JN wrote on 07/27/08 at 07:57:48:

If so, then the Chigorin must be busted as White is essentially playing it with an extra tempo

Playing Nc3 before c4 is probably strategical dubios in d-pawn openings. Therefore Black should theoretically be OK - but this doesnt hinder you to surprise your opponents with some fancy Veresov-lines. 

Catch the (black) fish by surprise but dont always try to catch him this way 

I agree with the previous posters and would add some things that will calm your fear about c5.

I've only played the Verseov three times and two times i've played c5 because it seemed like the best move. In fact, I now am prepared to actually play c5 but the first two times I was not.

Example: d4 d5 nc3 nf6 Bg5 c5 Bxf6 (most of the time at the amateur level you are going to see exf6 where both sides have an easy but equal game if not slight edge to white) however gxf6 is the move. For this I recommend e4 but I would research if nf3 or e3 is a better try.

"So what's holding me back?"

Perhaps your expectations for White. If you're going to play d-pawn Specials openings you'd better get used Black equalizing early and often. But at the non-professional level - so what!

d-pawn Specials are about playing the types of middlegames you like with the advantage of having more experience with them than your opponent and needing less theoretical study to play them well. They're for amateur players not searching for some ultimate truth in chess.

How to build a fairly narrow but yet reliable white repertoire? The Veresov may be it. I have been thinking about giving it a try for some time now. I even bought the two books by Smith/Hall and Davies (the latter is by far the best of them). So what is holding me back? Primarily one line that seems impossible to crack. The line in question goes: 1. d4 d5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Bg5 c5(!). Is it just me being too pessimistic about white's chances in this line or is 3.- c5 simply the refutation of the Veresov?