I think 1. Nc3 is a good opening move. I haven't tried it myself yet,
but maybe I will. Personally I think 1. e4 is the best first move. The
problem with 1. e4 is that there are so many answers for black and
lots of opening systems to learn. If you play 1. Nc3 most players will
be out of opening theory immediately. It has a good surprise value.
The only bad thing I can see with the move is that the knight blocks
the c pawn too early. Anyway I like trying new opening moves. I have
played 1. d3 as white for a while. Now I've been inspired to play Van
Geet's opening.
I happen to agree with 1. e4 being one of the best first moves for white, followed closely by 1. d4, and 1. Nf3. And you'll find an
enormous wealth of opening theory required for -any- of these opening choices, at least against a strong player. 1. Nc3 mimics
her sister opening 1. Nf3, with two serious disadvantages: the c-pawn is impeded, and white does -not- control any squares in
the center, because 1...d5 takes away the only two central squares which 1. Nc3 acquired: e4 and d5. So long as white is
content to play 2. d4, it's a solid opening with transpositional possibilities, while virtually any other move seems to allow black
the initiative by kicking white's knight around with ...d4 and ...e5 taking up gobs of space in the center. I don't think it's
bad...just unclear.