Reverse Sicilian Opening System?

Usually, when playing against the english opening, I've tried to transpose into a nimzo-indian structure.  Many times after a g3 from my opponent, I find myself playing the Black side of the Catalan.

I am, however, interested in reverse sicilian lines, but unsure of the current theoretical summary of the major variations.  For example, there is the more theoretical Reverse Dragon which looks like a sharper system, the most likely annoying Bb4 if my opponent plays Nc3 early, or a closed reverse sicilian structure with 2. ... Nc6 followed by an f5 with kingside pressure.

I understand that my opponents can play 2. g3 and perhaps avoid Bb4 and the Reverse Dragon, but I'm alright then with finding a general setup to play against it.  My question is: What are the theoretical summaries of the above systems? Drawish, sharp, uncommon?  Which line would perhaps lead to a solid, but unbalanced opening repertoire against c4 that I wouldn't ever really need to deviate from that gives a fully fighting game?  Thank you.

If anyone plays the English, or responds to it with ...e5, your experience and knowledge of theory would be helpful...

Alright, thanks.

Interesting game.  OTB, I would honestly not have been prepared for White's a3, but it looks like there isn't any way to refute the idea.  I guess a3 is similar to a Najdorf, and since it works with the Najdorf, I'm not surprised to see its near success in the reverse sicilian.  I guess preparing a d5 as Black take more preparation than just the Reverse Dragon...

Is there anyone else who knows about these lines?

In my study of the Reverse Dragon, I came to a somewhat standard position:

What is the main line for White to avoid problems? What is the theory if White does not take the Bishop with the Knight (Nxd5)? Thank you.

Never mind, the best continuation for White is 15. Ne4.

Interesting opening plan.  I did not know that the d6, c6 pawn chain against White's half open d-file could be referred to as the Boleslavsky Wall.  The idea looks solid, but I dislike the idea of a d4 break for White.  Instead, I have chosen to play reverse sicilian setups with an early ...d5 break. Thank you, though!

To all interested, I made a reverse sicilian themed tournament (1. c4 e5). Seems like this would appeal to a lot of English players. Note: >1700 player rating range. http://www.chess.com/tournament/reverse-sicilian

sicilian is a tough opening, why do we even allow white to do it with a tempo up?

against c4 I play the symmetrical english. The game is boring, but at least I don't give white any advantage.

When you allow a side a tempo up, it creates drawbacks as well... Lack of flexibility. When white goes for an english, white usually plays the g3 lines and the sicilian dragon is known to be bad for black. The e3 lines or najdorf-esque lines are equalized... Because being 1 tempo ahead makes it a little different for both sides.

5...Nb6 and 5...Nf6 are not the only viable options. In my experience 5...Nxc3 6.bxc3 c5! works out great! Black gets some control over the center and easy development.

This may have worked for me in a few games, but after some analysis I believe it's not that good, even though it's playable. I overlooked that the b-file is very nice for white's queenside rook and often black will have to sac a pawn for just sufficient compensation.

Right now I think 5...Nf6 would be best. Just with the idea to devellop pieces as natural as possible. White may try again to take over the center, but I don't think black has to make any passive moves. I found this game were I wondered if my suggestion would be an improvement.

It seems white can't take with Bxc6 because it creates too much weakness on his kingside. If he then tries to win pawn c6, black gets an initiative worth it in return.

I was wondering about bishop c5 on the second move does is pose a threat to black?

If I remember the theorie correctly it's ok, but it's no threat to white if you mean that. 

I've been seeing many games like these when I'm playing white, how should I react?

Maybe black should play Nc6 before Bc5. In any case white can for example try to prepare d4 with e3 and Nge2

Of course, this thread has been going on for years, and since the Sicilian has the best record for Black among the major openings and playing it with White should give a greater advantage with the added tempo, I would have expected to see a lot of threads and books on it.  There aren't, but note several things:

1, The Opening 1 c4 e5 has an ECO code of A20 and is commonly called by at least 3 Names: the English 1...e5 Opening, the Reversed Sicilian, and the English Opening: King's English Variation.

2. Anyone who wants to play it as White has to also be prepared for Black to play other defenses like the symmetrical English and King's Indian and other Indian defenses.

3. There's a brief discussion here: https://www.chess.com/openings/A20-English-Opening-Kings-English-Variation and over 30,000 master games here: https://www.chess.com/explorer?moveList=c4+e5&ply=2 where White Wins 37.9%, Draws 32% and Loses 30.1%.

There's a master database here: https://chesstempo.com/gamedb/opening/484 with similar results and with a long list of master games that you can play interactively or download the pgn file of the games.

There's also an Opening Explorer here: https://www.365chess.com/opening.php?m=3&n=112&ms=c4.e5&ns=15.112 with similar results from its "Big Database" and with hundreds of listed games to study from both White and Black sides by a few masters.

4. There's a good book on the likely possible moves after 1 c4 e5: Carsten Hansen's Guide to the English Opening 1...e5 (Gambit, c.1999).  It includes a lot of possible strategies for both White and Black, including White making Black's b & c Pawns a target if the game assumes a King's Indian structure:

5. Mihail Marin's Grandmaster Repertoire 3, The English Opening Vol. 1 (c.2010), is all about 1 c4 e5 2 Ng3. He doesn't explore alternative 2nd White moves in Vol.2 (Anti-Slav and Anti-QG systems) or Vol.3 (1 c4 c5).

6,  There's also a Dec. 2017 book, but it is aimed at the Black Player's possibilities, by Boris Avrukh named Reversed Sicilian - Avrukh's Antidote to 1 c4, Part 1.  There's an introduction and free preview here: https://www.modern-chess.com/en/chess-databases/database=27

I'm sure there are other books, but this is all that I had time to find.