Queens Gambit Accepted Question

If Blacks only goal is to hold on to the c4 pawn and white makes no opening mistakes, can black hold on to the c4 pawn? If yes, can anyone provide a list of moves (without sidelines) with the purpose of providing an example of being able to maintain the pawn on c4?

There are lines where Black doggedly holds onto the c4 pawn. It's possible to get into an awful lot of trouble doing this, at the very least, White would get significant compensation for the pawn in the form of piece activity and the centre.

Obviously if Black could just take the pawn, hold it, and simply be a pawn up for nothing vs best play, the queens gambit would be almost refuted.

The normal way the QGA is played is to use the time White is spending recapturing the pawn, to develop. More often than not, Black makes no attempt to hold onto the pawn.

Thanks James for responding to my question.

From the following list of moves 1.D4 D5 2.C4 DC4 3.E3 B5 4.A4 ?

Is there a way for black to hold on to the C4 pawn?

No, because for example c6 5. axb5 cxb5 6. Qf3 would lose the game for Black. 

...b5 is a weak move for Black in that sequence.

Instead of playing c6, is there an option on the 4th move for Black to use the queen or c8 bishop to save the pawn?

No. At the very least in that case White could always just always just play axb5 and the c4-pawn would remain chronically weak for White to pick off at his leisure. Black would have only succeeded in losing time and fragmenting his position - the remaining a7 and c7 pawns would be isolated. 

Going down that road would be a recipe for disaster for Black and you should avoid such positions no matter what.

If White plays 3.e4 can Black hold the pawn with 3. . . b5? this seems to be the most common continuation I face, and b5 seems to be considered a very poor move. How should I play against this "mistake"?

Again there, 4.a4 is very nice for white. Don't forget you also have a further undermining move b2-b3 should you need it and in some positions after cxb3 you can intermezzo a Bxb5+ sometimes. I can't go into more details now as its 4am here. Good luck!

I like to play 4 Nc3 hoping black will push his b pawn 4...b4 If not, 4...c6. 5 a4 a6 6. axb5 cxb5 7. Nxb5. And that's a free piece because if 7...axb5 8. Rxa8. Moreover, white ends up with the pawn on c4.

But black must be very friendly to play 5...a6.

5...b4 is well established theory.

Your question is a good one and studying the QGA is a great lesson in compensation , weak squares, weak pawns etc...  IMO its a critical part of learning about chess in general to at least study the pros and cons of the QGA for each side. 

Not really. If declining the gambit gets a good position for white, he should be quite happy. If black declines, say, the staunton gambit, why would white ever be upset?

I actually prefer playing the QGD as white to the QGA-Not because the position in one is objectively better than in another in my judgement, but simply due to personal preference.

To people talking about 3.e3 variations-It's not a very good idea to hold onto the pawn there, but the moves 3.Nf3 and 3.e4 are more testing anyway.

Also, if you want to take a pawn and stay up in the QG, there might be other options-Noteboom, anyone?

Black can mantain the pawn on c4. But that will take time and White can use this weak pawn as a target. Here, White can play a moves like: Qc2, Nf3 , a4, or grab the center with: e4, Bg5, etc. 

But if Black wants to keep on protecting the c-pawn with: ...b5, ...a6, ...Be6, etc. the Kingside development is now slow because of the focus on protecting the c-pawn.

There's a trap here in Queen's Gambit Accepted.

I know