

It can be done in one to five years depending on your starting level and the time that you have for study. That is, you can improve your strategy from beginner to master level. So, there is really good news if you want to become a strong chess player. But a good strategist is always a strong player. As a matter of fact, if there is no natural talent for tactics, this isn't too much of a problem. They 'just' use their strategic awareness to 'suffocate' their opponents and avoid complications altogether. In spite of this, they win game after game because of their brilliant positional style. Actually, there are many masters and grandmasters who are not good tacticians at all.

However, this is not the same thing as being an expert tactician. A grandmaster is first and foremost an expert in chess strategy!
