Dream to be a National Master

I have a dream to be a National Master. When I get enough sleep I would say I am a ~1600. I'm 16 and have been playing chess for 2 years. Let's place some bets as to when/if I will achieve my dream.   I'm gonna bet $100 to attain a rating of 1800 in one year and $100 that I attain a rating of 1900 in two years. Past that I'm hoping by when I'm 25 I have my title. . .

Am I really that bad? We are the same rating, if not, you are worse.

Don't worry people, I have plenty of money to not throw around...but I'm all ears for your opinions!

Since a person can go from 0->1800 in a year, totally possible. 

But first, you should get a rating, before declaring yourself a certain rating.

Nope, heine-borel is definitely right on this one. I'm talking about my USCF rating, but since I haven't gotten rated yet, who knows where I am really at.

That's completely fine :) I think Fide and USCF ratings are supposed to be similar, so there really isn't much of a difference besides leadership of the organization.

Good luck Nathan. I am playing since 1 year 4 months and already 1400. You can achieve NM soon. I wish to be a GM or IM someday :)

That's fine biorepair :)

Harish, good luck with that! That'll definitely be a challenge, but you're bound to improve which such high ambitions.

You can make it, but its a  much harder and longer way than you think. You have ca the same standardrating as me, and I am 1461 Fide.  I guess NM is 2100 or around that level. The teenagers in my club thats close to 2100 have been competing hard for several years, and have played between 400 and 900 official otb longchessgames.

You have reached a fine strenght in quite short time, so there is no doubt that you are talented. But to go to NM that fast demands a lot more speed , money and effort than you have put in so far. You need maybe 100-400 hours of GM-coaching and  playing big international otb-tournaments, some houndred games.

What I mean: You can become Fm, but probably not as fast as you hope.

Nathan I never lost hope I am 4 years younger than you =)

good luck bro im 21 and still have a dream to be a GM...... i hope we can all achieve our dreams... i want to play like GM bobby fischer and be like GM mikhail tal.. btw im rated below 1k and doesnt lose hope....... wishing you all the best in life..

When you say "long time control" how long should it be?

Based on a couple of your recent Chess.com standard games, I'd estimate you're roughly around 1000 to 1100 USCF.

For a 16 year old, becoming NM should be more a goal than a dream. If you play a lot of OTB tournaments, analyze your games (with a strong player) and study some chess it is really something you can achieve till your are 25. But don't pressure so much about rating (like becoming 1800 in one year), it will hurt your playing, because if you become afraid of losing rating points, you will play worse. I speak from own experience.

I agree with Desty_Nova.  I got to 2170 USCF in 1987 and then quit playing because I was stressed out over my rating (and it is really easy to lose points when your rating is that high!)  I'm trying to make a comeback now (rating 1933, up from 1800 in 1.5 years) and still interested in the NM title, but I'm trying to focus on playing well and not getting obsessive over rating.  If the skills are there the rating will follow.

I played the game of my life last August against a strong 2100, so I think there is still hope for me--if not reaching 2200, at least playing some fine games and enjoying them.  (Awesome game, both players sacking, both Kings very unsafe--a total adrenaline rollercoaster.  Even if I'd lost that would have been a good game.)

Thanks everyone for the encouragement! I'll try to get a USCF rating by the time summer is over, so then I can tell where my rating is approximately. As long as there is online chess or I know someone who plays, I probably won't get bored of this game anytime soon!

Also, you might want to hire a chess coach (not immediately though). Getting help and study advice from professionals may be good. There are plenty of inexpensive coaches online. You probably don't need any coach rated over 2200, and an FM should be totally fine for you. 

I don't see why everyone cares so heavily about getting a coach. Until I'm a 2000 player and I can't find my weaknesses when I analyze games, i don't see what the point to having a coach is (besides losing money)

Coaches are very helpful when they are needed. Training partners are helpful the whole way through. That's how I feel, at least. Maybe there isn't a big difference between training partners and coaches, but I feel the motivation isn't money and instead just friendly good-will to the other.

That coach-advice is baced upon your extremely fast ambitions. If you shal improve a lot faster than other kids with your talent, you have to use the fastest way, and the fastest way is probably hiring GM Thorbjørn Ringdal-Hansen full time. 

I advice you to take it more slow. Because the fastest way is very expencive. Your plan is good, but you must be patient and be happy reaching NM some years later.