How many moves ahead do you calculate

I always see at least 20 moves deep. Even OTB.

2 to 3.  Perhaps a little more on forced lines.

Watch your backrank.

Someone mentioned that GM's don't calculate too deeply,and there's been studies done to prove this.  GM's rely mostly on pattern recognition and evaluation.

That's why GM's can still beat computers in a game but not matches most of the time. 

My point being that to be able to calculate a great depth is good, but you need to evaluate a position just as well.  Otherwise, you would calculate to a position without knowing if it's good for you or not.

please note jacko the question asked...

how many MOVES ahead do you think,
and not how many MEALS ahead are you !

One: the right one j/k =P

It all depends on the time limit. Correspondence games I try to analyse as much as possible, perhaps as far as seven or eight moves ahead, when a forcing theme is available.

OTBwise, classically timed games, probably three or four moves ahead, depending on the position, though of course ending considerations, sometimes as much as twenty or thirty moves later, come into play.

Rapidplay - typically three moves, but of course dependent on the position and nature of the game, as well as how forcing the possibilities are. Bullet or Blitz, only the most basic combinations, and occasionally a barrage (three to four moves).

.

.