Context : Liberal evolution of interacting binaries has been proposed previously by several authors in order to meet various observed binary characteristics better than conservative evolution does .
Since Algols are eclipsing binaries the distribution of their orbital periods is precisely known .
The distribution of their mass ratios contains however more uncertainties .
We try to reproduce these two distributions theoretically using a liberal scenario in which the gainer star can lose mass into interstellar space as a consequence of its rapid rotation and the energy of a hot spot .

Aims : In a recent paper ( Van Rensbergen et al .
2010 , A \& A ) we calculated the liberal evolution of binaries with a B-type primary at birth where mass transfer starts during core hydrogen burning of the donor .
In this paper we include the cases where mass transfer starts during hydrogen shell burning and it is our aim to reproduce the observed distributions of the system parameters of Algol-type semi-detached systems .

Methods : Our calculations reveal the amount of time that an Algol binary lives with a well defined value of mass ratio and orbital period .
We use these data to simulate the distribution of mass ratios and orbital periods of Algols .

Results : Binaries with a late B-type initial primary hardly lose any mass whereas those with an early B primary evolve in a non-conservative way .
Conservative binary evolution predicts only \sim 12 \% of Algols with a mass ratio q above 0.4 .
This value is raised up to \sim 17 \% using our scenario of liberal evolution , which is still far below the \sim 45 \% that is observed .

Conclusions : Observed orbital periods of Algol binaries larger than one day are faithfully reproduced by our liberal scenario .
Mass ratios are reproduced better than with conservative evolution , but the resemblance is still poor .