Kaluki is spot on. This is not really calculation but pattern recognition.

When you play e6-Sicilians, or simply a closed Sicilian set-up as Black, the weakening of d6 and the associated Nb5-d6 manoeuvre is a common idea for white. You can be sure that a NM who has played for over 10 years has certainly met the idea dozens of time. So his chess mind immediately identifies Nb5-d6 as a threat in the position. Then he adds Qf3, and sees that f7 is under attack, then the quasi-instant calculation as everything is forced (both bishops on the long diagonal is another pattern).

@hiredgun, you'll develop this kind of knowledge by playing,  analyzing and going over annotated master games. If you stick with some openings for a long time, there are lots of opening-specific patterns that you'll know and spot very fast too.

I remember when I was a student and GM Igor Nataf came to comment some games in a simultaneous display. He was showing tons of tactical traps&zaps at every move, seemingly spotting everything in a matter of seconds. Then he smiled and told us : "how can I see all these tactical ideas coming ? Well, I've been on the receiving end of every and each of them when I was younger"

How interesting!

Yes, and then you ask a GM why he played 0-0 in this position, and he will tell you :

"- well it's a normal move...

- and, Mr. GM if ...d5, there is Nb5, right ? says the student

- yes, there's Nb5, see, 0-0 is the normal move..."

So is it the tactical training that brings this ability about, or is the sheer volume of games played, or a combination of both??

Both will help.

That's what I like about this site, you always come away learning something!!!!!

Thanks!!!

Great analysis is the reason 11 year old kids beat middle-aged men who have read 100+ chess books. I think many chess players don't work hard to become great analysts. It's the main thing I've been working on to become a strong player and it's really starting to click.

Obviously tactics help this ability and what's also helped me is lots of slow chess. I play twice a week at the Las Vegas Chess Club (Game 90 with a five second delay) and I have now participated in two OTB tournaments. 

Practice, practice, practice.

I totally agree that the tactics trainer and chess mentor are excellent to help extend how far ahead you can see. There is another thing has helped me, that some refer to as a crutch. Though I agree to it being a crutch in a certain regard, I calculate my openings instead of using books to compensate.

I use the analysis feature in online games. It has caused me to look a few moves further ahead most often. I have found myself looking 10 ply in certain positions. The key to it is "certain positions". It is simple to calculate lines with a few force moves, or where it is minor and or major pieces at stake. When it is a king and pawn end game, and only one minor piece on both sides, especially B vs N, it can be much harder to see that far ahead.

In fact, due to this I would love to hear any helpful suggestions for how to calculate these types of positions. I realize pattern recognition is key, but how to memorize that many end game positions ? That seems like daunting task...

Great advice!!! I know how to work on tactics, but just how does one go about being a great analysist?

According to my coach, lots of practice by playing slow chess is the key. When there are complicated analytical positions in a game make sure you take your time and do the 'work'. You'll make mistakes; however, over time your skills will improve. 

There are some books out there that help with visualization which is obviously an important part of becoming good at analysis. 

Great analytical skills will make you a far, far better player than knowing another variation in the Queen's Gambit will!

So you mean that when I do the "pawn takes pawn, knight takes pawn, bishop takes knight, knight takes bishop calculations in my own games I'm doing this king of analyzing on a smaller yet similar level???