Jupp53 wrote on 11/20/18 at 08:26:16:

Then the simplest approach for you is the Rubinstein Variation 1.d4 f5 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nc3. IM Cummings has a nice chapter on this in his book on the English, though I reject one of his recommendations. Overview:

a) 3...g6 4.h4!
b) 3...d6 4.Bg5 Nbd7 5.Qc2 (sample game Nakamura-Anton Guijarro, Gibraltar 2016 but don't forget to look at 5...e6).
c) 3...e6 4.Qc2
c1) 4...d5 5.Bf4 (sample game Savchenko-Schmittdiel, BL 2004).
c2) 4...d6 5.Nf3 (sample game Simon-Naumkin, Münster 1989).
c3) 4...b6 5.f3 (5.Bg5 doesn't impress me) Bb7 6.e3 (eg Lautier-Vaisser, FRAch 2001).
c4) 4...Bb4 5.e3 O-O 6.Bd3 d6 (sample game Barnaure-Cimpean, ROMchT 2015).

Instead of 4.Qc2 you may also consider 4.e3
d1) 4...d5 5.f3 (eg Korchnoi-Nikolic, Sarajevo 1998).
d2) 4...d6 5.Nf3 (Van den Berg-Burstein, Tel Aviv/Haifa 1958).
d3) 4...b6 5.e3 Bb7 6.f3 and
d4) 4...Bb4 5.Qc2 will usually transpose.
Black may consider a setup with ...b6 and ...Be7 or ...Bd6. White might consider replying ...Bb4 with Bd2 iso Qc2 (eg Tolusch-Bronstein, USSRch 1957).

You may not like systematically study an opening, but playing through several high level games (don't neglect golden oldies) will help you well on your way.
The plussides are obvious:

1) no French, just 1.d4 e6 2.c4 f5 3.Nc3.
2) you may consider 1.d4 d6 2.c4 f5 too (2...e5 is the spanner in your wheel) and certainly will enjoy 1.d4 g6 2.c4 f5 3.Nc3 and 4.h4.
3) you fight the game on your own battleground.
4) this classical approach is hardly worse than the main lines with 2.g3 and not worse than entering the French labyrinth either.
5) but it's a lot less work, because White makes an important choice at his/her 4th move.

Someone should write a book about meeting the Dutch with 1.d4, 2.c4 and 3.Nc3.

Jupp53 wrote on 11/19/18 at 10:29:59:

Question: what do you play after 1.d4 d5 ? If it's not 2.c4 or 3.c4 then 1.d4 e6 2.c4 doesn't make any sense.
Also you should realize that fans of the Dutch will be very happy with 1.d4 e6 2.c4 f5.
Alas 1.d4 e6 2.Nc3 d5 3.Nf3 Nf6 leaves White with 4.Bg5 Be7 5.Bxf6 Bxf6 6.e4 as best, which is a somewhat goofy variation of the Claasical French. And 3.Bf4 Bb4 might be not that enjoyable either.
So those 45 lines are somewhat optimistic - after 1.d4 e6 White's best options are 2.e4. 2.c4 and 2.Nf3 indeed.
Perhaps you shouls start with 1.b3 or 1.f4.

Jupp53 wrote on 11/19/18 at 10:29:59:


I don't think 2.Nc3 makes sense unless you happy with d5 3.e4. If you play 2.e4 you can also avoid the Dutch and after 2.... d5 you can choose freely what you want to play against the French. So 2.e4 looks preferable to 2. Nc3 (unless of course you are happy with 3. Nc3 against the French in which case there is essentially no difference).

I've checked the link you provided. For 1.d4 e6 2.c4 is recommended (perhaps for the reason you pinpointed).