Product Description
A major new title from Gambit Publications Ltd. For most chess-players, opening study is sheer hard work. It is hard to know what is important and what is not, and when specific knowledge is vital, or when a more general understanding is sufficient. Tragically often, once the opening is over, a player wont know what plan to follow, or even understand why his pieces are on the squares on which they sit. With this book John Watson seeks to help chess-players achieve a more holistic and insightful view of the openings. In his previous books on chess strategy, he explained vital concepts that had previously been the domain only of top-class players, and did so in ways that have enabled them to enter the general chess consciousness of club players. Here he does likewise for the openings, explaining how flexible thinking and notions such as rule-independence can apply to the opening. Watson presents a wide-ranging view of the way in which top-class players really handle the opening, rather than an idealized and simplified model. This is a book that will make chess-players think hard about how they begin their games, while offering both entertainment and challenging material for study.
Customer Reviews:
Not really mastering the openings.......2007-09-12
John Watson seems to have quite a cult following, and to a point I agree he is unique and insightful. One must appreciate an author who gives their opinion and deep research - that is why you pay for the book. However, I believe the title misses the point, and a couple of openings.
A book that covers the Giuoco Piano, Ruy Lopez, Two Knights Defense, Philidor bypasses the Scotch and Petrov. My database gives the Petrov as the second most common response after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3, and Scotch as the third most common after 2. ...Nc6. Heck, even the King's Gambit gets seven pages.
This is a good book, with tons of insights into the openings and positions covered, as well as a long overview of the goals of the opening and positional considerations. However, it has several large gaps, and can't be used as an openings reference by itself.
Outstanding book.......2007-07-05
The author explains several opening lines from a strategic point of view, and not only by giving variants. This book is both useful and entertaining.
Great Opening Primer.......2007-07-03
If you're a club player looking for a good starting point to actually understand the ideas behind the e4 openings, this is it. It may not go as deep as the standards like the Batsford/Modern/Nunn's Chess Opening manuals, but it's really not meant to. While there's a place for the more technical manuals listed above, they can be overwhelming to a club player. Watson goes out of makes the openings approachable & understandable, as well as giving some additional ideas you can expand on by yourself.
After you've read this and vol 2 of the series (about d4 openings), you should be able to learn enough to get a feel for openings that fit your style and expand your collection into specific opening guides if you feel you need to.
Highly recommended.
Book Title Tells All.......2007-05-30
Another great work by one of the best chess authors in the business. For selfish reasons I wish he could have tackled more variations and more games, but, hey, I understand the Mr. Watson has other books to write. The book definitely gives a great understanding in words and analysis of modern approaches by some of the most novel thinkers in the game today concerning popular openings. Can't wait for Volume II!
BEST OPENINGS BOOK EVER!.......2007-05-11
I am only an amateur chess player, but this book helped me more than any other that I've ever read. The basic ideas in the first three chapters made it easy to advance to the instructive and well-written chapters that follow. Instead of these books with rows and rows of moves I found one clear explanation after another. Yet the author also gives plenty of solid variations to build a repertoire around. It's the best of both worlds. You'll love this book!
Book Description
Between 1972 and 1975 alone, progress in the field of opening theory was more significant than in the entire preceding decade! Under the influence of Fischer, who imparted a great impetus to the development of the game, chess was radically regenerated. This process, with increasing acceleration, also continued in later years. As a result, the overall picture in the openings changed almost beyond recognition.
By studying this fascinating book, the reader will certainly learn a great deal, discover things that are unexpected, and see how rapidly and inexorably chess development approached the computer era.
*By the most famous chessplayer of all time
*Part 1 of the Modern Chess Series, follow-up to My Great Predecessors
Customer Reviews:
good book for the serious chess player.......2007-06-22
This book will probably be of most value to serious or aspiring chess players. Kasparov provides an interesting account of advances in chess theory in the 1970s, with a section in which he asked for the opinions of other leading grandmasters whose comments are also enlightening. A book that probably anyone seriously interested in chess and its history will find of interest and value.
Good book, great subject, poor chess proofreading.......2007-06-21
While I enjoy the material covered in this book as much as I have Kasparovs "My Great Predecessor" series', and the GM interviews at the end are delightful, there's numerous errors in the games throughout the book. For instance the Caro-Kann section lists games as starting out as a French (1.e4 e6), and while it's technically possible to transpose into the CK from the French these don't. The errors occur just often enough to be frustrating.
However it's still a great look back through time at the players and theory that shaped the modern game.
Kasparov is best when writing and playing on chess!!!.......2007-04-30
As Igor Stohl aptly commented, Kasparov is doing best on chessboard. Kasparov is arrogrant, that is a fact and sometimes not very cautious in commenting other chess players. But on chessboard and on writing chess, he is in his elements. This reminds me of Bobby Fischer, the behaviour is even more bezairre than Kasparov, but take a look in his " My 60 memborable games ", it seems to be a different person where the comment is candid and impartial. Kasparov also seems now be more rational.
( may be he has retired now???)
Revolutions in the 70's.......2007-04-24
Very inciteful look into the openings played by many grandmasters in the 70's and through today. Gary Kasparov guides you as if personally telling you about systems with exciting games played in them. It reminds me of New In Chess Surveys, but covering the most popular and often played openings explored by the masters. Although sealed in plastic from the publisher I was pleased with the content.
Customer Reviews:
Most Excellent Work!!.......2007-07-20
First, I must confess that I have only read the chapters on the Queen's Gambit Declined and the King's Indian Defense.
Queen's Gambit Declined chapter
He gives detailed descriptions of the major themes of both the classical and exchange variations. I especially liked his discussion of the Tartakower Defense. I found his discussion of move orders to be quite interesting, subtle and useful.
I should mention that the section, "Declining the Gambit; Other Second Moves", provides important information about the Marshall Defense, Baltic Defense, Albin Counter Gambit and Tchigorin Defense. In my view, the entire Queen's Gambit chapter is a "must read" for anyone who plays this opening or for all players who really wants to deepen their chess knowledge.
King's Indian Defense chapter
I have played the Strongpoint Variation (page 208) for many years but was not aware of many of the themes in this line. Watson's clearly describes various strategies that Black has used against 8.Be3, 8.Re1, and 8.d5. Again, a "must read" in my opinion.
To conclude, as always, Watson has a wonderful knack for describing specific strategies of openings and their variations while also providing interesting example games that illustrate these strategies.
Masterful.......2007-07-20
Well, I followed my own advice and got this book, even though I haven't
played 1.d4 in about 20 years. I wasn't disappointed. Just as in
Volume 1, this book is full of good practical knowledge and deep
insights, tying the 1.d4 openings to fundamental principles, and to
important concrete ideas. Through the theme of "cross-pollination,"
we can see the give and take between different opening systems. As
always with Watson, it is also beautifully written and a pleasure to
read. This book helps me to prepare lessons for my students, and who
knows, maybe I'll dust off that Queen's Gambit sometime.
Finally!.......2007-07-18
This is the book I've been waiting for. The usual approach to chess openings is to memorize piles and piles of endless variations, and hope to outbook your opponent. But we all realize how futile and unsatifsying that really is. Finally we have a book here that truly explains the ideas behind the moves. It also explains why certain moves are not played. It connects different openings to each other, so that you know what to do when your opponent inevitably veers away from theory. And furthermore, it helps you to handle tricky move-orders, which were always confusing to me before. With this book and his Strategy books, I think I'm starting to understand chess.
Book Description
Why is
Modern Chess Openings called "the chessplayer's bible"? Because since it was first published over a half-century ago, it has been one of the most trusted books in the chess world. Because it is the world's most current and comprehensive one-volume reference work on the chess openings. And because it has been completely revised to reflect the changes and advances made in chess over the past eight years, including major tournament matches and published theoretical works.
Customer Reviews:
The book suits intermediate players and upwards though beginners will benefit.......2007-05-08
As you can expect, the sections on popular openings such as the Sicilian and Ruy Lopez are large because these openings are extensively studied. Meanwhile, irregular openings receive small coverage. If you would like to prepare yourselves for a tournament, you need another book that covers a specific opening in depth. In conclusion, I think MCO is good for a survey of openings and give you important variations in a given opening. Apart from the desire to explore the openings universe, I bought this book to prepare for tournaments. To give an example, before reading MCO I played the Sicilian counterattack as Black (with e6 and Bb4 pinning white N on c3). The author says this line contain some tactical points for Black but is bad if White knows what to do. After many games of this line as Black, I agree with him. You can use this book to evaluate whether your chosen variations are strong enough in competitive play. In conclusion, I think MCO serve its purpose as a comprehensive one volume reference work, a book that can give you a lead to some openings or some variations which you have not played or discovered before. For example, over my more than 20 years of playing chess, I just discovered that the Latvian Gambit (1.e4 e5 2 Nf3 f5) is not only playable but often leads to a very exciting game. The opening should receive more attention.
My experience tells me the other side of openings which perhaps no book has ever touched upon it. Many players I played with avoid playing along any line of opening especially among casual games. These out-of-the-book openings may not look strong but some are quite hard to refute. The difference is that 'book' openings often involves pawn push to the fourth rank (1e4 1d4 1c4 1f4 for white and the fifth rank for black. One player who is lower rating than me played 1.f3 and with some elaborate system after that: he developed KN on h3 and then f2. At first I think his opening system was bad but I found it hard to crack his position (actually I lost the game). Therefore, despite many centuries of opening studies, this unexplored side of the openings at least is better than it looks. Among the less played openings (e.g. 1.b4), many are better than its reputation. So I think a book like MCO is not complete without this coverage, though this kind of openings is hard to classify and analyze as the established ones.
Over-rated and Outdated.......2007-04-18
A good book if you want a lot of superficial variations and lines to play that have a good chance of being outdated or maybe even busted. 30 or 40 years ago, during this books halcyon days, this type of compendium info was a blessing, but with the advent of on-line databases and PC databases, this book has become a dinosaur and is destined to become somebody's doorstop on a blustery day.
The book's real value may be only for stronger players (2200+) to see what outdated and recommended (but now busted) lines some unlucky sap will play into so as to be led nose-first into the slaughter-room.
Great One Volume Reference Book on the Openings.......2006-06-16
Every series chess player should have at least one good reference book covering the openings. "Modern Chess Openings" goes through regular new editions to keep it updated.
You will not find the ideas behind the moves explained (for that get "Winning Chess Traps" or "Understanding the Openings" along with this book), but the important lines and a general idea of who stands better at the end of each line is given.
I have not seen a more complete and accurate one volume opening reference book than this one. Definately recommended.
Nice book to look up the major opening lines.......2006-06-15
Modern Chess Openings does a good job of giving you a general idea of the most important lines in all of the major openings. It will not teach you the ideas behind the openings (get Understanding the Openings or Winning Chess Traps to learn ideas and tactics in the openings) but it will give you a general idea of what is considered to be up to date theory.
I don't know of a better single volume book to be used as a reference on openings. So as far as I am concerned, and want to express my opinion here, this is a good book for a dedicated chess player to get.
The Chess Openings Bible.......2006-03-01
This is pretty much the quintessential reference guide for chess openings - it has been called the chess "bible" by many players. Any serious chess player needs a good openings reference book in their library for reference purposes. But remember this book is an overview of EVERY opening so it doesn't spend too much time on each opening for that you need to buy individual books on individual openings. But this book starts each chapter/opening with a brief overview of the opening, it's history, the main ideas of the opening and the sub-variations. Then it list columns of variations that you can memorize (good luck!) or play through to get a feel for the main ideas in the opening. And lets face it, if you make mistakes in the opening you will likely feel them the entire game so surviving the opening is important! I wouldn't bother with this book if you are rated below say 1500, it would be a waste of your study time.
Book Description
This repertoire of easy-to-learn openings, based on Garry Kasparov's move 1 d4, offers openings with a modern twist. Each one has simple principles that allow White to play just about the same moves against the Grunfeld, King's Indian, and Nimzo-Indian Defense. There are also modern systems to repel the Dutch, Benoni, and even offbeat lines such as the Englund Gambit. Nothing is left out: the tricks and traps in the opening for both sides; the basic plan and strategy using entertaining games; and how to play the middlegame by following easy plans.
Intermediate
Customer Reviews:
Useless.......2007-01-16
I think one of the most annoying things about chess books is to buy one of them and then find that the content is completely different from what you expected.
This book from Gary Lane can be considered as the typical example. From a title like "Ideas behind the modern chess openings" I was expecting some kind of introduction to the vast subject of the opening, plus some detailed information about the starting moves of a few "modern" openings (e.g. the KID, Modern Benoni and the likes). What I found instead is a few chapter's about the London System and a couple of games about the Barry/150 Attack!
So to summarize, this book is completely useless, for the following reasons:
1. it teaches you absolutely nothing about the "Ideas behind the modern chess openings"
2. if you like the London System, buy "Win with the London System" by Sverre Johnsen and Vlatko Kovacevic
3. if you like the 150/Barry Attack, buy the excellent "A Killer Chess Opening Repertorie" by Aaron Summerscale
The reason why I give this book 2 stars instead of 1 is that, at the time it was published the book by Johnsen and Kovacevic wasn't available, so "Ideas behind the modern chess openings" could have been a little useful to someone interested to the London System.
Now (I have to repeat myself, I'm sorry) it's completely useless.
Very enjoyable repertoire book.......2003-12-18
Yes, the title is misleading. So what! Chess Fundamentals by Capablanca has a misleading title too, but is considered a classic. I feel that every review here has entirely missed the boat on this book. This book aims right at the masses of intermediate players, who are always searching for an opening repertoire. Do you like Summerscale's book, "A Killer Opening Repertoire"? Then you just may really love this one. This one has mych more textutal explanations, far more games referenced in the notes, and overall, a better repertoire, IMHO. The repertoires are similar, but I like the London System recommeded by Lane more than Summerscale's Colle-Zukertort, and I like the London against the King's Indian more than Summerscale's Barry Attack. There is a chapter on the Barry here too. Let me something about reviews of chess books. It seems that the more specialized and highly rated the target audince, the better the review for a chess book. There are not many reviews out there for books like this one, Summerscale's, or The System by Berliner that really apply to the masses of non-professional players out there. I love all three of those books, with this one by Lane the most valuable of the three, to me. This is a great book, that you can stick with for years, gradually adding the products of your outside study to its content and guidance. I am not saying the book is perfect; but that it is an excellent and enjoyable companion for the masses of intermediate players looking for a book that speaks to them, that instructs themn, and gives them a sound,solid repertoire that will avoid masses of theory for which black maay be better prepared than you. Highly recommended, especially for the six dollar price at which I found it here used.
An Old Opening with New Ideas.......2003-11-06
First of all the title of the book has caused much debate. It is now well known it was the publisher who decided to use the 50 year old title of Fine's book. A mistake to use the classics but hardly the author's fault. The soul of the openings are above average for me because I can learn the main one-the London System- fairly quickly. I train kids at school and the idea of easy development appeals to all ages.
A good effort and worth reading.
The Modern Chess Openings? Please..........2003-08-25
This is a repertoire book with something against most of the things you might meet after 1.d4. The lines are superficially explained and analysed, and do not often give white chances of an opening advantage. There are some useful lines here, but you can find better repertoire books anywhere easily.
The title is stolen from Fine's "Ideas behind the Chess Openings", and it is a ploy from the publisher to get more sales. The London system, which this book is based on, is not a modern opening, so the title could not be more misleading. I am sure the author had nothing to do with naming the book.
White to play and Win.......2003-08-11
If you start with 1 d4 then this book has plenty of ideas to help you to win. The backbone of the openings that Lane wants everyone to play is the London System. This has never struck me as being particularly aggressive but it is perfect to make sure that White enters the middlegame with no fear of falling into a trap. The London System is no good against every opening and the author is honest enough to admit this rather than give a game which just happens to demolish the Dutch or something! I have found that how to deal with the side-lines such as the Clarendon Court are very useful. In the main lines the easy to follow guide in the Benoni and the Dutch are well worth a look.
Basically, I have improved my openings as a result of this book and that really is the true test.
Book Description
In this book Swedish grandmaster Tiger Hillarp Persson presents his own favourite defence against 1.e4, the Modern Defence with a6. With his trademark laidback approach, he explains the different White replies to his system. His repertoire is based on deep understanding, common themes, and interesting games, rather than simply theory to be memorized. Pieces are sacrificed in a great number of games and famous grandmasters meet their doom on the pages of this refreshingly lively opening book. In today's chess teaching, opening theory often reaches deep into the middlegame, and players struggle to create something new and inspiring at the chessboard. Here Tiger Hillarp Persson shows that it is possible to be original at an early stage.
Customer Reviews:
Now my main weapon against e4.......2007-01-13
I am a 1600 to 1700 ranked correspondence (web based) chess player who opens with c4 and D4 with white. Developing a reply to black's e4 has been a bit of a challenge for me. I have tried the sicilian, but there is so much theory to learn, both on your chosen variety, and the anti-sicilians.
The modern is a terrific alternative. Statistically it achieves results almost as good as the sicilian, but more importantly for me, most e4 players at my level don't spend time learning it (unlike the sicilian, which is played as much as 50% of the time against e4). Another thought I had when considering the modern was that unlike D4 players, most e4 players haven't spent as much time learning to defeat a fianchettoed kings bishop (D4 players have to due to the popularity of the kings indian).
I purchased Tiger's book as a backup to my sicilian - another option to try. Well, I have now been converted, and use Tigers modern as my main weapon. This is a beautiful book, which really highlights in the introduction to each chapter the key plans for black and white. I have been amazed how often white players fall for simple traps (like advancing the b pawn to challenge knight on c3, allowing capture of e4 pawn), mainly because white is just not familiar with the idea.
I love the chapter on the Hippopotamus, which can be used as an alternative with some of Tiger's lines. Tiger is a fun author to read, his use of a quote by Talking Heads in this chapter (nothing happens in heaven) is for me almost worth the price of the book!
The chapter on c4 is probably not the strongest, but in fairness, it is not that common for an e4 player to play c4 in the first few moves, as this is a D4 opening (c4 can also often be prevented by Nf6 if not played quickly). I don't currently have the confidence to try the modern against a D4 or C4 opening due to this, but this isn't an issue for me. Tiger is very honest about this chapter, and for me, it is enough for the odd situation when C4 does arise soon after e4. The ideas are still very well presented, and accordingly, quick to learn.
This book and the modern may not suit everyone (this isn't orthodox chess), but it has been a godsend for me, resulting in a lot of fun trying to "blow up" white's centre.
Treasure trove of ideas.......2006-03-06
What an interesting opening book. Tiger Hillarp Persson has really put together a treasure trove of games and analysis of the modern. Many of the games are his own and he is not afraid to include his losses and his flawed gems.
First of all, beware. This is not a book which provides complete coverage of the modern. In that respect, it is more like a repertoire book.
From a strict point of view, it is quite likely that some of the analysis in this book is also flawed. The games are full of queen sacrifices and piece sacrifices and they are not to everyone's taste. But then if you want a safe opening, don't play the modern...play the caro-kann instead.
The modern really defies analysis and opening books struggle to deal with its great flexibility. That is why you will find very little theory on the modern. There are so many possibilities for transpositions. The opening is not for everyone. If you are an attacking player who likes open positions, then this opening is not for you. The modern is a slippery opening that avoids contact between the forces in the first few moves. Any opening up of the position has to be carefully weighed, particularly by the player of the black pieces who usually suffers from less space. That said, the modern is like a coiled spring and in the hands of a practititioner who knows what he is doing, weaker players who play the white pieces may suffer rapid self destruction at the hands of this opening.
The book is nicely presented and I have found no typographical errors (yet), which is always a good sign. The glossy front cover is attractive and the diagrams clear. The games are really worth close analysis. Don't read this book with the aim of memorizing some opening variations. The modern is not like that.
But working through the various ideas and transpositions should be beneficial.
The only reason I gave this book 4 stars instead of 5 is due to the coverage of the Averbakh variation of the modern. I really felt that this section was there to provide complete coverage. I am not sure that the author's heart and soul are written into this section to the same extent as they are in the e4 variation sections. Playing 4...e5 against the Averbakh may not be be everyone's taste and those who like the middle game conflicts of the 1. e4 modern may not like the endgame that results from the variation 4 ... e5 5. dxe dxe 6. Qxd8+ Kxd8 7. f4.
All in all, this is undoubtedly the most interesting of all the books I own on the modern.
Tiger is a Killer Book!!!.......2006-02-24
The Book is 2Good, Maybe 3good!! I almost did not write a review out of pure Selfishness.. "Mine mine, all mine mine," to Quote a Famous Duck. Get IT, NuffSaid.
Book Description
The Pirc is a modern chess opening whose unbalanced nature usually leads to eventful play and a decisive outcome. A perfect complement to John Nunn's earlier work, The Complete Pirc, a guide to pawn structures and their importance in forming and executing plans.
Expert
Customer Reviews:
A must buy for player who use the Pirc Defense.......1999-09-20
This book is a must buy for tournament players who play the Pirc. Having gone through parts of this book I found the use to be typical for standard opening books. Although you have an obligitory introduction to each section that involves text, I found the conclusions to be fair, honest and reasonably thorough. What set the book apart from the rest is that it is from John Nunn. I feel that I can trust his opinions given his past work. It would have been nice and indeed enlightning, if John Nunn put in more text.
Customer Reviews:
A few good spots but depressing.......2006-07-19
I agree with the other reviewers...McDonald simply didn't seem to find much excitement about playing/discussing the opening. His basic assessments were usually favorable towards black in the critical lines - even in some of the lines that Joe Gallagher judged good for white. A few times in these spots he would only leave a "I prefer black" backed by no analysis.
What's also disappointing is that when white did reach a difficult position, McDonald offered no real possibilities for improvement. It's as if he had given up long ago, and was merely documenting his reasons to abandon the opening.
It was fun seeing some of Gallagher's opinion about the new lines for black in Nunn's Chess Openings. In fact, there were more new ideas for white in three pages of numbers (albeit with no analysis) than there were in the whole of McDonald's book.
That said (and I'm obviously biased as a proponent of white in this opening), there was some decent analysis and some enjoyable games used. McDonald also resisted the temptation to copy many games from Gallagher's earlier book so it does get a rating of 3 stars from me. It probably deserves fewer, but I eat up anything about this opening.
Author Loathing The King's Gambit.......2005-11-29
Is it just me or does the author seem to take special delight in seeing black come out on top in many of the lines he provides? He seems to be cheering everytime black is doing well and shaking his head with disdain every time white tries to create some fun and magic with the King's Gambit. I think if we pin McDonald down we can get a confession out of him "okay okay, I admit it, I hate the king's gambit! It has the giant balls that I'll never have!" Gallagher's book is much better, more complete from a guy who plays it regularly because he believes in it and it doesn't come with all the heavy cynicism.
Review from a 1600+ tournament player........2002-12-26
This book is pretty brief in the lines it covers and it doesn't even cover many lines. McDonald makes the presented material clearly legible, but should have considered making an "Accepted" book and a "Declined" book. I bought this with book with the intentions of learning an opening that would stun my opponents right off the bat, but McDonald almost convinces one to try a different opening. The King's Gambit is meant to be an all out aggressive win or lose approach to chess and McDonald fails to emphasize this. At the end of most of his variations he gives unclear positions where it looks to me like black might even be better. If you are considering taking up the King's Gambit I suggest that you learn the Bishops Gambit (3.Bc4). This is an ultra aggressive variation that Neil reluctantly mentions in his book. If you don't mind sacrificing material for development then this opening is for you. I have used the King's Gambit successfully on several occasions and those wins remain as my most exciting. I suggest taking up the King's Gambit if you like exciting chess but do not recommend that you start here. This book is mostly for a player who is looking for a little more on a specific variation. This is not a good book to try to get an overall feel for the King's Gambit.
Good update on the opening.......2001-05-06
This provides an interesting update on the opening. Contains reasonably good descriptions of various lines as illustrated by latest games played by top players, but still cannot remove the general doubt that the King' Gambit is quite over-ambitious and risky in modern times.
Come back, Joe!.......2000-11-17
Well, there are some good things here; the explanation of the ideas behind Shirov's 5. . .d6 in the Kieseritsky gambit sticks out in my mind as very helpful. But McDonald just isn't a romantic; he's one of those guys who, if he's playing say a Modern defense, erects a light-square blockade, trades off the QB for a N, and hangs on for dear life. This book betrays similar instincts. Far from stirring up your enthusiasm, it is actually in danger of convincing readers that the KG is unplayable! And it isn't. Oh ye of litle faith!
Amazon.com
Modern Chess Openings, better known in the chess world as MCO, has been called "the chess player's bible" since it was first produced by Walter Korn almost 60 years ago. With this 13th incarnation, Korn took the role of editor and put the update in the capable hands of International Grandmaster Nick De Firmian. The result is MCO-13, a grander, fully revised and greatly expanded version of this classic work. One important and welcome update over earlier editions is the incorporation of algebraic notation, making the book useful to a wider range of readers. The in-depth analysis of all the major chess openings currently in use--and several minor ones--is based on their use and performance in every major tournament game for several years prior to publication. Even popular old openings, such as the Vienna Game and Two Knights Defense, and tricky offenses such as the Blackmar-Diemer Gambit and "Fried Liver" Attack are given detailed attention. The book is divided into five major segments covering symmetrical King's Pawn openings, semi-open King's Pawn defenses, Queen's Pawn openings, Indian Defense systems, and flank openings. MCO-13 belongs on the shelf of every serious chess enthusiast.
Customer Reviews:
Non Fiction.......2007-09-03
Modern Chess Openings is a comprehensive look and analysis of a whole lot of different starts to the game of chess, from the basic and obvious variations that everyone knows, to things that are very obscure.
Some go very many moves deep and comment on the soundness or viability of the various branches for high level play.
A CHESS GUIDE!.......2000-04-12
A full chess openings book. Everything you want to study about chess openings you can find in it. It is resumed and it's not complex. Good and easy to read!
Required Equipment.......1999-12-15
The Chess-Player's mandatory reference work. If you are a postal player, or aspire to be a good player one day, this book absolutely, positively belongs on your shelf.
You don't think careful study of the opening's will improve your game? Look at the author. (Nick DeFirmian.) Right after he finished this book, he won the U.S. Championship. 'Nuff Said!
Excellent reference.......1999-12-03
As a beginning player, (ICC standard rating around 1300), I find MCO to be extremely useful to familiarize myself quickly with the correct responses to virtually any opening. At my level, my opponents quickly leave the book; but up to the point they do, at least I'm not the first one to make a mistake. If one wants to quickly get familiar with an opening without studying it in great depth, MCO works. I'm sure it's useful to better players also; but I'm just commenting from a beginners point of view.
Good, but BCO-2 is in some ways better........1999-02-01
MCO is basically a collection of the openings from many thousands of master chess games, with evaluations, all well presented. This is a very useful thing for club-level chess players to have.
The main competition in book form is from Batsford_Chess_Openings 2nd edition. BCO-2 is newer and more up-to-date, better organised, and has less errors in most openings. MCO-13 is not bad in these areas, but BCO-2 is better.
On the other hand, MCO-13 has better written chapter introductions and includes a few complete games for most openings. This is useful for players as it shows what types of middle- and end-games they are likely to get into.
Both books now face tough competition from computer software.
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- Metal Gear Solid 3?: Snake Eater(tm) Official Strategy Guide (Official Strategy Guides (Bradygames))
- More Balloon Animals
- Mr. Show: What Happened?! The Complete Story and Episode Guide
- Mutants & Masterminds: RPG - 2nd Edition
- Nefertiti: The Book of the Dead
- New X-Men Omnibus
- North American Indian Jewelry and Adornment
- Oh, the Places You'll Go! (Classic Seuss)
- On Writing
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- Understanding PKI: Concepts, Standards, and Deployment Considerations, Second Edition
- Salvage Style for the Garden: Simple Outdoor Projects Using Reclaimed Treasures
- More Gore Score: Brave New Horrors
- Me : Stories of My Life
- Sisters
- The Innocent Man: Murder and Injustice in a Small Town
- Por Que Los Arboles Tienen Hojas
- The Life and Writings of Stuart Chase
- One World Ready or Not: The Manic Logic of Global Capitalism
- Stones for Ibarra
Chess
| Board Games
| Puzzles & Games
| Entertainment
| Subjects
| Books
Mastering the Chess Openings: Unlocking the Mysteries of the Modern Chess Openings, Volume 2
Silman's Complete Endgame Course: From Beginner To Master
Secrets of Modern Chess Strategy
Chess Strategy in Action
Understanding Chess Tactics
