How to get better at calculation?

I always marvel when people claim to see x number of moves ahead. In most opening and middle game positions there are billions of possibilities four moves deep. Surely no one calculates all of these. In order to narrow the possibilities, one needs at least a minimum of strategic sense.

http://chessskill.blogspot.com/2013/10/calculation.html

Sometimes when someone says they see four moves ahead, they actually mean four half-moves ahead.

I rely very little on the "I-go-here, he-goes-there" sort of calculation. Frankly, I see it as a last resort. Pattern recognition and intuition are far more useful, and much more often used.

Maybe I'm just getting lazy in my old age...

I might be a bit lazy, but since I was very new to the game, I've always been in love with using general ideas and logic to deconstruct a position rather than calculation.

Even so, if I'm being honest, there is always, in every position, short bursts calculating involving forcing moves:
"Am I afraid of this? (3-4 ply calculation),
Am I afraid of this? (3-4 ply calculation),
Am I afraid of this? (3-4 ply calculation)"

And this is (imo) the answer to the OP.

"Am I afraid of this?", (imo) is a separate process...evaluation. But it's important also. Combining them is where "getting better" starts to show.

It has many meanings, but here I think he meant original poster, ( the one who started this forum).

original poster but honestly compared to Magnus or Hikaru you're not overpowered.

Solving the puzzles through in your mind until 1. You have a mate or 2. Win material has helped me improve, some of the more challenging tactics books out there the the solved puzzle is just a better position such as creating a passed pawn. For me i havent played much rated rapid games for a bit and just went back to studying more, comming back iv noticed a big improvement so much so ( not to sound arrogant) but i feel like im about 100-150 elo underated. Now i need to just work on my endgames again since i blunderd stalemate today.

The biggest thing I have learnt is that it is important to force yourself to do puzzles on a consistent basis, don't do them for one week and then not the next. Consistency is crucial in improvement.

Can you explain what you consider/mean by "intuition"?

If it's the standard definition, can you elaborate a little on the context or perhaps an example position where only intuition would be used?

Before responding, (and earlier today) I realized there are a few chess books out there on this subject alone. I have a hard time discerning between "true intuition" and someone not realizing a possible subconscious experience/pattern causing influence or even a case where the "intuition" wasn't or can't be "proven" to be actually true.

I'll share an example and a game an author used the the term and where I (maybe it's because of intuition?) question what they are saying.

Edit: The position for now...

Here's a rated game where I found my move by intuition:

And another, from an OTB tournament:

Again, perhaps it would have been possible to find that purely by calculation... but intuition is what led my thoughts in that direction.

Thanks for the examples/clarification...I much prefer your use of the word over the that of the game I posted.

Op, does making this makes you a better calculator or you are more confused

I've seen you show the 2nd one before, but hadn't seen the first one. It's really pretty, nice combination.

Thanks. It was here on chess.com, in a rated team match.

Chess: veeyaar vs blueemu - 90890754 - Chess.com

Stop putting links everywhere.

How does that work?

A brilliant move.

I don't have any such intuitive talent, so I am trying to focus more on the calculation.

please reconsider.  He deserves both your appreciation and respect.  People become better at chess when they value truth, especially when that truth is personally uncomfortable.