Originally posted by MarinkatombDid I claim anything else? No. I said he should check his first line (1. Nf3 d4 2. c5 dxc4 3. e4 Be6 4. Ng5 etc.) because the notation was definitely incorrect: 1. ... d4 is impossible, even adding the key move 1. ... Nc6 doesn't rescue the line because if 2.d4 then 2. ... c5 is not possible because the knight blocks.
I play 1.Nf3 all the time and have found 1..Nc3 to ba quite common, especially among lower graded players. It is definately worth our friend here developing a line for this move.
There is a repertoire by Andrew Martin that focuses on opening with 1.b4, which is essentially a transposition of the opening sequence you are experimenting with.
In his opinion, which is certainly more versed than mine, the entire line is less than optimal. There are some opportunities for good counterplay, but only if your opponent makes mistakes. The 'selling point' of the repertoire is to be something you use against a well-booked opponent, thus forcing them out of book early and forcing them to think for themselves.
So, it wouldn't be so bad OTB in certain circumstances, but with the majority of people using opening books here it would probably not be a good opening on this site.