1e4 e6 2d3 d5 3 Qe2 de 4de e5 - Evaluation ?

With white to move, is his extra move a liability or an asset ? Thoughts ?

g3 is unattractive, so almost certainly the queen will move again.

But it's white to move, so it's not a big deal. I'd wait to move it to try to make the move as useful as possible. If it causes black to make a defensive move (or something like this) then white's up a tempo in the opening.

Otherwise it's just equal (like the starting position before move 1) except no d pawns (so, equal as in 0.00 equal).

Those are my thoughts. 

Uh oh, pfren commented. I have a feeling he's going to tell me how g3 is the usual move or something lol

Without looking at a database, I could see why g3 would be a common move here. Usually in such structures where black takes early on e4 and plays e5, white is better to not place the bishop on g2, and change his plans, due to the bishop biting on granite. But with the Queen already on e2, it may be better to place the bishop there anyway rather than wasting time moving the queen out of the way.

One tempo is a low cost to move the queen again. A bishop on g2 costs two tempo, and probably a 3rd later if you want the bishop to play.

Playing g3 bg2 isn't losing any tempi. Its just a normal fianchetto, which takes as much time as any fianchetto would. Two moves spent more wisely than moving a piece you already moved. If you planned on moving the Queen again after the capture on e4, you shouldn't have played Qe2. The move makes no sense if you went to e2 and are just going to move again because the tension is dissolved. Might as well have stayed on d1, because its not like you induced any weaknesses, as the tension dissolving isn't of any advantage to white.

The great thing about positions such as this is that the side that is better able to come up with an efficient plan of development will have the advantage. 

If you believe that g3 is best, and it's certainly a viable option, then flesh out that idea for yourself. You won't be creating a groundbreaking new opening system that will take the world by storm. But you could create an opening line that you can use to good effect in your own games. 

Don't take PFren's comment as a wet blanket, but a challenge. Work out whether White has any plan that makes sense. 

If you can't work it out, then take a look at the position from Black's perspective. Try out your ideas against an engine or a stronger opponent and see if you can hold it.

As I said, I agree the position is equal. 

I took one look at the Queen on e2 and decided that black has a small advantage/

Black doesn't have an advantage. He is down two tempi for a bad bishop on g2. Fair trade off.

How does white make use of his extra tempo? Meanwhile, his queen on e2...

I would claim that this is (very slightly) better for black.

Many 3rd rank squares, d2, and even d1 are possible future squares for the queen. Immediate Qh5 is a little cheeky, but is also a thought.

Bg2 easily solves the queen problem, but adds the bisohp problem. I suppose one could ask: which is easier to solve? The queen now or the bishop later? Looking at the position, probably solving the bishop later is easier. The difficulty then, for me, is trying not to gag as I play g3 and Bg2 in such a structure :p

Is the bishop really that bad on g2? Look, don't play Qe2 if you don't want to play bg2. It makes absolutely no sense.

Extra move is not much of an advantage. The Queen on e2 will have to move someplace else to let the Bishop out. Meanwhile, Black can develop naturally. 

No it won't. White will play g3 if he wants to be consistent with his strategy. Moving his queen is basically saying: "Welp, I screwed up!", when he didn't. It's equal.

I make so many inaccuracies accidentally that it never feels good to play moves like this on purpose.

However I think g3 has great practical points. It's solid and easy development in what's (probably) a dead equal position.

Thanks for your comments and everyone elses Pfren. Incidentally, I was considering this from the black perspective - just to be clear...

I feel slightly different to you on the move order issue. John Watson in Play The French (III) says something like, after 1e4 e6 2Qe2 c5: "Who would play the white side of a Sicilian with his queen on e2" - which seems to make sense to me. (I have to say I do like Watson's chapter on the KIA)

The position given earlier was one recommended, from the black perspective, on one of Andrew Martin's DVDs. I also came across the idea ,from the white perspective, that white could try a King Gambit like f4 ?