Chess Knowledge

I was reading wikipedia and found this: "Chess experts are estimated to have in excess of 10,000 and possibly as many as 300,000 position patterns stored in their memory" I'm pretty much a beginner when it comes to chess but I'm interested in this kind of stuff.

I don't understand exactly what they're talking about though. Here's the link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chess#Chess_and_intelligence

I come across guides talking about something called tactics. Is this what they're talking about?

Do you agree with wikipedia? 

I am no master but the more you play and study these positions become engrained in your brain and some positions are just automatic as to what to do.

I just read that article. I have read it before. I believe a certain type of intelligence is required to reach high levels. I heard this years ago.... that it requires high spacial intelligence. What exactly that means or how to measure that... well not sure.

The 10,000 figure I've come across before.  The 300,000 seems a bit much.  It obviously includes tactics.  Heisman seems to feel there are 2,000 or so basic tactical patterns.  Here's a link to his book page.  If you go to his recommended tactics books, there is some more info and a few links.  One of the more interesting is IM David Pruess who talks about some research into learning that postulates we're only capable of learning 3 of those patterns a day.  

http://danheisman.home.comcast.net/~danheisman/Events_Books/General_Book_Guide.htm#anthologies

I don't think there is a formal definition of what a chess pattern is, but it's a typical arrangement of pieces on the chessboard, which performs a specific function.

For example, a checkmate pattern with R+N :

I'm not sure opening positions or verbal knowledge would count as patterns : pattenrs are 'visual/geometric' in nature and are also somewhat generic - ie. you can recognize a similar position featuring the same pattern, even if it's not identical. Though, you could consider some typical opening elements as patterns, for example the pawn centre.

I didn't suggest that. I can also calculate many moves in my head. I once saw mate in 15. That is not a skill many posses. I will never be a GM! But without it your beat you'll never even get to a modest level of skill. That still is not what I think they meant but...

Fair enough. Your comment goes back directly to the ?. A GM knows what lines to pursue and which to disregard because of pattern recognition and knowing what to do to increase the advantage.

https://imgur.com/a/pYHyk#G7wGoT7

Somehow, it's over 9000.