Help with Modern Chess Openings please

I bought MCO-14 tonight and I am having some troubles reading the tables. (The book didn't come with instructions, how rude!) I searched the forums, but I couldn't find a similar question.

I figured out that the rows are move numbers and the columns give game variations. What I don't understand is when columns are connected by dots or nothing at all. Take pg144 for example. (I used the bishop's opening in one of my games and didn't even know it.) I see that column 1 has black's response to 2. Bc4 as Nf6, but what about column 2? Is blacks response still Nf6 or is it Bc5 from column 6? Also, in column 4 has 3. d4 as white's move, but column 5 is devoid of any notation at all. Is the column 5 variation the same as column 4 until 7...c6?

At least that's how I figured out how to read the thing. Thanks for helping a beginner.
tony

I think I can help. Basically, the dots mean that either move is considered playable in that position. For example, 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3
d6 ... e6 ... Nc6. All of which are playable lines. Granted, the book doesn't branch out so soon usually, but that is just an example. Hopefully, that was helpful.

Originally posted by Hexagram13
I bought MCO-14 tonight and I am having some troubles reading the tables. (The book didn't come with instructions, how rude!) I searched the forums, but I couldn't find a similar question.

I figured out that the rows are move numbers and the columns give game variations. What I don't understand is when columns are connected by dots or nothing at all ...[text shortened]...
At least that's how I figured out how to read the thing. Thanks for helping a beginner.
tony

hehehe..beleive it or not,MCO is one the easier books to understand,format wise.

Hi all 😉

Is MCO the BOOK ?

Coz I am now playing only one or two openings for white, and one or two openings for black.

I wonder if I should continue and proceed on to use MCO and vary my openings regularly...

Anyone can save me from groping in the dark ? Thanks a lot 🙂

Regards,
whitedisc

Originally posted by whitedisc
Hi all 😉

Is MCO the BOOK ?

Coz I am now playing only one or two openings for white, and one or two openings for black.

I wonder if I should continue and proceed on to use MCO and vary my openings regularly...

Anyone can save me from groping in the dark ? Thanks a lot 🙂

Regards,
whitedisc

Why bother with a MCO or ECO when you can use something like Chessbase. You can get a lot more statsitacal info with a good Database. There are even free database programs out on the internet.

MCO is reliable and readable. The columns are clearly marked, you just have to take a little time to become oriented. ChessBase should be banned, as well as computers from competitive chess, it takes the enjoyment out of the sport. 😀