Chess, what kind of hard work should I do to get better, in fact, to be a GM?

Hi all,

I believe this is a typical topic that I am sure has been raised multiple times before by a lot of players here, but I am really seeking help to get improved in Chess! I know I need to learn a lot & do lots of hardworking activities to get better, but I've been watching videos for GMs & games analysis, and I can see no progress out of it. It feels like I can understand what's going on & where to find opportunities when watching those videos, but on the board, I get stuck as if my brain can't see opportunities.

Bottom line is that I need to enhance my skills & I don't mind the hard work at all or even the time, because I have been laid off recently due to the COVID-19, but it feels like I am doing hard work in the wrong way & I do really want to feel the change, even if it's minimal.

I have a dream that I want someone who's really caring enough to help me to achieve it.

All the best for all of us.

@dangykid1, there's something that a lot of people don't understand when they say they can train you into a grandmaster;

Chess is art. Learning to understand it is art. A grandmaster can give you a brush, teach you about different strokes and about mixing paint - they can even teach you how to render images in the most appealing of ways - but they cannot teach you how to be an artist.

Trust your brain, it knows chess. All those lessons you've learned, your brain knows how to use them just as grandly as any other master. The problem is disassociation: your mind is at conflict with itself and your hard work is not paying off as a result.

It will happen one day, things will suddenly click, and you'll see amazing results.

Of course, there are ways to quicken this process. Ways that can only be explained throughout periods of time.

Wow, thank you for the pushy words. It really helps, but in order to quicken the process, do you think having a personal coach would help, given that I haven't played at any OTB tournaments before & my online rating is about 1500-1600?

Interesting choice of response.

Perhaps a personal coach is all you need. There are many fine coaches on this site. You could join a local club as well, but sometimes those are a bit inconvenient depending on where you live. I imagine the city at least should have a club nearby.

Everyone is different; sometimes a coach is best. Other times it is simply experience and other times it is just finding that one thing that makes it all "suddenly click" (as @WSama says). 

I am reminded of when I used to take lessons from a pro for golf (we got along really well), but there came a time when he basically told me I have the fundamentals down really well and when I "mess up" I am already aware of why. With this, he suggested that all I needed was more experience. There is only so much that can be taught, but sometimes one just needs to get out there and play more. I am not saying this is necessarily the case for you with chess, but it might be. For me, a lot of my "chess experience" increased when I joined a local chess club. Playing strong players was something that challenges and really gives good experience (not to mention good games for analysis). 

You also do not need to live in a big city to find a chess club; I live in the suburbs and I found a club (granted, it took a while to find one suitable for me in the general area). Try checking out libraries, senior centers and even schools: all of these places sometimes have chess clubs that are probably going to welcome someone like yourself seeking experience.

Getting good in chess is a slow process. It take years. Even the youngest GM of chess history had to train for 7 years before he gets the GM title!! So dont expect to see a big improvement in a couple of weeks. Give it time. And ofc you have to dedicate (training, playing, learning, etc)