How much time it takes before searching for tactical themes becomes a subconscious process? I would really like to have that ability.So how to achieve that?
It is a bit like for example learning to play the piano.
At first as a beginner you look at the keys and where your fingers are going.
With increasing practice, and remember even a great piano virtuoso() will still practice every day, your thought patterns become better organised and you later play with your fingers seemingly doing the thinking for you.
() The great Artur Rubinstein practised several hours each day: he said that if he did not do this he would detect a decline in his performances.
For each player the speed that this happens will vary.
I find playing through lots of master games is most helpful.
I try to read any annotations and play through some of the variations given in the analysis.
At first I was slow and cumbersome but after a while this improved.
The secret is consistent practice.
Every day without fail set yourself the task of playing through 1 to 20 games. Little by little patterns of play will be absorbed and you will find yourself subconsciously playing better moves.
By the end of a month you will have played through 30 to 600 master games.
By the end of a year you will have played through 350 to 7000!
Create for yourself a concrete set of steps for each game.
I used to have them typed on a card and reviewed the steps before each tournament game.
After a while they become second nature.
Two phases: 1. It is your opponents move.
2. It is your move.
I can elaborate these steps if it is of interest.