Moving the "f pawn" in the middlegame?

Hey, 

I almost NEVER move my f pawn until the very end. However, I have seen some of my opponents moving f4 or f5 in the middlegame to put pressure on my kingside. I also sometimes see that moving f4 in the middle game could be useful but I never really move it as it exposes the king from the right. 

I did lose a game in a tournament because of moving my f pawn. 

What are your thoughts on it? Do you find it useful to move your f pawn in the middle game?

I personally don't like to touch it until the very end.

Look it up in the forums before posting. I've posted detailed answers to this before.

Obviously it depends on the position and situation. But usually your rook is behind the f pawn so pushing this pawn helps your rook influence the game. Often it is possible/sensible to play Kh1/Kh8 so when you push it you are not exposing the king to checks. And sometimes you need counterplay and activity, and pushing the f pawn is your only active pawn break. If this is the case you should certainly prepare it and do it, because if you don't your position will remain lifeless. You have to be prepared to allow some play for your opponent in order to get some play for yourself.

I can't stop laughing on that poor Knight. I realized that I never really played f4 or f5 at all in the middle game. I was following a General Rule to NEVER move the f-pawn. I think I should change this rule now.

You must move the fucking pawn

I don't quite see how someone could get to +1500 with such a rigid view of when to use the f-pawn. 

Chess is all about concrete analysis. I understand the fear that pushing the f-pawn will weaken the King, but think about the times you castle Q-side. Also, there are many times when pushing the White  f-pawn is precisely the best move to secure the e4 square. This happens in the Nimzo-Indian, the Queen's Gambit Declined, the King's Indian, Grunfeld, and others all the time. It also happens in key variations of 1.e4 openings, such as the English Attack of the Sicilian. 

In other words, this is a rule that no master follows. And it's a rule that very few players over 1500 follow. It may have been a good, useful warning to novices to watch out for attacks on f2/f7 but as you advanced, you must have realized there are just too many exceptions to make that a useful rule. 

A better rule is a much simpler one: Protect your King, but don't be afraid of no ghosts.