1.e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. c4... What is thought of this variation

I have played these lines in casual games with @Bad_Dobby_Fischer and done some analysis. What do you think? c4 is relatively rare but the real point of discussion I think is the idea of Be2 and castles and the d4 break later when black no longer has the strong and thematic cxd4 and Bb4

I play 4..Nd4. kinda expect to win as black. Support the d4 square and all is good.

Yeah, Nd4 is the engine’s recommendation with about an equal position

unless white wants to get black out of preparation early, i do not find any good reason for doing c2-c4 against sicilian (ok in case of later d2-d4 we go in some standard positions), it is like loosing of tempo but for nothing since black still can go with d7-d5.whenever i tried this approach i was not happy at all with my positions.

Even in lines with later d2-d4 (which is mandatoy otherwise with d7-d5 black will go better considering weak d4 and d3 squares) this pawn may be target at c file...white bishoop is enclosed...

@pfren One of your suggestions is d5. Isn’t white just playing for two results in my main line or am I missing something?

And @chessbooster the idea is to grip the d5 square and squeeze black with a space advantage