If you hate playing with the IQP...

does that mean that you're not a good player?

Or at least, not a well-rounded player?

I personally love to play AGAINST the IQP and I would never play with it. I just feel like it's being a pawn down. I don't see where is white's activity to compensate for it, unless black makes the mistake of not developing his lsB outside his pawn chain.

The main point is that I don't like to play a game where I'm fighting "against the clock" in the sense that every move that brings the endgame closer will be against me, and I can't even trade freely.

So, does that mean that I'm not a good chess player because I can't use effectively piece activity?

Or is it legit to just prefer a long term asset (positional weakness of the isolated pawn) versus dynamic compensation that will just wither away if not used?

"He who fears the isolated queen's pawn should give up chess." -- Tarrasch

Maybe a bit harsh... he was trying to prove his Tarrasch defense was sound, contrary to current ideas at the time which held all isolated pawns as weak, but it's a fun quote to throw in here.

I used to feel the same way though... like I was playing against the clock (giving my opponent some kind of endgame odds).  But especially in non-tournament games don't be afraid to experiment and see if you can make use of this space / active play.  Maybe attacking chess just isn't your thing, in which case you can choose different opening variations to play.  Or as pelik said you can try to just exchange it off every time.

I have no problem being on either end all else being equal.  If you have the pawn trade major pieces and attack generally, if you don't then keep major pieces on and blockade it to prevent d5 sacrifices or exchanges with e6, as that leads to great activity for white. 

The iqp gives you nice attackingchances at the cost of a isolated pawn but if it goes into endgame and the iqp is the only weakness you got you will not lose the endgame;)

I am confused here. How can you not like the IQP it is not lock for a win but it sure makes it a lot easier to win. If both sides are even in material your opponent has to use a piece to mirror the IQP. If your behind the mirror idea comes into play again and in which case sooner or later you should find a weakness to exploit.

IQP = fun game.  For me anyway can not say the same for my opponent.

I know how to play a 3 vs 4 rook ending (I draw it even against Fritz) but still I feel I'm going on an endgame with a disadvantage.

waffllemaster is absolutely right, attacking chess is not my thing. While I do not shy away from sharp openings (i.e. I play the Najdorf) I always keep an eye on the long term features of a position. In my view who has a long term trump card such as a more favourable endgame plays more relaxed.

paulgottlieb have you noticed that in all 4 games black got his c8 bishop stuck within the pawn chain? My main issue with the IQP is Bg4, putting pressure on the pawn's defender and solving the problem of space for black.

I'm an e4 player so the only IQP I could get into is the Panov. Indeed I'm trying to learn he IQP as a means against the Caro-Kann, but so far I've liked the simple system with Bd3. Playing a Carlsbad structure makes much more sense to me: white keeps a ton of activity towards the kingside with an easily rooklift. Perhaps even more chances for an h4 advance because the centre is closed. And no structural weakness.

Agree.

That plus IM Danny Rensch's videos on chess.com are the reason I love playing with the IQP so much :)

I think it means you are not well-rounded, not that you a bad player. I had a coach one time that saw I liked playing nice compact structures. He made me play the Tarrasch Defense as Black to try and improve the dynamics in my game. I have been playing it ever since. It should also help one to understand how to defend against the isolani as you will notice the build-up of activity.

Gerry

IQP = WIN

Get Sokolov's book "Winning Chess Middlegames".  It covers 4 pawn structures that occur HEAVILY in classic Queen Pawn openings (i.e. QGD, QGA, Tarrasch, Nimzo-Indian, Queen's Indian, etc).  They are:

1) Doubled Pawns (Almost all Nimzo-Indian)

2) Isolated Pawns (Mostly QGD, Tarrasch, and QGA)

3) Hanging pawns (Mostly QGD)

4) Central Pawn Majority (Mostly QID)

The first 2 chapters make up about 80% of the book.  So a lot of coverage of Isolated Pawns, and almost exclusively Isolated Queen's Pawn.