I think the best line is the Monte Carlo French with 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 exd5 4.c4, which leads to an interesting game where a lot of 1600-rated French players feel uncomfortable as Black.  See analysis here:
http://www.kenilworthchessclub.org/games/java/2009/fr-ex-c4.htm

I also agree that the opening is not as important to study as other things at 1600.  But all the more reason, then, to play a line like this where you really learn about piece play and tactics -- and maybe about isolani positions.

There is also the method put forth in Fighting the French: A new concept where the author mostly advocates isolated "d-pawn" positions.

OrangeCounty wrote on 04/10/14 at 21:07:47:

These guys make a good point. I agree mainline Winawer with the Qg4 stuff seems messy/random and counterintuitive but i think 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.exd5 can be recommended as a logical and intuitive anti-Winawer.  This was the original mainline until the 1930s when folks figured out that e4-e5 is a better try for an objective advantage.  I don't think it is without poison -- e.g., Carlsen beat Vallejo and Ray Robson seems to rely on it heavily.
3.Nc3 also aims for the Alekhine Chatard gambit which surely is the sort of thing that the target audience should be playing.  Mccutcheon is something else to deal with, but not overly troubling.
Anyway, wanted to mention the above as an anti-French hacking repertoire that I personally like a lot.  Not that i necessarily recommend such materials, but FYI these "White vs. French" systems were covered in Lakdawalla's "ferocious" book as well as a Daniel King chessbase dvd.  These are all opinions and ultimately a student is encouraged to play what looks fun and natural while still being sound.

Perhaps he played exactly the same line in the same place.
Ahem.
Chandra - what are you doing exactly?

ErictheRed wrote on 02/16/14 at 22:12:22:


I second this remark.  When I was "coming up" and a 1400-1700 player, I hated facing the Winawer French.  Playing it requires some pretty non-according-to-Hoyle ideas (like breaking up your own pawns with dxc5) so it's hard for amateurs to handle and everything depends on the discrete tactics.

I won a nice game in my last tournament after 1 e4 e6 2 d4 d5 3 Nc3 Bb4 4 e5 c5 5 a3 Bxc3 6 bxc3 Ne7 7 Qg4 0-0, though, so it's a good line when you figure it out.

I came up with this line against g5 still I am working against g6 and Kf8

chandrashekharkoravi wrote on 03/01/14 at 05:45:03:

What do *you* think? Offer ideas, share what you think as a starter, and you will get responses.
Currently you appear to offer little. Tiresome.

ErictheRed wrote on 02/19/14 at 13:06:59:


Of course, I was talking about sub 1600 specifically junior players, where books can do more harm than good.