  Am I undervaluing the piece?  Should I always look to keep material levels equal if I must lose a piece?  Should I not worry too much about it if my position seems stronger?

Any and all thoughts are welcome.

pQ4 wrote:

I don't pay a lot of attention to until the endgame.

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 Um, pay attention earlier? If you lose a pawn in the opening and never get it back, you'll be a pawn down in the endgame.

 

 When i was younger i would not worry about losing a pawn now and then, but after losing countless games because of that one pawn i learned to value the little guys alot more. Try to pay attention from move one waiting till the endgame can be very costly.

May I suggest Hans & Franz to Pump You Up? :)- The weaverman that posted above may have lucent advice; Pay attention to the details. If you are shedding pawns like the fall trees then there must be something with your strategy, your attention or your understanding. Slow down, get focused!!

Dude just start with 9 pawns then.  Your opponent will never notice.  I do it all the time OTB.  One of my rooks has a hidden compartment inside where I store the 9th pawn until I find an opportunity to slip it in unnoticed.

The nine pawn strategy.  I think I read about that in a chess book somewhere.  I'll for sure try that.

I wasn't sure what kind of comments i'd get on this thread, but it seems pretty plain I should stop whining, and play the game.  Perhaps even try and capture a pawn if I lose one.

I have 2 rooks....I could actually start with 10 pawns....

tbierig wrote: Dude just start with 9 pawns then.  Your opponent will never notice.  I do it all the time OTB.  One of my rooks has a hidden compartment inside where I store the 9th pawn until I find an opportunity to slip it in unnoticedhahahahaha, you can try it..

Being down a pawn will often bite you in the endgame. You must learn not to hang pawns. But there's much more you can do to improve your game. Have you studied K+P vs K and K+R+P vs K+R endgames? A knowledge of those can help you draw when you're down a pawn and help you win when you're up a pawn.

 

Check my blog--I've written many articles that can help you. Also check the Chesskids lessons page, or pick up a good endgame book.  :)

 

I am always down a pawn too.

 

My openings are: Kings Gambit, Danish Gambit, Scotch Gambit, Smith-Morra Gambit, and as black I play the Center-Counter Defense.

kponds wrote:

I am always down a pawn too.

 

My openings are: Kings Gambit, Danish Gambit, Scotch Gambit, Smith-Morra Gambit, and as black I play the Center-Counter Defense.

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 Hmmmm, I can't imgaine why you might be down a pawn using those openings..... :-D

lol

There is a simple explanation your opponents must be better than you. 

^real helpful.

 

I looked at a couple of your recent loses and I would definitely suggest you pay more attention to your pawns. No need to let your opponent take them without adequate compensation. The pawns can be extremely valuable.