# Anyone for a game of Mornington Crescent? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [February 1, 2011, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-for-a-game-of-mornington-crescent/569786 "2011-02-01T15:23:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 12
**Author:** ![Oswald\_Bastable](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oswald_bastable/32/214_2.png) [@Oswald\_Bastable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oswald_Bastable)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2011, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-for-a-game-of-mornington-crescent/569786/221 "2011-07-07T12:47:40Z")
> [@Mollie\_Magill](#): > > It looks like we’re setting up for triple stirrups again. As I’m entering the game late, and following the Jughashvili Intervention Ruling (Uckfield, 1987, I think), it seems I can help us all out while giving myself a rather nice little foothold. How does **Manor House** sound? Worried much? OB ---
**Author:** ![Precambrianmollusc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/precambrianmollusc/32/63_2.png) [@Precambrianmollusc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Precambrianmollusc)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2011, 7:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-for-a-game-of-mornington-crescent/569786/222 "2011-07-08T07:13:26Z")
> [@Oswald\_Bastable](#): > > As I’m entering the game late, and following the Jughashvili Intervention Ruling (Uckfield, 1987, I think), it seems I can help us all out while giving myself a rather nice little foothold. > > How does **Manor House** sound? Worried much? > > OB Hmmmm, maybe, maybe not. Lancaster Gate ---
**Author:** ![Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Attack_from_the_3rd_dimension)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2011, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-for-a-game-of-mornington-crescent/569786/223 "2011-07-18T14:04:08Z")
HA! PINNER!\* Incidentally,[the Wikipedia entry for Pinner](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinner) states at the end of the history section that the streets are paved with platinum. ---
**Author:** ![Scuba\_Ben](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/278dde/32.png) [@Scuba\_Ben](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scuba_Ben)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2011, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-for-a-game-of-mornington-crescent/569786/224 "2011-07-18T15:00:14Z")
**Red card on Attack from the 3rd dimension** for vandalising a public trust. Meanwhile I’ll scramble everybody’s plans with the old favourite **Dollis Hill**. ---
**Author:** ![Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Attack_from_the_3rd_dimension)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2011, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-for-a-game-of-mornington-crescent/569786/225 "2011-07-18T16:25:01Z")
> [@Scuba\_Ben](#): > > **Red card on Attack from the 3rd dimension** for vandalising a public trust. > > Meanwhile I’ll scramble everybody’s plans with the old favourite **Dollis Hill**. I found it. I din’t do it. Unless you mean paving the streets with platinum. I did do that. ---
**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:** [July 24, 2011, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-for-a-game-of-mornington-crescent/569786/226 "2011-07-24T17:46:12Z")
Just returned from a week away, pleased to find I am still in the game. After full consideration of my options, I find that the best one appears to be: **Dollis Hill**. ---
**Author:** ![Precambrianmollusc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/precambrianmollusc/32/63_2.png) [@Precambrianmollusc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Precambrianmollusc)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2011, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-for-a-game-of-mornington-crescent/569786/227 "2011-07-26T03:22:59Z")
Then henceforth to Chancery Lane I see MC in 5 for one lucky oik ---
**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:** [July 26, 2011, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-for-a-game-of-mornington-crescent/569786/228 "2011-07-26T12:38:10Z")
I remain to be convinced. **Dollis Hill**. ---
**Author:** ![Scuba\_Ben](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/278dde/32.png) [@Scuba\_Ben](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scuba_Ben)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2011, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-for-a-game-of-mornington-crescent/569786/229 "2011-07-26T16:25:54Z")
I don’t see any definite route to MC either. If you have one, Precambrian, please lay it out. **Gants Hill** to block. ---
**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:** [July 26, 2011, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-for-a-game-of-mornington-crescent/569786/230 "2011-07-26T21:19:42Z")
Sorry, folks, I’m afraid it has to be **Dollis Hill** again for me. A little help here? ---
**Author:** ![Precambrianmollusc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/precambrianmollusc/32/63_2.png) [@Precambrianmollusc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Precambrianmollusc)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2011, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-for-a-game-of-mornington-crescent/569786/231 "2011-07-27T03:38:30Z")
It is Purbeck, Lime and Stones depositional play, I thought it had weathered the test of time well, but apparently not. Chalk Farm is the only place to go from here, and I still maintain someone is close. Or I may be bluffing to draw out some rash defensive plays. Or not Or maybe. Or not. ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2011, 8:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-for-a-game-of-mornington-crescent/569786/232 "2011-07-27T08:46:49Z")
You were right earlier, it was just five moves away! **Mornington Crescent** ---
**Author:** ![Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Attack_from_the_3rd_dimension)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2011, 10:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-for-a-game-of-mornington-crescent/569786/233 "2011-07-27T10:23:37Z")
Congratulations, well done. Nice and sneaky. ---
**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:** [July 27, 2011, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-for-a-game-of-mornington-crescent/569786/234 "2011-07-27T12:20:48Z")
That is a true brilliancy for the modern age - well struck, sir! I completely didn’t see that coming, being certain that until the Dollis Hill loop was not only broken but completely decommissioned, MC was not even possible, never mind likely. But of course I was forgetting the earlier elimination of the red tokens. I’ll have to check, but I think a similar incident occurred in the quarter-final of Bagguley’s famous world championship victory in 1974. Sadly, my copy of the relevant Mornington Crescent Gazette was damaged by a flood last winter, so I’ll need to go the British Library to find out for sure. ---
**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 27, 2011, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-for-a-game-of-mornington-crescent/569786/235 "2011-07-27T12:25:18Z")
> [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](#): > > You were right earlier, it was just five moves away! > > **Mornington Crescent** Wait a second. Let me check the sequence. Double stirrups. One red token out. Dollis Hill Chancery Lane Dollis Hill Gants Hill Dollis Hill Chalk Farm (That got us on the Northen line after three stations on the Jubilee line.) Mornington Crescent I see nothing wrong here. Beautiful play, and congratulations to **Tapioca Dextrin** for seeing through the clutter. ---
**Author:** ![Precambrianmollusc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/precambrianmollusc/32/63_2.png) [@Precambrianmollusc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Precambrianmollusc)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2011, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-for-a-game-of-mornington-crescent/569786/236 "2011-07-28T00:14:31Z")
Not the oik I was thinking of, but marvelous play Tapioca, hope you appreciated the Chalk Farm play, some of my ancestors were involved in developing that. ---
**Author:** ![Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Attack_from_the_3rd_dimension)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2011, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-for-a-game-of-mornington-crescent/569786/237 "2011-07-28T00:18:11Z")
> [@Precambrianmollusc](#): > > Not the oik I was thinking of, but marvelous play Tapioca, hope you appreciated the Chalk Farm play, some of my ancestors were involved in developing that. How many ancestors can a precambrian mollusc have? I thought you were nearly the beginning. ---
**Author:** ![coremelt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@coremelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coremelt)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2011, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-for-a-game-of-mornington-crescent/569786/238 "2011-07-31T04:11:20Z")
> [@Mollie\_Magill](#): > > Wait a second. Let me check the sequence. > > Double stirrups. One red token out. > > Dollis Hill > Chancery Lane > Dollis Hill > Gants Hill > Dollis Hill > Chalk Farm (That got us on the Northen line after three stations on the Jubilee line.) > > Mornington Crescent > > I see nothing wrong here. Beautiful play, and congratulations to **Tapioca Dextrin** for seeing through the clutter. Sir, I object, surely you know that the 1916 Calcutta convention specifically barred a return to stations starting with D within 5 moves when double stirrups are in play? By my calculations we need to step back 3 moves, put 2 green tokens into play and continue from where we were, of course thats taking into account the 1924 Peshawar amendment to the Calcutta convention. So I say London Bridge, its the only sensible move from Dollis Hill when green tokens are in play. ---
**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 31, 2011, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-for-a-game-of-mornington-crescent/569786/239 "2011-07-31T14:14:31Z")
> [@coremelt](#): > > Sir, I object, surely you know that the 1916 Calcutta convention specifically barred a return to stations starting with D within 5 moves when double stirrups are in play? You’ve obviously missed the retraction of Calcutta-1916. I’d hate a repetition of the proceedings here. They did not go well. There was a fire. ---
**Author:** ![coremelt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@coremelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coremelt)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2011, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-for-a-game-of-mornington-crescent/569786/240 "2011-08-01T00:51:51Z")
> [@Mollie\_Magill](#): > > You’ve obviously missed the retraction of Calcutta-1916. I’d hate a repetition of the proceedings here. > > They did not go well. There was a fire. Well if you’re playing by those retracted rules, sirs, I leave you to your own devices. I don’t waste my time with philistines! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-for-a-game-of-mornington-crescent/569786.md?page=11) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-for-a-game-of-mornington-crescent/569786.md?page=13)