my win rate as white with this opening is..97%

no, seriously. i played this opening as white exclusively. it's not easy to refute.

I played a line commonly given as a refutation (one mentioned by GM Larry Kaufmann) against RosarioVampire and was whipped thoroughly. It is a tough gambit to face. That, and I'm not of the caliber to refute it.

I believe the line you're referring to is the Hans Berliner "refutation".  Frankly, I don't see how returning the material can ever be considered a refutation since doing so tacitly acknowledges that the gambit is sound. 

In practical terms, there's definitely something to be said for avoiding the kind of irrational positions that experienced Halloween players crave.  In OTB situations returning the material is often the most sensible course of action but in CC where time isn't a factor, it strikes me as unambitious to return the gift for the sake of simplicity.  By giving up the knight white has thrown down the gauntlet.  Call the surgeon and grab the seconds, it's pistols at dawn.  There's a point that needs proving....

Do I think the gambit is sound?  No.  Definitely not.  It's absolutely possible for black to refute the gambit with maximum violence (i.e. without giving back a single bit of material).  It just isn't easy.  And you probably need to be titled or an experienced Halloween player before you stand any chance of success.

It's a great gambit. 

 Sorry, but in this position, ( after 9. .. Qe7 )  playing Ba3 is not the right idea.

Main line is 10.0-0  after which black has several possibilities, but only one good move.

10.h4  can also be played.

Right, Ba3 was my mistake. You shouldn't play that due to no follow up. 0-0 is the main line after that.

Trust gambitlover. He definitely knows how to play the Halloween gambit!

One surprising option for Black is 4. ... Nxe5 5. d4 Nc6 6. d5 Bb4 7. dxc6 bxc6= transposing to the main line of the Scotch Four Knights Game (compare 4. d4 exd4 5. Nxd4 Bb4 6. Nxc6 bxc6).

Now we see if White knows his theory .

Theoretically the Scotch Four Knights is so wimpy for White it makes its Spanish cousin look like a cutting edge opening by comparison.

There's a great .pdf file for it at:

http://www.chessville.com/UCO/Halloween_Gambit/UON13HalloweenGambit.pdf

Analyzes lots of lines in the opening, gives advice on how to meet it, etc...  good luck, it's tough!

EDIT: I've deleted this post since it turns out asking for advice about an ongoing game violates the rules. I didn't think asking for advice about an opening was any different than seeking advice from an openings book, but if its a violation of the rules, then I won't do it.

The .pdf suggests Qe2!, and says that 8... Qe7 was bad.

But after Qe2, you merely win a knight at the expense of 2 pawns.  Sure, you wreck black's pawn structure, and you're able to castle king-side, but to me - doesn't seem really game-breaking.  Is there a better response?

i was thinking  Qe2 as well for a response. I'm curious what others here would do.

I'm going ahead with Qe2. hope its not a tactical error. LOL!

Becareful rationalredneck for if the game is on going on CC, it's against the rules to seek out side help!

The UON pdf is correct.  After 8..Qe7 9.Qe2 white has a solid advantage due to the huge lead in development and complete dominance of the center.  The threat of 10.d6 cxd6 11.Nd5 Qd8 12.Nc7! is so severe that black can't retreat the knight with 9...Ng8 and expect to survive.

Qe4!!

Come on guys.

The game is ongoing - so no help should be given.

This isn't vote chess.

Manchero is completely right, you should not discuss a game that is still in progress on this site.

oh sorry. didn't know. okay after the game I'll post it for folks to analyze. 

Kaufman's "refutation" goes 4...Nxe5 5.d4 Nc6 6.d5 Bb4 7.dxc6 Nxe4 8.Qd4.  Berliner's "refutation" goes 5...Ng6 6.e5 Ng8 7.Bc4 d5 8.Bxd5 c6 9.Bb3.  The foremost expert on the Halloween, Dutch IM Maurits Wind, doesn't play either of these lines as black, and in both cases, the statistics seem to favour white.  Those looking for a refutation would probably do better to look elsewhere.

I always seem to confuse who created what....

Of the two, I much prefer to face Berliner's line since it's still quite winnable.  Kaufman's line is ugly and drawish but that's about it.

The problem with these "refutations" is that neither one of them gives black a good chance to win.  Call me crazy but after white sacrifices a knight, I no longer think a draw is an acceptable result.  Anything less than 0-1 and I feel I've failed to prove the sacrifice is unsound.

I've said it before in these forums but in my view, the nearest thing to a true refutation is: 7...d6 8.Qf3 f5!  Fortunately, no one has ever listened because the only people who ever seem to play this line are a handful of Halloween enthusiasts....

i've used it a few times with both wins and losses.

I was shoked when found this gambit. It looking incredible. I play chess a long time but never seen this gambit before. 

I has created new thematic tournament for halloween gambit. All people which like this gambit - you are welcome:  http://www.chess.com/tournament/halloween-gambit8

PS. Sorry if I posted in the wrong topic. Just let me know and I'll remove my message.