If you haven't yet take a look at this article from Wang's Chess House blog. For the past week I've been intently following a Facebook discussion of chess improvement between the two well-known Grandmasters Nigel Davies and Jonathan Tisdall (both of whom write some very interesting stuff).

That led me to do some online research and inexitably (as everything in the online chess universe) I found a blog entry addressing this issue. Admittedly, most of the time this is just mindless drivel that an amateur has posted but I think you'll find the article from Wang more helpful than average. To quote from that articel briefly:

"First, there is no magical elixir. No one method of study that will jump your rating up hundreds of points and get you to Grandmaster status in 12 months and have chess groupies tossing undergarments at you. Chess is like any other field of study, you have to study and take time out to follow a plan and stick to it and then wash, rinse, repeat, until it starts taking hold."

I completely agree with that statement. Although it would be nice to have some groupies (well, actually, it would be nicer to have roadies to carry all my stuff).

Anyway, check out the article and tell me what you think.