What do I have to do to achieve this goal?

Win :P.

Astute.

Instead of losing 75% of your games against 1800 rated opposition, you'll need to win 75%

More seriously though. Play otb and win .

Do a lot of tactics, learn basic endgames, that's what Im doing. When I think I've a good tactical basic I want to add some strategy and positional play to that.

I have partially the same goal and am also curious how to reach that.

I'm on the same hunt guys... so lots of both turn-based play for pattern recognision - the more games on the go the more quickly you will familiarize yourself with patterns, lots of live play for obviously playing out full games in one go, and if you can, the best practice is OTB, join a club, I did and my rating has shot up over 200 in a matter of months...

If you have been playing and studying chess for 5 years or more and your rating is below 1600 then you need to be born again with better natural talent for chess

For years I have been a 1450 to 1550 player and it does not matter how much I study and practice I still have the same rating, I will never be a Chess Master.

The study of chess has increased my understanding of the game which allows me to enjoy replaying games of the great chess minds like Capablanca, Tal, Fisher, Kasparov, Kramnik, and Magnus Carlsen.

Only those who are born with extraordinary chess talent become chess masters, of course chess masters will not agree because they make a living by providing chess instruction to average talented chess players that believe or dream that because they are receiving private lessons from a chess master they will become chess masters themselves.

I have a friend who for several years has received private chess instructions from an international chess master and he has never been able to win one single match against me. Yes, he now has a better understanding of the game but on the end I still have better natural chess talent than him, therefore I win all matches we play.  

Note: my rating is based only on blitz games.

I think eliminating errors is key. I need to understand what an inaccuracy really is.

You've got the passion for the game, David, that, in my eyes is really all you need. Carefully analyse each game, whether you have won or lost. particularly, if you lose a game, look at where you went wrong, what you should or could have played better etc. And also the games you win. Look at what you think were good moves and then see if your opponent could have played a better one. Lastly, if you did play a good move that your opponent could not do much about, see if you can find an even better move. I've played you a few times and i know you have will and a good stratagy to do well in the game. Keep practicing and analysing and you will reach your goal, David, of that I'm sure

Thanks Ron!

Play lots of correspondence and analyze each move thoroughly

To heck with earning one--I want to buy one!

Do you have any dream or intention of ever moving beyond that to, say, 2100 or better?

Because if not, I strongly recommend a steady diet of tactics, endgames, and the BDG.

Well, Patrick, I have to disagree you. I don't believe you are  a chess master because you are born with the talent. Like everything in life,I believe it is dedication that gets you what you want in life. That in my eyes is what chess master have, a great dedication to the game and it has got them where they are.  I have a 1940 rating and climbing from a starting rating of 1200 a year ago. Of course I had played chess before but only became a dedicated player after joining the site. I don't read books on chess or study videos, I learn from my own mistakes and that of my opponents. As I suggested to David, I carefully analyse each game win 'or' lose looking for better moves by myself 'and' my opponent, always remembering what could have been done better, but more importantly where I slipped up if I have lost a game. I also play a of 5 minute speed chess. I myself find that having to think fast really does improve your game in the longer matches. Please, I mean no disrepect to you by disagreeing with your opinion. And, no, i will never be a chess master, I believe to achieve this, you need start playing chess at a fairly young age, which I didn't.

Good luck to David though, I believe he will reach his goal because he has dedication in abundance

I'd like to earn a million bucks.

5 minute chess is used by players that already have a 6 or more opening repertoire to reinforce the memorized variations.  Also for practice in time trouble situations in regulation time otb games in tournaments.  Mastery of the time clock is essential in time crunch positions.

Almost any average player can achieve a rating of 2000 within a 3 yr. period.  The reason for the 3 years is that is how long it takes to build an opening tree with the help of a computer and acquire an (over the board tournament game) understanding of your opening repertoire.  During that same time period you will be practicing tactics for 2-3 hrs./day, studying endgames and endgame technique, and all the while playing 70+ rated otb games/year(this includes analyzing your otb games with a master and a computer) 

It can be done, but it will occupy at least 6 hrs of most your days during that 3 yr. time.

Have fun on a great adventure.

lol

@ ptrckmackay

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judit_Polg%C3%A1r

Read the bit on early life....(and the rest if you will)

You dont need to be born with a talent for it

I wouldn't ridicule transpo's comment.  He *did* state that it would warrant 6 x hrs/day x 3 years of concentrated effort for a person of average intelligence with a well defined feedback loop ( Master coach, computer analysis of all games etc.)

I'd say that's a fair comment ... though we do know how many people actually ever make that kind of a committment for this game. (Though if you searched the planet and gathered them into one room, I'd bet all of them were experts by now :) )

I'd like somebody who actually *did* but didn't succeed at making expert come out and shoot this suggestion down :)