# 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:** 16
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2025, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-friendly-game-of-mornington-crescent/929179/301 "2025-07-28T22:30:33Z")
Holy shit, I can’t believe y’all left this open… with the _Foggy Morning Third_ I’m sliding right into **Blackfriars**! ---
**Author:** ![penultima\_thule](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penultima_thule/32/3833_2.png) [@penultima\_thule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/penultima_thule)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2025, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-friendly-game-of-mornington-crescent/929179/302 "2025-07-28T22:41:31Z")
Now there is a tip for any newbies watching or even playing along. Beware the _bonhomie_ of the battle-scarred warriors. Beware the iron fist in the velvet glove approach. All this discussion of playing the freewheeling, bohemian “New Revised” or “Advanced” rules is merely a pretext to draw you into a rookie error allowing them mercilessly skewer you with a pre-Great War rail spike. They might well craft the outward impression of being some Great Uncle Bulgaria, but they are assassins in anoraks. Play defensively is the sage advice. Count your tokens … and your fingers. Methinks that with its encumbrance of having “no step free access to Jubilee until autumn 2025” that **Green Park** is my best reflection of that strategy, whichever rule set is currently in vogue. ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2025, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-friendly-game-of-mornington-crescent/929179/303 "2025-07-28T22:48:12Z")
For the first deuce: (x2) West Acton ---
**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:** [July 29, 2025, 11:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-friendly-game-of-mornington-crescent/929179/304 "2025-07-29T11:17:12Z")
Holy Shit !! I wasn’t expecting that ! I was hoping to play Blackfriars, but instead I’ll go with … **Temple** ---
**Author:** ![Cardigan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardigan/32/187_2.png) [@Cardigan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardigan)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2025, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-friendly-game-of-mornington-crescent/929179/305 "2025-07-29T11:55:46Z")
**Pjd** , I would remind you, you’re still under enidment for that reverse skip. Maybe that was very much on your mind, or perhaps you were simply in a generous mood. Either way, I’m willing to spend a token and ‘seize control of the center’ as it were… **Piccadilly Circus**. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2025, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-friendly-game-of-mornington-crescent/929179/306 "2025-07-29T12:30:03Z")
I’m invoking the Right of Turley’s Wood, with the 2nd Maneuver variation. **Becontree** ---
**Author:** ![penultima\_thule](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penultima_thule/32/3833_2.png) [@penultima\_thule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/penultima_thule)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2025, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-friendly-game-of-mornington-crescent/929179/307 "2025-07-29T12:40:31Z")
Well isn’t that just egregious? Necessary? Maybe. Methinks I’ll need to exploit the opportunity pick up some legal advice, and a handful of blue tokens by consulting Rumpole and defraying to **Gloucester Road**. ---
**Author:** ![Cardigan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardigan/32/187_2.png) [@Cardigan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardigan)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2025, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-friendly-game-of-mornington-crescent/929179/308 "2025-07-29T12:54:03Z")
I’m going to exercise my first terminus option: **Wimbledon**. (presents blue badge) ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2025, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-friendly-game-of-mornington-crescent/929179/309 "2025-07-29T13:57:37Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > I’m invoking the Right of Turley’s Wood, with the 2nd Maneuver variation. Please do try to keep up. The 2nd Maneuver of Turley’s Wood was ruled illegal in last year’s Bishop Sutton conference (§ III B iv a), wiping away these recent gains. This opens the Thames Link to play. **Maze Hill** ---
**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:** [July 29, 2025, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-friendly-game-of-mornington-crescent/929179/310 "2025-07-29T14:13:01Z")
That forces me to switch from the Camden Town I had planned to the adjacent **Camden Road**. Which is pretty close to our ultimate goal but on a different line. ---
**Author:** ![Cardigan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardigan/32/187_2.png) [@Cardigan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardigan)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2025, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-friendly-game-of-mornington-crescent/929179/311 "2025-07-29T15:10:07Z")
A completely different line, you say? You mean like, **Kew Gardens** ---
**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:** [July 29, 2025, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-friendly-game-of-mornington-crescent/929179/312 "2025-07-29T15:38:09Z")
> [@Cardigan](#): > > **Pjd** , I would remind you, you’re still under enidment for that reverse skip. According to google AI, .. > No, Mercury is not in retrograde right now. According to astrology sites, the current retrograde period ended on August 11, 2025. [Cite.](https://www.google.com/search?q=is+mercury+in+retrograde+right+now&newwindow=1&sca_esv=f74d7b244621f2cc&source=hp&ei=xOmIaIjrI67AhbIP3qKL0A8&iflsig=AOw8s4IAAAAAaIj31I-ufHbZO78h22jy7CCSsd-uEMUY&oq=is+mercury+in+retr&gs_lp=Egdnd3Mtd2l6IhJpcyBtZXJjdXJ5IGluIHJldHIqAggBMggQABiABBixAzILEAAYgAQYsQMYgwEyBRAAGIAEMgUQABiABDIFEAAYgAQyBRAAGIAEMgUQABiABDIFEAAYgAQyBRAAGIAEMgUQABiABEi-L1AAWMsmcAB4AJABAJgBmwOgAdoYqgEJNi43LjIuMi4xuAEDyAEA-AEBmAISoALQGsICDhAuGIAEGLEDGNEDGMcBwgIFEC4YgATCAggQLhiABBixA8ICDhAuGIAEGLEDGIMBGIoFwgIREC4YgAQYsQMY0QMYgwEYxwHCAgsQLhiABBixAxiDAcICCxAuGIAEGLEDGMcDmAMAkgcJNS43LjMuMS4yoAfPeLIHCTUuNy4zLjEuMrgH0BrCBwoyLTYuMTAuMS4xyAffAQ&sclient=gws-wiz) ..so the enidment is invalid - or at least not valid. Anyway … **Stamford Brook** ---
**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:** [July 29, 2025, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-friendly-game-of-mornington-crescent/929179/313 "2025-07-29T17:08:00Z")
> [@pjd](#): > > the current retrograde period ended on August 11, 2025 I know AI is pretty futuristic, but I wonder what day they think they are living through, the poor things. For me I am still stuck in Juli 2025. Anyway: **Poplar** ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2025, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-friendly-game-of-mornington-crescent/929179/314 "2025-07-30T12:07:36Z")
I can’t believe y’all left open the Fifth Barron’s Sweep… **Morning to Crescent** ---
**Author:** ![Cardigan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardigan/32/187_2.png) [@Cardigan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardigan)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2025, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-friendly-game-of-mornington-crescent/929179/315 "2025-07-30T12:14:59Z")
Bravo! Well done, sir! we have a dark horse champion ---
**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:** [July 30, 2025, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-friendly-game-of-mornington-crescent/929179/316 "2025-07-30T12:23:42Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > I’m new to this game, > [@iiandyiiii](#): > > I hope someone will tell me if I’m breaking any rules, new as I am to the game… > [@iiandyiiii](#): > > Definitely a newbie move! I think I’ll watch for a bit just to make sure I get the hang of it. Yeah, right ! ---
**Author:** ![Cardigan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardigan/32/187_2.png) [@Cardigan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardigan)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2025, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-friendly-game-of-mornington-crescent/929179/317 "2025-07-30T12:27:12Z")
MC in only 25 moves is one for the record books. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2025, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-friendly-game-of-mornington-crescent/929179/318 "2025-07-30T12:35:48Z")
Thank you. It was as much luck as anything else. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2025, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-friendly-game-of-mornington-crescent/929179/319 "2025-07-30T19:03:09Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > I can’t believe y’all left open the Fifth Barron’s Sweep… > > **Morning to Crescent** Holy shit, I just realized that autocorrect screwed up my play. What do the rules say? My move might be invalid! ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2025, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-friendly-game-of-mornington-crescent/929179/320 "2025-07-30T19:11:36Z")
This recalls the 1978 _St. Pancras Misstep_, where the panel ruled a garbled call invalid not because of unclear intent, but because the malformed phrase accidentally introduced a **nonexistent node** (“Morn’ton”), effectively creating a phantom station and breaking the chain of play. Likewise, “Morning to Crescent” invents an intermediate junction (“Morning”) and thus cannot be recognized under the Fifth Barron’s Sweep. Capitalizing on the void, the next legal move would be **Chalk Farm** , forcing a northern loop and cutting off any direct return to the Circle Line. A shame, really, as it otherwise would have been one of the most brilliant moves I’d ever seen, claims of luck notwithstanding. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-friendly-game-of-mornington-crescent/929179.md?page=15) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-friendly-game-of-mornington-crescent/929179.md?page=17)