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MCO 15 done away with?

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Avatar of JosephDurham
JosephDurham
Nov 7, 2020
0
#1
A few years back I had to sell all of my chess sets and library of books. It was a sad day. Life just threw one to many curveballs and I had to do what I had to to take care of my family.

Well, thankfully things are much better now. So, as I was browsing the web I was wanting to get my hands on a copy of MCO 15. Nearly everywhere has it OUT OF STOCK. Just wondering, have they done away with it and preparing to release MCO 16?

Joseph
Avatar of notmtwain
notmtwain
Nov 7, 2020
0
#2
JosephDurham wrote:
A few years back I had to sell all of my chess sets and library of books. It was a sad day. Life just threw one to many curveballs and I had to do what I had to to take care of my family.

Well, thankfully things are much better now. So, as I was browsing the web I was wanting to get my hands on a copy of MCO 15. Nearly everywhere has it OUT OF STOCK. Just wondering, have they done away with it and preparing to release MCO 16?

Joseph

There are no reports of an update being done.

I see a Nick De Firmian is a member here with a 2500 blitz rating. On the chance it is him, I sent him a message to ask.

 

Avatar of chessroboto
chessroboto
Nov 7, 2020
0
#3

With the decline of interest in books and the rise of reliable and full-featured computer chess databases, engines that keep getting stronger every year and easy access to every tournament and match game of the best players worldwide to update the game collection database, it shouldn’t be a surprise that more people would opt to go electronic over print for opening preparation.

I also remember that MCO-15 received harsh criticism when compared to MCO-14 after de Firmian updated it. Now anyone has access to the author’s resources and tinker with their favorite lines however they see fit and let their chosen chess engines prove them right or wrong.

Avatar of JosephDurham
JosephDurham
Nov 8, 2020
0
#4

Doesn’t anyone miss the feel of a book anymore?  I thoroughly enjoy chess.com, but I do enjoy my books. 

Avatar of chessroboto
chessroboto
Nov 8, 2020
0
#5

Don’t get us wrong - there are people such as us who Still enjoy books. I’m just pointing out that in 2020, we should have learned how to use the right tools for the job by now. You wouldn’t want to get left behind by evolution, right? 

Avatar of baddogno
baddogno
Nov 8, 2020
0
#6

FCO is still around and many find it still useful, even in this digital age...

https://www.amazon.com/FCO-Fundamental-Paul-Van-Sterren/dp/1906454132/ref=sr_1_3?crid=13RHLY75OQ9VE&dchild=1&keywords=fco+chess+openings&qid=1604878671&sprefix=FCO+chess%2Caps%2C551&sr=8-3

Avatar of chessroboto
chessroboto
Nov 8, 2020
0
#7

Same edition for the past 11 years? Figured you would have used technology to update this last iteration and improved upon it yourself. 

Avatar of baddogno
baddogno
Nov 9, 2020
0
#8

FCO is actually more closely related to Reuben Fine's classic The Ideas Behind The Chess Openings than it is to MCO.  It's not meant to be an all encompassing catalog of the latest openings; that's what DBs are for.  Van der Sterren rarely goes more than 10 or 12 moves deep in most variations, but he will often take a paragraph to explain the logic behind a single move.

Avatar of James1560
James1560
Jul 6, 2021
0
#9
Both FCO and “The Ideas Behind the Chess Openings” are wonderful. It helps to understand the thought behind the opening as well as the opening itself. I also enjoy studying from MCO (any edition—I have 12 & 13) and Fine’s “Practical Chess Openings”. They may be outdated but they are tremendously useful references.