Indeed, the Veresov after 2...d5 3.Bg5 is considered OK for Black.  I recall Eric Prie recommending 3...Nbd7, but Black has quite a few good options.

White can also try 3.e4 heading for a Blackmar-Diemer Gambit after 3...dxe4 4.f3, but Black also has the option 3...Nxe4 (known as the Hubsch Gambit), normally met by 4.Nxe4 dxe4, which is arguably a better version for Black- for example without a knight on f6, Black can get in ...e7-e5 more easily.

Other third-move tries for White are pretty harmless.

kylemeister wrote on 03/05/13 at 20:10:46:



In order of popularity
Nbd7
e6
Bf5
c6 
c5
g6
h6

There's also Ne4 and Nc6 with a limited number playing Bg6 or b6.

according to Kaufman black can even play 3...h6 against the Veresov
3...c5 (as recommended by John Cox) is interesting too

I actually mentioned that mistake here not very long ago, though I don't recall in what thread/context.  Not in the fairly lengthy discussion of the Franco-Benoni we had years ago ...

An old main line in the Veresov (chosen by Rizzitano for his QGA repertoire book, for instance) goes 3...Nbd7 4. f3 c6 5. e4 de 6. fe e5 7. de Qa5.  I have a fond recollection of a perhaps 2100 opponent of mine managing to get a terrible position by deviating with 5. Qd2 h6 6. Bh4 e5 7. de Nxe5 8. e4 Nxe4 9. fe Qxh4+ 10. g3 Qf6 11. ed Bb4.

Any thoughts on how to meet 1.d4 Nf6 2. Nc3  ? Being prepared to transpose to the Pirc or French is an obvious option, but what of the others? In a game I played recently, I suspect the reply to 2. .. d5 would have been 3. Bg5. In the event I played 2. .. c5 and a type of Benoni position arose after 3. d5 e6 4. e4 exd5 5. exd5 d6. Black's fourth move was a mistake as 5. e5 gives White a major advantage.