Help me beat my friends opening

Hi. I play against my friend alot, and he seems to have a somewhat similar opening every time he is white, and i would like to get some ideas on how to beat it. He is always playing 1.d4 and 2. e3 towards a position that looks like this:

I dont have any computer programs to analyze it, but to me it seems that i should be able to get some kind of advantage against this nonstandard opening. A typical opening we play may be something like this:

since this is a queen's gambit, you might try surprising your friend with Chigorin's counterintuitive defense, which is fairly unexplored and can give you a lotta counterplay. Chigorin is as follows 1...d5, 2...Nc6. once White knows how to respond, it tends to draw.... but it is easy for you as Black to learn it....

Thanks for tips and advice! I was thinking that I should be ahead in that position, but not being sure on how to deal with it in the best way. I've also seen that black scores pretty good in Game Explorer with 1.d4 Nf6 2.e6 g6 3.Bd3 Bg7.

I have to admit though, Fezzik is absolutely right - its not really about what I do, but understanding why I do it. Now there's a challenge! :)

White hasn't really achieved anything from this opening.  h3 and a3 are unnecessary prophylaxis and you should try to exploit them at some point.  Just following the basic tenets of opening theory (develop your pieces, control the centre, castle) should lead to a good position for black.

h3? a3?  Both these moves don't really accomplish anything of worth (when he plays them in the position) except show how scared he is scared of Bishop's pinning his Knights and of your Knights reaching b4 or g4 etc. I would make a play for the center and start my attack if he wants to play passive moves on the wing (ie: a3 and h3 when not totally needed).  If he wants to play d4 and e3 the e4 square becomes weak and a good jump point for you Knight Ne4 happens a lot in Queen's Gambit games and this one could easily transpose into such a line).  White has weakened his Kingside Castle position (if he chooses to castle KS) with h3 and with no great reason to play it.

You're friend doesnt seem to accomplish anything... While he is doing his indian setup you should try 2. c4 and Nc3 to play e4 push the pawn and get his knight outta here.
After that, i believe you can win the game with good odds.
In these games you play h3 or a3 but there aren't bishops that can pin your knight, you see he blocked his other bishops development by playing e6, Hereby that blocked in his bishop and his development options are b6 into bb7, These moves are just wasted time and i believe there are better moves (Or you can just play e4 and a italian game (i dont reccomend the giucco, play c3 into d4 for a loud italian) or smh)

However there are more ideas you should know of

oh wait you are black?

In that case i can say that your friends opening is not very bad however there are ways to beat him with some ideas like e6 into c5 and after that if they take you know you can take back with the bishop. If he seems to play this e3 stuff you should consider doing d5 grabbing the center

Idk why you are doing a indian but i believe 1.d5 is eazier to play.