# 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:** 4
**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:** [April 22, 2011, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-for-a-game-of-mornington-crescent/569786/61 "2011-04-22T12:32:06Z")
Thanks to **RickJay** for clarifying that - good to see that most of us in this game are well up on the latest rules. > [@Michael\_of\_Lucan](#): > > I’m not sure that Holy Week Rules apply under the Islington Standard - are you thinking of Edinburgh Revised, not IS? > > I need clarity on this, as Holy Week Rules and multiple stirrups calls would imply that I could call MC immediately. I wish to reserve my right to do so pending clarification. This is a “four maggot” reservation of course, and without liability. As **Wargamer** alluded, not in a year prior to a leap year you can’t. A fair point though, no criticism of you implied. I think what you overlooked was that due to the extra UK bank holiday next week, you only actually have three maggots. Anyway, I am going to play the Chinese Gambit while my credit remains intact (don’t forget that the offices of Standard & Poors are of course closed for the Easter break, which can only work to my advantage here!), and fire off **Gunnersbury**. ---
**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:** [April 22, 2011, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-for-a-game-of-mornington-crescent/569786/62 "2011-04-22T12:58:26Z")
Hm. It’s getting tacky around here. When I’m playing with the local crowd, I’d be tempted to go for cheap laughs and play Brixton. However, with this crew, I’d wind up with no braces or tokens and walking in from the airport. Instead, I’m going to follow Gavrilo Dožić, and play\*\* Burnt Oak\*\*. ---
**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:** [April 22, 2011, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-for-a-game-of-mornington-crescent/569786/63 "2011-04-22T15:23:29Z")
[quote=“Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension, post:62, topic:569786”] Hm. It’s getting tacky around here. When I’m playing with the local crowd, I’d be tempted to go for cheap laughs and play Brixton. However, with this crew, I’d wind up with no braces or tokens and walking in from the airport. Instead, I’m going to follow Gavrilo Doži ---
**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:** [April 22, 2011, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-for-a-game-of-mornington-crescent/569786/64 "2011-04-22T15:30:15Z")
[quote=“Precambrianmollusc, post:63, topic:569786”] > [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](#): > > Hm. It’s getting tacky around here. > > When I’m playing with the local crowd, I’d be tempted to go for cheap laughs and play Brixton. However, with this crew, I’d wind up with no braces or tokens and walking in from the airport. Instead, I’m going to follow Gavrilo Doži Something ate my post, I was saying that allows a reflection back to Stockwell And unbounds the black tokens and releases us from stirrups I had a momentary reflection on how close we are to playing out on of the non trivial solutions to Doics Earl’s Court interchange problem. The moment has passed though. ---
**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:** [April 22, 2011, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-for-a-game-of-mornington-crescent/569786/65 "2011-04-22T16:13:41Z")
> [@Wargamer](#): > > Sheep? Who knew we were playing the **Briston Variations**? Aw nutz. I was going to study the Briston Variations these past few weeks, but it got sidetracked by getting ready for Pesach. I think I’m flying blind for a while. **Heathrow 1, 2, 3** if I can. ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2011, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-for-a-game-of-mornington-crescent/569786/66 "2011-04-22T16:31:45Z")
I’m not going to get to fancy here, and just go back to the basics, because I fear the game is starting to wander down the path that disrupted the Iberian Championship of 82 (which incidently the news reported that Sergio Obsvaldo was finally released for good beahvior just last week, although I am not sure how Tony Crispio’s widow feels about that) **Edgware** ---
**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:** [April 23, 2011, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-for-a-game-of-mornington-crescent/569786/67 "2011-04-23T00:47:32Z")
As we head the the early mid game I think we will be safely past those sorts of shenanigans. That said I think the disruption was really due to prior bad feelings from the Calcutta invitational 3 years before. It would be a stretch to have called Crispios Bank play antagonistic. Anyway , as I await my turn I would like to note that Tapioca Dextrin is in danger of loosing his defensive position if Dead Cat continues on his current path. Reminiscent of the Caliph of Duqms’ play anyone? ---
**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:** [April 23, 2011, 11:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-for-a-game-of-mornington-crescent/569786/68 "2011-04-23T11:15:47Z")
> [@Gangster\_Octopus](#): > > I’m not going to get to fancy here, and just go back to the basics, because I fear the game is starting to wander down the path that disrupted the Iberian Championship of 82 (which incidently the news reported that Sergio Obsvaldo was finally released for good beahvior just last week, although I am not sure how Tony Crispio’s widow feels about that) > **Edgware** I actually heard an interview with her on an MC podcast the other day. She seemed remarkably at peace about the whole affair. It was like she felt that all the participants were at the edge of madness at that point and the lightning was going to strike somewhere. ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2011, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-for-a-game-of-mornington-crescent/569786/69 "2011-04-23T16:26:58Z")
> [@Gangster\_Octopus](#): > > I’m not going to get to fancy here, and just go back to the basics, because I fear the game is starting to wander down the path that disrupted the Iberian Championship of 82 (which incidently the news reported that Sergio Obsvaldo was finally released for good beahvior just last week, although I am not sure how Tony Crispio’s widow feels about that) > **Edgware** [DEL]Perhaps you overlooked **Precambrianmollusc** ’s play at **Kings Cross** , with “Green tokens unbounded” ? This was the real threat that led Obsvaldo to avoid the Circle Line. I’ve been laying low collecting blue tokens, and now have a once-in-a-lifetime chance to take the l-o-n-g ride all the way to **Gare du Nord** I declare the sewers open.[/DEL] ETA: nm ---
**Author:** ![pdunderhill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4bbf92/32.png) [@pdunderhill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pdunderhill)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2011, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-for-a-game-of-mornington-crescent/569786/70 "2011-04-23T20:12:34Z")
Well I’m sorry but the Bakerloo and indeed all lines running through Paddington are running on a Bus replacement service, we may have to refer to either Johnstons or Murray-Blighs 2007 revisions, addendum 2.1. Sorry about that, can we add Bank Holiday rules, if eveyone is happy? Anyway my move: Ealing Broadway. Sorry to be so competitive but… Peter ---
**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:** [April 23, 2011, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-for-a-game-of-mornington-crescent/569786/71 "2011-04-23T20:29:10Z")
Ah, you’ve gone for the bait I left back in post #28 **Ealing _Common_** for a point-to-point and a card. ---
**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:** [April 23, 2011, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-for-a-game-of-mornington-crescent/569786/72 "2011-04-23T21:58:36Z")
> [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](#): > > Ah, you’ve gone for the bait I left back in post #28 > > **Ealing _Common_** for a point-to-point and a card. A point-to-point eh. I’ll run the 5 legged gelding strategy **Tottenam Court Road** Giddy up! ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2011, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-for-a-game-of-mornington-crescent/569786/73 "2011-04-23T22:48:33Z")
Wow, in Zone 1 already? This could be a fast game. **Oxford Circus** , since I’m out of Nids. ---
**Author:** ![pdunderhill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4bbf92/32.png) [@pdunderhill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pdunderhill)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2011, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-for-a-game-of-mornington-crescent/569786/74 "2011-04-24T14:30:08Z")
Well, I’m going to try for Tottenham Court Road as a return, since people seem to be playing the Strobech, (aka Copenhagen), Zone 1 rules. Having just taken the route from town no-one is playing Englih rules, indeed some aren’t even playing Washington rules, shock horror. Oyster pass owner. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2011, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-for-a-game-of-mornington-crescent/569786/75 "2011-04-24T17:50:51Z")
As an American, under the Treaty of Toronto (1973) I hereby play **Moor Park** and do not have to cash in my Maundy money to draw a “Fortune” card. Damn!! My Fortune card reads “Next play must be on the East London line” ---
**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:** [April 25, 2011, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-for-a-game-of-mornington-crescent/569786/76 "2011-04-25T00:10:52Z")
> [@pdunderhill](#): > > Well, I’m going to try for Tottenham Court Road as a return, since people seem to be playing the Strobech, (aka Copenhagen), Zone 1 rules. > Having just taken the route from town no-one is playing Englih rules, indeed some aren’t even playing Washington rules, shock horror. > Oyster pass owner. Well we play a variant of the Leinster rule set here which was based on the Empire rule set that was developed to accommodate telegraphic play, it lends itself well to the forum style. As the average scholar of the postal play methods would know the Danes took the Empire set rules and modified them back to be used in tournament play thus we ended up with the Stobech rules. This is why the rule set here appears to be the Copenhagen set. I recommed Gossamer and Undercrofts excellent exposition on the subject, it even has pictures for those who need to get up to speed. As to why the Danes elected to modify the Empire rules to accomodate a tounament play when many perfectly servicable adaptations for the long winters were available, we will never know. Lord Heverswater impolitly suggested it was to avcompodate the slow pace of thought amongst the scandanavian players. That led to the breaking off of the negotiations over fishing rights and the subsequent precursor shenanigans to the Cod Wars. Thus once again demonstrating the Mornington Crescentbcan be an extension of diplomacy by other means. Which nicely leads us back to the game at hand and another DLR extraction from zone one to Cutty Sark ---
**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:** [April 27, 2011, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-for-a-game-of-mornington-crescent/569786/77 "2011-04-27T14:54:35Z")
Damn, in the few days that I have missed I seem to have lost the opportunity to cash in my yellow flag. Never mind, I will continue with an old favourite of mine, **Colindale** - an unworthy ploy, some might say, but I don’t think anyone’s taking prisoners in this game. ---
**Author:** ![Wargamer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/df705f/32.png) [@Wargamer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wargamer)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2011, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-for-a-game-of-mornington-crescent/569786/78 "2011-04-29T15:00:44Z")
I declare the **Jubilee** line closed due to The Royal Wedding Exception, and play **Seven Sisters** , who are looking for seven groomsmen, if you know what I mean… ---
**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:** [April 30, 2011, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-for-a-game-of-mornington-crescent/569786/79 "2011-04-30T11:49:55Z")
**Elephant and Castle**. Now I know some of you might be confused by this, but I must point out that it’s a perfectly legitimate move if played from one of the British Overseas Territories. ---
**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:** [May 4, 2011, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-for-a-game-of-mornington-crescent/569786/80 "2011-05-04T12:55:49Z")
Hmm, the slow pace of play has allowed me to analyse every possible consequence of my next move for up to 20 moves hence. It is therefore with unbridled confidence that I play: **Dollis Hill**. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-for-a-game-of-mornington-crescent/569786.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-for-a-game-of-mornington-crescent/569786.md?page=5)