Is there a limit to your generosity when sacrificing your pieces?

Depends on King safety.

I'm not that good so I don't like to sacrifice unless I think* it will lead to a checkmate. If the sacrifice leads to a checkmate, then it really doesn't matter what you sacrifice now does it?

*I almost wrote "I know", but I know my limits well enough that what "I know" will happen on the board doesn't always happen.

I will only sacrifice pieces even thought there is no clear mate, if in return it will give me a tremendous initiative which could lead to a mate very soon or if I know I can regain the material with dividends.

Who said my sacrifices were generous?

All my gifts are of the greek variety. Timeo Danaos et dona ferentes and all that good stuff.

I'll give up a pawn for an initiative early in the game (a gambit, basically). In the middle game, I'll give up the equivalent of one or two pawns for a decent attack, which can also include things like an exchange sac or giving up a minor piece for one or two pawns. I usually won't give up an entire piece for no material compensation unless I see a REALLY strong attack, and I probably have to see a checkmate to give up more than that.

Of course, that doesn't mean that I don't miscalculate, as when I gave up two pieces for two pawns and what I thought was a mating attack last weekend, only to overlook a defensive move where my opponent gave back the material to stop the attack. Interestingly, I ended up a pawn down, but got a draw by perpetual check.

--Fromper