Help. I suck at chess

[glee]

@What sort of mental skills/gifts are basic to becoming a good/great chess player?

P.S. I should add that when I reached 2390 (and won a national chess title), I had an amusing conversation with Grandmaster Nunn (a world-class player and decent chap.) “Seriously, glee” he said “Nobody rated below 2400 understands chess.” I was flabbergasted - but after analysing with him (and reading some high-level chess books), I had to agree. fearful Yes, I can crush players rated 2000. But there is so much more to learn. Thankfully I never turned professional!

@LSLGuy

Simplifying a bunch, GM Nunn’s comment that “Nobody rated below 2400 understands chess.” says he sees a divide there between uncomprehending piece-movers and understanding chess players.

Well that’s my quote…and I’m afraid I disagree completely with your interpretation.
I don’t expect you meant it, but it came across as insulting.

‘Uncomprehending piece movers’ only applies to beginners.

There are various stages in chess:

• beginners
• weak club players
• good club players
• regional players
• national players
• FIDE Masters
• International Masters
• Grandmasters
• World class

I reached FIDE Master (and a rating of 2390) and I can assure you I knew a whole lot more about chess than being an ‘uncomprehending piece-mover’.
By that time I’d spent well over 10,000 hours studying and practising chess.
I was an English National Chess Coach and a full-time chess teacher.
I could give simultaneous displays to good club players and score 90%+

Grandmaster Nunn’s point was that, even at my level, there was more to chess than I knew.