Re. "the opening", I meant the Hampe-Allgaier branch rather than the Mason Gambit as a whole- I hope I've made that clear! Note that 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nc3 Nc6 transposes directly to the Vienna Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.f4 exf4) so if 3.Nc3 is insufficient due to 3...Nc6 so is the Vienna Gambit against 2...Nc6.
As it happens, checking MNb's lines:
(1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nc3 Nc6 4.Nf3 g5 5.h4 g4 6.Ng5 h6 7.Nxf7 Kxf7 8.d4 Nf6)
A: 9.Bxf4 Bb4 10.Bd3 d6 11.Qd2 (I prefer 11.0-0 for the reasons I gave before) 11...Kg7 12.0-0-0 Nxd4 13.e5 Nh5! indeed looks much better for Black.
B: 9.Bc4+ d5 10.Nxd5 f3 11.gxf3 Kg7 12.Nxf6 (12.c3!?) 12...Qxf6 13.e5 (13.Be3!?) 13...Qf5 14.Be3 looks unclear/equal to me. White now has two pawns for the piece as well as attacking chances and a strong centre.
I see Micawber also suggested 3...Qh4+ 4.Ke2 Qe7, and I found a source on it here:
http://www.kjcchess.com/gambitopeningg0.html The conclusion of that article was quoted in Chess Monthly at a column where the late Mike Fox (a devotee of 3.Nc3) and Richard James used to comment on random stuff. Hansen,LB: 'This game could be a serious blow to the 3.Nc3 line in the Kings Gambit.'
After 3...Qh4+ 4.Ke2 Qe7 5.d3 Nf6 6.Bxf4 d5 7.Kd2 (this is indeed probably best), Fritz 10 suggests 7...d4, e.g. 8.Nd5 Nxd5 9.exd5 g5 10.Qh5 Qb4+ 11.Kd1 Qxb2 12.Rc1, which might give an edge for Black- though admittedly it's exactly the sort of chaotic position that a 3.Nc3 aficionado would feel at home in! Maybe you are right that 5.d3 is the best reply.
5.Kf2!? (mentioned by Micawber) might be worth a look, since the draw offer 5...Qh4+ can be met by 6.g3 fxg3+ 7.Kg2 gxh2 8.Rxh2. I don't believe White has enough compensation here, but I imagine that fans of the line could have a lot of fun with this in rapid games.
Quote:My conclusion, the variation is perfect as a surprise weapon till probably just below topgrandmaster level. However against a prepared strong black player I think it is very risky.
I agree with that assessment, both for the Hampe-Allgaier branch that arises from 3.Nc3 Nc6 and the Mason Gambit as a whole.