I would agree with TN and that approach is recommended by Davies in Dynamic Reti.
I recently changed from 1.c4 to 1.Nf3 and was surprised by the reply 1..., Nc6 in a recent game. I happened to respond 2.d4 d5 3.g3 and later found this in Dynamic Reti. I wouldn't recommend 3.c4 as this is probably exactly what the white player wants. Choosing to play 1.Nf3 is also directed against e5, so 1.Nf3 Nc6 2.c4 e5 while perfectly playable, doesn't seem consistent.

I would recommend 2.d4 d5 3.g3, which if I recall correctly was considered slightly better for White if he plays precisely. At least that was my conclusion when I looked at this variation.

White needs a good antidote against 3...Bg4 4.Bg2 Qd7, a hack line recommended by Wisnewski, although my feeling is that White has a route to an advantage as well.

If you play 1.e4 as well, I would recommend 2.e4 as 2...e5 is in your White repertoire and other moves are somewhat better for White (although you have to know some theory to prove this).

2.c4 is possible if you play 1.c4 in conjunction with 1.Nf3, but you should make sure that the type of Reversed Sicilian that occurs after 2...e5 is in your repertoire.

I would recommend playing the second move that best fits in with your repertoire since every move by White can lead to a playable defence for Black.  I would tend to agree with cyronix that 2.d4 is the most principled move but proving an advantage is far from easy against a 1...Nc6 expert.  Surprisingly after 1.Nf3 Nc6 2.d4, both 2...d6 and 2...e6 aren't that easy to refute either although they should leave to a comfortable White advantage.

2. c4 e5 seems most likely to lead to an English Four Knights -- e.g. after 3. Nc3, 3...Nf6 is more highly regarded than 3...g6 (because of 4. d4 in the latter case).  3. d4 could lead to a Four Knights also, but could remain independent.  Incidentally it reminds me of this rather thematic-looking game I came across a while back.

[Event "Hoogeveen Essent open "]
[Site ""]
[Date "2007.??.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Simutowe, Amon"]
[Black "Rooda, K P"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "2421"]
[BlackElo "2146"]
[NIC "VO 20.4"]
[ECO "A40"]
[PlyCount "59"]

1. d4 Nc6 2. c4 e5 3. Nf3 exd4 4. Nxd4 Bc5 5. Nb3 Bb4  6. Bd2 Nf6 7. Nc3 O-O 8. Nd5
Bxd2  9. Qxd2 d6 10. g3 Ne5 11. Rc1 Re8 12. Bg2 Bh3 13. O-O Bxg2 14. Kxg2 Ne4 15.
Qc2 Ng6 16. f3 Nf6 17. e4 c6 18. Ne3 Qb6 19. Nf5 Rad8 20. Nxd6 Rxd6 21. c5 Qd8 22.
cxd6 Qxd6 23. Qc5 Qb8 24. Rfd1 Ne5 25. Nd4 g6 26. Ne2 Qc8 27. Nf4 Nxf3 28. Kxf3 Qg4 
29. Kg2 g5 30. h3 1-0

Think I'll steer clear of that Chigorin (to much inspiration on the market thanks to Moro) and go for c4 with a Closed Sicilian Reversed as most probable result (which is not so good for Black, according to the Watson vol.3 thread)

nyoke wrote on 02/17/09 at 20:35:05:


I know someone who plays this, angling either for 2.e4 e5 or for a Chigorin.  I'm not sure what the idea is if 2.c4, but I would expect it's 2...e5.

I know I know
but all of a sudden I see this reply three times a day so I start wondering what would be the very best counter (and what suddenly fashionable line are they angling for ?)