# A friendly game of Mornington Crescent **URL:** \ **Category:** Thread Games\ **Created:** [December 29, 2020, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-friendly-game-of-mornington-crescent/929179 "2020-12-29T14:45:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Dead\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9fc29f/32.png) [@Dead\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Cat)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2020, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-friendly-game-of-mornington-crescent/929179/1 "2020-12-29T14:45:09Z")
It seems to me high time we had another round of this marvellous game; hopefully others will feel the same and join us. I suggest we use Gummeridge’s 1957 rules, and for the Jubilee Line I think Portlock & Watlingham’s 2002 treatise can be considered definitive. No DLR play, of course - any such attempts will cause the offender to lose Runcing rights for 2 turns. I’ll start with the dull but safe opener Queensway. New and old players welcome - if anyone needs clarification of the rules, us older hands will be more than happy to help. It’s usually clearer to put actual plays in bold, in case side-discussion of stations is needed. ---
**Author:** ![eburacum\_45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eburacum_45/32/3385_2.png) [@eburacum\_45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eburacum_45)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2020, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-friendly-game-of-mornington-crescent/929179/2 "2020-12-29T14:57:28Z")
Debden. It’s a bit early in the game for anything too aggressive. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2020, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-friendly-game-of-mornington-crescent/929179/3 "2020-12-29T15:49:50Z")
But never too early for a transfer exchange - **Willesden Junction** ---
**Author:** ![Dead\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9fc29f/32.png) [@Dead\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Cat)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2020, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-friendly-game-of-mornington-crescent/929179/4 "2020-12-29T15:53:01Z")
Good grief - I said this was a friendly. Ah well, so be it: Elephant & Castle. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2020, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-friendly-game-of-mornington-crescent/929179/5 "2020-12-29T17:53:01Z")
Theydon Bois what?..you think I was born yesterday? ---
**Author:** ![Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiendish_astronaut/32/3295_2.png) [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiendish_Astronaut)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2020, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-friendly-game-of-mornington-crescent/929179/6 "2020-12-29T17:59:04Z")
Bounds Green …although I’m not sure if that’s a legal move. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2020, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-friendly-game-of-mornington-crescent/929179/7 "2020-12-29T21:01:43Z")
Technically, no, since by default we’re playing in GMT, But as this is a friendly and we’re online let’s agree to operate under the Colonial Codicil, assuming that at least one player is in a conforming time zone. Is everyone OK with that? Anyway, because of the no DLR rule I can’t play my usual Royal Albert, so **Hammersmith** it is. ---
**Author:** ![Dead\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9fc29f/32.png) [@Dead\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Cat)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2020, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-friendly-game-of-mornington-crescent/929179/8 "2020-12-29T22:06:41Z")
Seems eminently reasonable to me. But then again, I am currently on GMT myself, so I would say that. I’ll try a lateral move to Ealing Broadway, collecting three wood. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2020, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-friendly-game-of-mornington-crescent/929179/9 "2020-12-30T18:23:48Z")
Theydon Bois again! Once more and I get to claim “Shatner’s Bassoon”! ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2020, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-friendly-game-of-mornington-crescent/929179/10 "2020-12-31T01:14:42Z")
We are _ **not** _ dealing with Shatner’s on my watch. **West Rulslip** via overnight shunting, laying two stones on the Piccadilly. ---
**Author:** ![Dead\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9fc29f/32.png) [@Dead\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Cat)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2020, 7:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-friendly-game-of-mornington-crescent/929179/11 "2020-12-31T07:03:36Z")
Quite agree, so I’ll overlook the typo, though it could be important later. I’ll try **South Kensington** , though it does put me at some risk of a traverse. I can live with that - if it’s good enough for Bartlett, who am I to argue? ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2020, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-friendly-game-of-mornington-crescent/929179/12 "2020-12-31T14:55:37Z")
I’m going to steal with **Judiciary Square** under the Yank’s Privilege. ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2020, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-friendly-game-of-mornington-crescent/929179/13 "2020-12-31T17:05:46Z")
I hope **Wedding** is allowed according to Occupation Rules. I know it is in [Berlin](https://schumanchu.eu/html/r1/r1_00145wedding.html), but it was close to the British Sector. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2020, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-friendly-game-of-mornington-crescent/929179/14 "2020-12-31T17:27:08Z")
Because this is a friendly I see no reason to quibble and I think your interpretation is most common. Especially after my cock up spelling during the last round. Bringing us back to diurnal orientation I’ll go with **Tooting Bec** even though technically I should be using its original name for the Nibs. ---
**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2020, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-friendly-game-of-mornington-crescent/929179/15 "2020-12-31T20:16:28Z")
> [@Dead\_Cat](#): > > Seems eminently reasonable to me. But then again, I am currently on GMT myself, so I would say that. > > I’ll try a lateral move to Ealing Broadway, collecting three wood. Embankment would have earned 5w. Anyway… _ **Temple** _ ---
**Author:** ![Dead\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9fc29f/32.png) [@Dead\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Cat)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2021, 9:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-friendly-game-of-mornington-crescent/929179/16 "2021-01-01T09:59:22Z")
Bother, you’re quite right. No matter, I didn’t want to be lumbered with too much anyway. I must say I’m not familiar with these foreign gambits, but in the spirit of international co-operation and goodwill, I’m very happy to roll with it. Let’s make a stand at **Tower Hill**. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2021, 10:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-friendly-game-of-mornington-crescent/929179/17 "2021-01-01T10:11:23Z")
As the UK left the EU last night I’m going to play “Westminster” and invoke Carruthers’s high-relevance gambit. ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2021, 11:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-friendly-game-of-mornington-crescent/929179/18 "2021-01-01T11:13:53Z")
Very pertinent. Returning from Berlin and abusing **Telemark** ’s magnanimity with the friendly rules I will then stop in Brussels on my way back to London through the Chunnel and play [**Erasmus**](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erasmus_metro_station), in memory of the best programm the EU ever launched. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2021, 11:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-friendly-game-of-mornington-crescent/929179/19 "2021-01-01T11:36:02Z")
So you’re telling me that the Chunnel is open after the Brexit deal, it’s New Year’s Day, and the Prince of Cambridge’s Exception is in effect? In that case, I play **Mornington Crescent** , but I REFUSE to accept a victory on the basis that Palmerston’s Rule would deem it unsportsmanlike, and yield the advantage to the player three seats to my left. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2021, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-friendly-game-of-mornington-crescent/929179/20 "2021-01-04T16:27:20Z")
OK, I’m not sure what precedent to follow here. We could invoke Palmerston’s Rule as mentioned, or rely on the Bypass Overload to simply rule the previous play reversed on account of inclement weather during the New Year Holiday schedule. The end result is the same for this game but it would matter for scoring each player’s IBMC Rating. I guess we’ll work that all out as play progresses, but I’m not in line for next play. We left off at **Erasmus** then. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-friendly-game-of-mornington-crescent/929179.md?page=2)