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Mastering the Chess Openings vs Fundamental Chess Openings

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JubilationTCornpone
JubilationTCornpone
Closed: Inactive
Dec 22, 2016
0
#1

I am curious of others opinions of these two books (well, one book and one set of four).

 

I bought FCO for a couple reasons.  First, it's one volume and cheaper.  Second, it's one volume and from what I could see Watson would often say something like "see volume 2" while covering a line, due to transpositions (which is a bit annoying).  Third, FCO is a bigger book, such that it seems to have as much material as two or more of Watson's set.  Still, I wonder.  Is Watson's set in any significant way more detailed, more current, more correct, etc.?

 

What do people think?

kindaspongey
kindaspongey
Dec 22, 2016
0
#2

https://web.archive.org/web/20140627115737/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/hansen99.pdf
http://www.gambitbooks.com/pdfs/Mastering_the_Chess_Openings_volume_1.pdf
http://www.gambitbooks.com/pdfs/Mastering_the_Chess_Openings_volume_2.pdf
https://web.archive.org/web/20140626220240/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/hansen117.pdf
http://www.gambitbooks.com/pdfs/Mastering_the_Chess_Openings_volume_3.pdf
https://web.archive.org/web/20140627070808/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/hansen137.pdf
http://www.gambitbooks.com/pdfs/Mastering_the_Chess_Openings_volume_4.pdf

https://web.archive.org/web/20140626173432/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/hansen128.pdf
http://www.gambitbooks.com/pdfs/FCO_Fundamental_Chess_Openings.pdf

JubilationTCornpone
JubilationTCornpone
Closed: Inactive
Dec 22, 2016
0
#3
kindaspongey wrote:

https://web.archive.org/web/20140627115737/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/hansen99.pdf
http://www.gambitbooks.com/pdfs/Mastering_the_Chess_Openings_volume_1.pdf
http://www.gambitbooks.com/pdfs/Mastering_the_Chess_Openings_volume_2.pdf
https://web.archive.org/web/20140626220240/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/hansen117.pdf
http://www.gambitbooks.com/pdfs/Mastering_the_Chess_Openings_volume_3.pdf
https://web.archive.org/web/20140627070808/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/hansen137.pdf
http://www.gambitbooks.com/pdfs/Mastering_the_Chess_Openings_volume_4.pdf

Well, yes, but these mostly seem to say that the books are pretty good coverage of openings.  I know that.  I've even held them in my hands.  I'm just wondering if anyone with experience with both would like to comment here as to which they like best.

kindaspongey
kindaspongey
Dec 22, 2016
0
#4
RCMorea wrote:

... Is Watson's set in any significant way more detailed, more current, more correct, etc.? ...

I haven't done more than browse through these books, but some things seem apparent from that. FCO is by a notable GM, so it doesn't seem likely that his work is less correct than that of IM Watson. FCO was published in 2009, while Watson's work was published from 2006 to 2010, so it doesn't seem likely that the Watson work is more current to any great degree. I think this is a key sentence from the Watson introduction (apparently written at a time when the project was seen as consisting of only two volumes):

"As I began work on this book it became obvious that even in two large volumes it wouldn't be possible to cover every opening, nor even the most significant variations of every opening, and still achieve the insights that I hoped to convey."

As an example of a consequence of this: "I won't be dealing with the [1 e4 c6 2 d4 d5] 3 Nc3 main lines [in the Caro-Kann Defence], although naturally they're full of wonderful ideas."

1 e4 c6 2 d4 d5 3 Nc3 got about half of the space in the 14 page Caro-Kann chapter in FCO. Since Watson devoted 19 pages to his Caro-Kann chapter, he surely provided more detail on some things.

I think that, basically, we are looking at two different sorts of projects. Despite the ultimate size of his project, Watson, as far as I can tell, was not attempting to write a general reference work. His goal was to convey various insights. To judge the value of those insights for you, I would suggest a detailed examination of the reviews and book samples.

From another thread ("Book on openings Principles/Main Ideas"):

RussBell wrote (~10 days ago):
... FCO - Van der Sterren's book, would be an excellent choice.  Ideas and themes are well explained.

 

RussBell wrote (~10 days ago):
The four volume series  "Mastering the Chess Openings" by John Watson is outstanding.  In my opinion, there is nothing better, in terms of explaining chess opening principles, and the specific chess openings themselves. ...

 

RussBell wrote (~9 days ago):
... I have the Djuric et al. series as well as the John Watson series.  While the Djuric series is certainly decent, it is primarily a survey, i.e., an overview, of all the major openings.  The Watson series is also, in a sense, a survey, but it goes much deeper into analysis of the plans and themes of the openings, which Djuric treats much more lightly.  So it all depends on ones expectations in terms of how much one wants to be exposed to in terms of the theory of the openings.  Watson definitely is the more throrough of the two in this respect.  For me, if I were looking for the most in-depth treatment, I would go with Watson.  If I were looking for somewhat less, especially in a single volume, I would give the nod to the FCO - van der Sterren's book. ...

The Watson series concludes with a discussion of various issues in connection with openings. I often refer to a quote from one passage:

"... For players with very limited experience, I recommend using openings in which the play can be clarified at an early stage, often with a degree of simplification. To accomplish this safely will take a little study, because you will have to get used to playing wiith open lines for both sides' pieces, but you can't eliminate risk entirely in the opening anyway. ... teachers all over the world suggest that inexperienced players begin with 1 e4. ... You will undoubtedly see the reply 1 ... e5 most often when playing at or near a beginner's level, ... After 2 Nf3, 2 ... Nc6 will occur in the bulk of your games. ... I recommend taking up the classical and instructive move 3 Bc4 at an early stage. Then, against 3 ... Bc5, it's thematic to try to establish the ideal centre by 4 c3 and 5 d4; after that, things can get complicated enough that you need to take a look at some theory and learn the basics; ... Of course, you can also play 1 d4 ... A solid and more-or-less universal set-up is 2 Nf3 and 3 Bf4, followed in most cases by 4 e3, 5 Be2 and 6 0-0. I'd rather see my students fight their way through open positions instead; however, if you're not getting out of the opening alive after 1 e4, this method of playing 1 d4 deserves consideration. ... a commonly suggested 'easy' repertoire for White with 1 Nf3 and the King's indian Attack ... doesn't lead to an open game or one with a clear plan for White. Furthermore, it encourages mechanical play. Similarly, teachers sometimes recommend the Colle System ..., which can also be played too automatically, and usually doesn't lead to an open position. For true beginners, the King's Indian Attack and Colle System have the benefit of offering a safe position that nearly guarantees passage to some kind of playable middlegame; they may be a reasonable alternative if other openings are too intimidating. But having gained even a small amount of experience, you really should switch to more open and less automatic play." - IM John Watson in a section of his 2010 book, Mastering the Chess Openings, Volume 4

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