How to improve calculation?

Is calculation ability something that is a simple given or can it be developed?

One trick I used early on to develop the ability to calculate is playing a correspondence game that had 7-14 days per turn. Each time it was my turn to move, I would memorize where all of the pieces were and practice setting up the game on a physical board from memory.

Playing 30 minute rapid games, and solving puzzles without guessing also help. Before you're ever able to "see" the pieces moving in your mind as if it's a video or image, you'll first develop a sense to "know" where the pieces are in relation to each other. That's my input at least

people confuse calculation with pattern recognition and they are not the same thing. puzzles help you some with calculation but it is more about recognizing tactical patterns. the best way to practice calculation is to probably just play a lot of games that are chaotic and require a lot of consideration what various moves will do. if you see the same positions over and over again you are not calculating

as white the smith morra and king's gambit lead to chaos on the board. as black the alekhine and some sicilian lines require a lot of calculation in order to survive. these are not something that you will necessarily play to win though you can, but to practice calculation. they are hard to play so you might want to play unrated and if you lose a lot do not be discouraged because you are trying to learn to calculate not to win

ben finegold recently did a video on the king's gambit and how it leads to crazy positions