"... The level at which one plays is governed by a number of vague and poorly understood factors. The first is what one might term 'natural talent'. ... It is my belief that ... considerable improvement is possible [(for most players)] with appropriate education, training and practice. ..." - GM John Nunn (2006)
@tpr said in #40:
> ... 'Having spent 200 hours on the above, the young player, even if he possesses no special talent for chess, is likely to be among those two or three thousand chess players who play on a par with a master.' - Lasker ...
"... the game of chess is rather well understood by half a dozen masters and fairly comprehended by a few dozen lesser masters and -- say -- a thousand amateurs, ...
... Let us assume that a master who follows a good method, say, the method of this book, strives to educate a young man ignorant of chess to the level of one who, if conceded any odds, would surely come out the winner. How much time would the teacher need for this achievement? I think that I am correct in making the following calculation:
Rules of Play and Exercises: 5 hrs.
Elementary Endings: 5 hrs.
Some Openings: 10 hrs.
Combination: 20 hrs.
Position Play: 40 hrs.
Play and Analysis: 120 hrs.
Even if the young man has no talent at all, by following the above course he would advance to the class specified. ..." - Lasker's Manual of Chess, (~1925) by Emanuel Lasker
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