Check out other volumes as well! Jensen has produced more excellent stuff on the KG and also on the Morra Gambit.

No need to apologize. McDonald has omitted a lot that already was known when he wrote that book. Possibly his gravest error is page 61, line 13.Qe2 b5 (begins on page 60), line b, where he concludes: Black wins as the white attack cannot be strengthened. 16.Rg4 Qf5 17.Rf4 is an easy draw.
I like his work on this site on the French very much, especially the Tarasch 3...Nf6, but The Swashbuckling KG is substandard.

A recap of the previous discussion
7.Be2,Nxe4

Var I.
8.0-0, d5!
9.d3 ,         (9.d4 is interesting [Paul Cumbers]}
9......, h5   
10. Ne5, Bd6
11.Nxf7           (Condor)
11......., Kxf7
12.Bxf4,        (12.dxe4? (Condor), Bc5+ -+ {Mnb})
12......., Bxf4    (12...Nf6 {drkodos} perhaps 13.Bg5 with compensation for white {Micawber})
13.Rxf4+,   
                       13.dxe4 {Condor},Qxh4! {Mnb}
                       (a) 14.Nc3,Qh2+ 15.Kf2,c6   -+ {Micawber}
                       (b) 14.Qxd5+,Be6 15.Qxb7?,Qh2+ 16.Kf2,Kg7 -+ {Micawber}
13.........Nf6  
14.Bxh5+, Kg7 {Micawber}

Var II.
8.0-0, Qxh4
9.Rxf4,f5!
10.d3          [Mnb]
(10.d4,Bg7 11.Bc4 [Paul Cumbers],fxg 12.Re4,Kd8 {Micawber}unclear)
                             
10.....,Bg7  (10....Ng3 is unclear)
11.dxe         (forced in view of the threat ...Bd4+)
11.     fxg
12.Bxg4,Bxg4
13.Rxg4,Qh5

II.a  14.Nc3,Qc5+ 15.Kh1,(Qh4=) Bxc3 16.bxc,Nd7 (=+) {Micawber}
II.b  14.Be3 {Condor} , Rf8! {Mnb} 15.Nc3,Be5 16.g3 -+ {Mnb} but judged unclear by {Condor}
I agree with {Mnb} (Micawber)

condor wrote on 04/17/08 at 11:59:34:

Looks like we are talking about different lines. I will check it.

condor wrote on 04/17/08 at 11:59:34:


I don't like this kind of logic, it is the typical justification of an unsound gambit. We are trying to evaluate objectively on this site so subjective arguments like Black may be better but is more likely to go wrong as he has no Fritz with him are not valid. White's kingside is weak and Black's king will be safe at the queenside. Enough reason to claim an advantage.

condor wrote on 04/17/08 at 11:59:34:

Pity. I just became interested in this variation.

Just checked.
1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4.h4 g4 5.Ne5 d6 6.Nxg4 Nf6 7.Be2 Nxe4 8.0-0 d5 9.d3 h5 10.Ne5 Bd6 11.Nxf7 Kxf7 12.Bxf4 (12.dxe4? Bc5+ no pin here) Bxf4 13.Rxf4+ (13.dxe4? Qxh4) Nf6 14.Bxh5+ Kg7 -+.
I would like to know how and when White is supposed to sac his knight then. You give 10.Nxf7 but as far as I can see the knight still is on g4. 

condor wrote on 04/14/08 at 17:49:57:


In my opinion Mcdonald's book should be composted. I lost a correspondence game by following his analysis. It serves me right for not checking all my sources. The two books by Thomas Johansson are the way to go.

condor wrote on 04/16/08 at 11:47:20:


These are good ideas. Almost as good as Progressive Chess!  

I would instinctively play 7. ...Ne4 fully believing Black is very good in the position, but now I am again uncertain.  Seems there is still some petrol in the can that white can use to keep igniting fires that are more than annoying.  Some of them are burning black.

condor wrote on 04/16/08 at 11:47:20:


1.e4 e5  2.f4 exf4  3.Nf3 g5  4.h4 g5  5.Ne5 d6 6.Nxg4 Nf6 7.Be2 Nxe4
8.0-0 d5  9.d3 h5  10.Ne5 Bd6 11.Nxf7 Kxf7 12. Bxf4 Nf6 may improve for Black over your line w/ Bxf4.

If 13.Nc3 Bxf4 14.Rxf4 Nc6 and Black is still =/+ or better.



Edited to add: Apologies to micawber, I did not fully see your post before I posted.  The move order numbers still has me confused.

10 Nxf7 Kxf7 11 Bxf4 Bxf4 12 dxe4 Qf6 13 e5 (nudge Q off f-file) Qf5 14 Bd3 Qxe5 15 Qd2 Qd4+ 16 Kh1 and black is in trouble.

Your first line is annoyingly jammy. 14 Be3 seems more logical, stopping the perpetual. Moving the B allows Rg8+; black's pin is a discovered attack for white. 14...Nc6 15 Nc3 Qf7. White will eventually gain a positional advantage with the open f-file. I prefer white. 

@Condor:
OK no hard feelings.
In var II. I skipped a move in my mind.
The variation should run
13.Rxg4,Qh5   
Now white should take some action because the pin on Rg4 and the
threat Bd4+.
14.Nc3
The most logical continuation eliminating the pin
14......, Qc5+
15.Kh1 and either a perpetual or 15....Bxc3 16.bxc Nd7 and black is more than OK as he prepares castling long.

In variation I.
10.Nxf7 does not convince me entirely as the best white can hope
for is two pawns for a piece and some vague attacking chances:

10........  Kxf7
11.Bxf4, Bxf4
12.Rxf4, Nf6           (12.Qc1 is another idea, but it seems to lack power)
13.Bxh5+,Kg7
and it seems that white's attack is not entirely sufficient as compensation. 

Still from a practical point of view, I would preferr variation II
playing with a half point in hand.