People who just exchange pieces??

I've been losing a lot of blitz lately, and I think it has something to do with me trying to play more tactically and aggressively, rather than the style that's more natural for me, which is putting my pieces on nice safe squares, strategizing to create long-term weaknesses, accruing long-term advantages, and simplifying to a favorable endgame while doing so.  I find that when I stick to my style, the game is a little less exciting, but I do better over all because I'm not getting into blunder-prone situations.  Hopefully my tactics are improving; I'm trying to work most on them because let's face it: it's what most of us need to improve the most.  Anyway, I guess my point is that when I try to play in a way that doesn't fit my style, I make mistakes.  So play to your strengths and stick to your guns!  If you're an attacker with a flair for the elegant, so be it.

Keep trying to play aggressive.  It doesn't matter if you lose 100 or 1000 games.  You'll learn alot in the process.  You might as well gambit some pawns as well.

This is the exact issue I deal with as well, nothing irks me more then people who from the start just attempt to trade every piece off the board that they can for no real reason except simplifying the position to avoid tactics.  Consequently these also happen to be the types of players I lose to most often so go figure, which must mean there is a certain strength to that strategy as well especially in the hands of a good opponent.  Often times I'll try to create something out of nothing but against strong players that can be a real gamble.  Patience is key in these types of games and that is a trait I am trying to develop. I guess in the end you can't really expect everyone to cater to your style but I know what you mean it can be frustrating.

Not to say I'm strong but yea you drove me crazy with your style when we played bullet games one time.  I tried to complicate and you tried to simplify and in the end the score was about 10-1 in your favor which really was to be expected anyway but yea I felt like I was banging my head against the wall playing you.  Nice job. 

What's most important to ask yourself before exchanging pieces is even if you yourself will benefit, how will it strengthen your enemy's position?

I always will try to use a Bishop to take out a Knight in the opening of a game (usualy putting a hole in the roof of a future castle).  If someone goes for a trade, why whine about it?  I honestly do not understand.   

I do like to play with lots of pieces, but I do not mind at all to trade down material expecially if I get a very bad opening where I have no attack, and with low pieces on the board expecially at the level I play around 1700/1800 people tend to know 0 about endgames so lots of times I end up winning lost games

I'm a fan of Korchnoi and Lasker, people who considered moves good when they irked the opponent, or in some other way foiled their plan.

Yeah you do have a point...the whole psychology part of chess.

Right. The old joke was that Tal's queen was more valuable than those of the other players holds true with some other matchups as well.

Just be patient :) ...

Trade towards positional advantages and win in the endgame ... yeah it takes patience, yeah it means you can't rely on dubious moves ... and no it's not as exciting as the wild stuff... BUT it IS just as fun, it WILL help your play in tactical games as well, AND your rating will quickly improve as you begin to understand positional chess and leave the 'street player' mentality.

-matt

Matt this hits the nail on the head...I have that street player mentality!

You shouldn't worry about playing players that go out of their way to exchange pieces.  In fact, this almost guarantees you a win, for the simple fact that usually the player who initiates exchanges brings his opponent's pieces or pawns into a better position and loses everything he had developed in the process.

Here is a quote by someone on this webpage http://www.thechessworld.com/beatstrongplayer.html that explains this a bit, there is also a famous quote about exchanging pieces that Alekhine or Nimzowitsch about it:

"Do not automatically exchange pieces. A lot of weaker players think that if they exchange a lot of pieces they will be able to make a draw in the endgame. This is a big misunderstanding! Of course if you trade all pieces and pawns you the game will be drawn. But stronger side would never allow it to happen. In that case, if weaker side would try to exchange pieces it would most likely to trade his active pieces for less active pieces of the stronger side. Advantage of strong side will increase and he would be almost guaranteed winning that game. Even if you exchange most of the pieces stronger players usually play very solid endgame, which will most likely guarantee them a game point."

  So yes - if a player decides to exchange pieces with you, the game will change, but certainly not to your disadvantage.  The only disadvantage comes when you are trying to play a 'brilliant attacking game' or 'sacrificial kingside attack' etc., instead of just flowing with the position.  Any player who tries to assert his will on the position instead of playing what the position demands is going to end up with a lot of frustration.  Chess is many things, but even great masters that play beautiful attacking games also play their share of positional clamps when necessary.

 When you have a preference for a particular type of game and you play competetively, your opponents will pick up on this and try to get you in an uncomfortable situation.

AWESOME ANSWER!  Thanks. 

Wow great post there zenchess, I'll have to remember that next time I get into a position that doesn't compliment my style.

I've met a highly rated player (1900+) in Live Chess that usually just exchanges everything down and wins on time. I sometimes even get advantage but in a 5 0 game, it's not easy to punish such play. This style demonstrates little skill and would not work well in real chess OTB at long time controls.

Im playing a game thats almost over now, that I traded at moves 5-7 seeing that I could get two passed pawns as white (g,h) and have now moved one to 6th rank with rook and knight protectors. If I play correctly I will win with a promoted pawn. so thats pretty beautiful to me.

sllepnig deos not mtaetr.  You Hvae to lvoe the bairn.  As lnog as the frsit and lsat ltetres are in the rhigt pclae, it deos not mtater.  :)

tradeing pieces without anything is really nothing really however some play with certain pieces stronger than others oh well its part of the game if youget into it with a strong player you will lose beause there end game will probley be a lot better so anyway have a good one.

fully right.  piece exchange is about winning at whatever cost, what you/we seem to like is the playing of the game, and hopefully winning after thoroughly enjoying the complex machinations of what if.