Why doesn't the Tarrasch work for you? I don't see any dangerous alternatives for White after, say, 1.c4 e6 2.Nf3 d5 3.g3 Nf6 4.Bg2 c5. What line(s) are you having trouble with?
How to play against the English. The KID maybe?
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There are several easy, relatively active plans to play against the English. In order to answer the question of what you personally should play, it would help to know what you play against 1.d4 openings. This is especially pertinent because many players transpose from the English into a QG line.
It's rather difficult to force a transposition to the Tarrasch, but here's one way to do it:
If you want to avoid theory you can't play the Kid against the English. I play the Kid, but you have to be ready to play pretty much all the main line stuff after say, 1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 g6 3. d4 then if ... Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 and your in the maze. I love the maze but don't end up there by accident, you can also play 3... D5 but then your in a labyrinth! A beautiful labyrinth but REALLY don't get there by accident.
Thanks, everyone, for your comments. I've read them all - now I'll take my time working through the games. ;-) I think my main problem is learning to bring out Black's pawns and pieces in a form that approximates the "ideal" Tarrasch. I'll keep working on it. BTW, I found that one of my 3 books on the Tarrasch DOES mention the English - the very last opening mentioned. It's in Aagaard and Lund's "meeting 1d4" on page 170, in case anyone is interested. Again, thanks to all.
I'm abysmal against the English opening. I've had the King's Indian Defense recommended to me for this purpose, but would like videos or articles about how to do so, without having to go through all of the KID literature. I do play the KIA, but not the KID. Any suggestions? Or do you have something better against the English? My real preference would be to use the Tarrasch Defense, since I do play that. I hav no success against the English with it, though. Thanks.