# 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:** 2
**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 4, 2021, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-friendly-game-of-mornington-crescent/929179/21 "2021-01-04T16:55:40Z")
Sorry, I saw this the other day but wasn’t in a position to double-check my copy of the rules, as they’re saved on my laptop. Having done so, I see my first instinct was correct - namely, that while it is not in fact possible to play Mornington Crescent without claiming victory (Palmerston’s Rule was discredited in 1936 on the discovery of his involvement with some rather unsavoury betting rings), the Prince of Cambridge’s exception is only playable in leap years. So I’m afraid your play was invalid - missed it by _that_ much! That being the case, I shall continue with **Leicester Square** , closing all the down escalators. ---
**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, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-friendly-game-of-mornington-crescent/929179/22 "2021-01-04T17:17:19Z")
Leicester Square?! On a Monday? You are a brave deceased feline. I’m not sure this is wise, as we may end up getting bogged down in the suburbs, but **Upton Park** via Hammersmith & City. ---
**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 4, 2021, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-friendly-game-of-mornington-crescent/929179/23 "2021-01-04T18:54:14Z")
Nonsense! **Dollis Hill** ---
**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:** [January 6, 2021, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-friendly-game-of-mornington-crescent/929179/24 "2021-01-06T21:07:16Z")
**Arsenal** ---
**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 6, 2021, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-friendly-game-of-mornington-crescent/929179/25 "2021-01-06T22:34:46Z")
I thought someone might do that, so I prepared this cunning riposte: **Dollis Hill** ---
**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 7, 2021, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-friendly-game-of-mornington-crescent/929179/26 "2021-01-07T02:34:39Z")
Wait, what? Back to Dollis Hill, presumably this time it’s inbound, no? Interesting. I believe that means Wilson’s gambit is active, at least for the next 3 turns. We could take this a few ways, but how about **Brent Cross** ---
**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 7, 2021, 7:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-friendly-game-of-mornington-crescent/929179/27 "2021-01-07T07:47:48Z")
Yes, that all makes sense. That being the case: **Dollis Hill** ---
**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 25, 2021, 9:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-friendly-game-of-mornington-crescent/929179/28 "2021-01-25T09:16:30Z")
Ooh, a rare chance to invoke Curran’s amendment to rule VII(b) (“If no move is played for more than 16 calendar days, the previous player may collect rent on all escalators west of Earl’s Court, and play again.”). **West Ruislip** ---
**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:** [February 15, 2021, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-friendly-game-of-mornington-crescent/929179/29 "2021-02-15T21:47:02Z")
**Blackfriars.** ---
**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:** [February 16, 2021, 9:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-friendly-game-of-mornington-crescent/929179/30 "2021-02-16T09:16:08Z")
Ooh, a dastardly riposte, no doubt hoping to sneak in and grab some escalators of your own. I cannot let that stand, I’m afraid: **Limehouse** ---
**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:** [February 25, 2021, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-friendly-game-of-mornington-crescent/929179/31 "2021-02-25T16:10:58Z")
Are we still playing on GMT? If so, I’d like to invoke the Left Turn Rule, first described by the Second Earl of Normanby at the 1915 Nationals. **All Saints** ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.winston_oboogie/32/2945_2.png) [@Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Winston_OBoogie)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2021, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-friendly-game-of-mornington-crescent/929179/32 "2021-02-25T18:23:09Z")
Ugly American here, trying to understand the rules. Not making this as a move, mind you, but would it be a proper move here to say _Shadwell_? ---
**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:** [February 25, 2021, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-friendly-game-of-mornington-crescent/929179/33 "2021-02-25T20:17:30Z")
…depends what you mean by proper… it’s certainly legal (i think - there are several rules in play here and i can’t be bothered to check them all). Actually, it’s not a bad move, so i’ll play it and we’ll see what develops :- **Shadwell** ---
**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:** [February 25, 2021, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-friendly-game-of-mornington-crescent/929179/34 "2021-02-25T21:01:21Z")
That is a very bold play, not least because it closes off the eastern side of the map for the next few turns. Now - note that Shadwell has a walking connection. That will allow me to take **Park Royal** , and if I play my cards right, under Lord Gilbert Timothy George Lariston Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound’s ruling in the 1979 friendly held in Fort William, I might be able to claim Mornington Crescent is five rounds. **Park Royal** ---
**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:** [February 26, 2021, 11:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-friendly-game-of-mornington-crescent/929179/35 "2021-02-26T11:09:07Z")
Well, this has taken a nasty turn. I’ll go back to **South Kensington** , even though it will cost me an arm and a peg. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2021, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-friendly-game-of-mornington-crescent/929179/36 "2021-02-26T12:20:21Z")
That makes **Victoria** irresistable to me, at least for now, since I understand that the next edition will make train stations far too susceptible to platforming, an understandable hypercorrection to the overpowered and beardy Elmer Gambit. ---
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2021, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-friendly-game-of-mornington-crescent/929179/37 "2021-02-26T12:39:04Z")
You see how on the tube map Mornington Crescent slots neatly into the western branch of the Northern line? In the REAL WORLD, the station is situated on the eastern-most tracks, which means we’re living in a mirror world. Therefore, west is east and east is west. **Euston** is due south in either case, so I’m due there. ---
**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:** [February 26, 2021, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-friendly-game-of-mornington-crescent/929179/38 "2021-02-26T13:14:06Z")
There are still two days left in the month of February, so presumably (unabridged) American rules are still playable. Seeing as how this round is intended to be a ‘friendly’ game, I trust no one will object if I stop at **Baker Street** ---
**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:** [February 26, 2021, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-friendly-game-of-mornington-crescent/929179/39 "2021-02-26T14:36:38Z")
Oh yes, American rules are in force until noon Sunday local time, per Wharncliffe. I trust we _are_ allowing Wharncliffe. That has been standard since '68. **Marylebone** ---
**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:** [February 26, 2021, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-friendly-game-of-mornington-crescent/929179/40 "2021-02-26T14:55:24Z")
Aha - Morningto… no, wait more than half of the last 5 moves have been mainline stations. Curses! In that case, I will take a terminus: **Amersham**. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-friendly-game-of-mornington-crescent/929179.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-friendly-game-of-mornington-crescent/929179.md?page=3)