user13480: I have noted in a number of games from Master players that sacrifices are rapidly played till both sides are reduced to just about equal in material and virtually the same pieces, at least in value.  Is this a deliberate act by both players?  It seems to be strategical by clearing the board of the garbage and getting to the heart of the matter, victory.

user7657: It sounds like you are referring to even trades which would reduce the game to an ending. This would more likely tend to lead to a draw than a victory. If one side makes a true sacrifice, that should lead to an advantage of some sort and ultimately a victory for that side if the sacrifice had been accurately calculated. 

user13012: Maybe you are thinking of something like this, which is the most wonderful series of combinations and counter combinations. Well-played games should end in balance.
[Event "UK - USSR radiomatch"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1946.??.??"]
[EventDate "?"]
[Round "2"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[White "William Albert Fairhurst"]
[Black "Salomon Flohr"]
[ECO "D74"]
[WhiteElo "?"]
[BlackElo "?"]
[PlyCount "58"]
[FEN ""]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.g3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.Bg2 Bg7 6.Nf3 O-O 7.O-O
Nc6 8.e4 Nb6 9.d5 Nb8 10.Nc3 c6 11.Be3 cxd5 12.exd5 N8d7
13.Qb3 Nf6 14.Rfd1 Ne8 15.Nb5 Bd7 16.Nxa7 Na4 17.Nc6 bxc6
18.dxc6 Nd6 19.cxd7 Nxb2 20.Rxd6 exd6 21.Nd4 Rb8 22.Nc6 Rxb3
23.Nxd8 Rxe3 24.Nc6 Rc3 25.d8=Q Rxd8 26.Nxd8 Bf6 27.Nb7 Rc2
28.Nxd6 Nd3 29.Rf1 Rxa2 1/2-1/2

Notice at the end that Nxf7 is answered by Rxf2.

user924: 
I have noted in a number of games from Master players that sacrifices are rapidly played till both sides are reduced to just about equal in material and virtually the same pieces, at least in value.

I don't think that happens often at all. What does happen is that players exchange pieces -- say white captures a piece, in return black takes a piece back, often the piece that just captured. That is perfectly normal, but it's not a sacrifice. A sacrifice is when you let something of yourself be captured and then you don't capture anything back.
It's natural for a game between two strong players to end up with more or less the same material; they're good enough to avoid moves that simply lose material outright.

Is this a deliberate act by both players?

Well, they would of course rather just capture pieces without having their own pieces captured in return, but the opponent doesn't want to go along with that.
It's normal to react to a piece that is threatened by defending it -- so that the capturing piece can be captured back.
Generally every move a master makes is a deliberate act, or they wouldn't be any good at the game. A decision to exchange a set of pieces is not to be taken lightly, apparently the master decided it was the best move to make in the given position.

It seems to be strategical by clearing the board of the garbage and getting to the heart of the matter, victory.

I don't know what this means.

13480: <p>I have noted in a number of games from Master players that sacrifices are rapidly played till both sides are reduced to just about equal in material and virtually the same pieces, at least in value.  Is this a deliberate act by both players?  It seems to be strategical by clearing the board of the garbage and getting to the heart of the matter, victory.</p>
 7657: <p>It sounds like you are referring to even trades which would reduce the game to an ending. This would more likely tend to lead to a draw than a victory. If one side makes a true sacrifice, that should lead to an advantage of some sort and ultimately a victory for that side if the sacrifice had been accurately calculated. </p>
 13012: <p>Maybe you are thinking of something like this, which is the most wonderful series of combinations and counter combinations. Well-played games should end in balance.</p>

<pre><code>[Event "UK - USSR radiomatch"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1946.??.??"]
[EventDate "?"]
[Round "2"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[White "William Albert Fairhurst"]
[Black "Salomon Flohr"]
[ECO "D74"]
[WhiteElo "?"]
[BlackElo "?"]
[PlyCount "58"]
[FEN ""]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.g3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.Bg2 Bg7 6.Nf3 O-O 7.O-O
Nc6 8.e4 Nb6 9.d5 Nb8 10.Nc3 c6 11.Be3 cxd5 12.exd5 N8d7
13.Qb3 Nf6 14.Rfd1 Ne8 15.Nb5 Bd7 16.Nxa7 Na4 17.Nc6 bxc6
18.dxc6 Nd6 19.cxd7 Nxb2 20.Rxd6 exd6 21.Nd4 Rb8 22.Nc6 Rxb3
23.Nxd8 Rxe3 24.Nc6 Rc3 25.d8=Q Rxd8 26.Nxd8 Bf6 27.Nb7 Rc2
28.Nxd6 Nd3 29.Rf1 Rxa2 1/2-1/2
</code></pre>

<p>Notice at the end that Nxf7 is answered by Rxf2.</p>
 924: <blockquote>
  <p>I have noted in a number of games from Master players that sacrifices are rapidly played till both sides are reduced to just about equal in material and virtually the same pieces, at least in value.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>I don't think that happens often at all. What does happen is that players <em>exchange</em> pieces -- say white captures a piece, in return black takes a piece back, often the piece that just captured. That is perfectly normal, but it's not a sacrifice. A sacrifice is when you let something of yourself be captured and then you <em>don't</em> capture anything back.</p>

<p>It's natural for a game between two strong players to end up with more or less the same material; they're good enough to avoid moves that simply lose material outright.</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Is this a deliberate act by both players?</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Well, they would of course rather just capture pieces without having their own pieces captured in return, but the opponent doesn't want to go along with that.</p>

<p>It's normal to react to a piece that is threatened by <em>defending</em> it -- so that the capturing piece can be captured back.</p>

<p>Generally <em>every</em> move a master makes is a deliberate act, or they wouldn't be any good at the game. A decision to exchange a set of pieces is not to be taken lightly, apparently the master decided it was the best move to make in the given position.</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>It seems to be strategical by clearing the board of the garbage and getting to the heart of the matter, victory.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>I don't know what this means.</p>
