# For anyone keen to play Mornington Crescent **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 26, 2002, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-anyone-keen-to-play-mornington-crescent/110950 "2002-05-26T20:28:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Robb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a183cd/32.png) [@Robb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robb)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2002, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-anyone-keen-to-play-mornington-crescent/110950/21 "2002-05-27T16:45:10Z")
Thanks for the explanation, TwistofFate. As I feared, my difficulties all stem from outdated set of rules. That, and an unfounded fear of Finsbury Park. ---
**Author:** ![ianzin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ed655f/32.png) [@ianzin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ianzin)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2002, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-anyone-keen-to-play-mornington-crescent/110950/22 "2002-05-27T18:33:17Z")
1. Ianzin: Seven Sisters. The Rest: Elephant & Castle 2. Ianzin: Latimer Road! The Rest: Edgware Road 3. Ianzin: Bassingtons declared. Chancery Lane. The Rest: Cockfosters I don’t know if it’s just me, but I’m finding this board incredibly slow and I’m having _major_ connection probs. Hamsters on strike again? Anyway, if anyone wants to take over my role, fine by me. **Nerrie** and **Twist Of Fat** spotted my trap. Given that the forthcoming bank holiday is a _double_, the usually smart King’s Cross response loses to _City Thameslink!!_ (then MC in 4 against any defence). Cockfosters is good. Very good. Shame we’re strict Gibberty, or else I’d slip out of it with an Acton or something similar. I’m not sure I’ve got much wiggle room here. So, sorry about this, but it _is_ a legal move… 1. Ianzin: Bassingtons sustained, Quinch on motions West, Totteridge & Whetstone. ---
**Author:** ![Kantalooppi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a5b964/32.png) [@Kantalooppi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kantalooppi)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2002, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-anyone-keen-to-play-mornington-crescent/110950/23 "2002-05-27T18:50:24Z")
**Willesden Junction.** At this situation, as everyone knows, there’s nothing better for your nisbet placement than good ol’ Willesden Junction. In any case, is Bolingsbroke addition in force? I’m used to Queen’s rules, and know that Bolingsbroke addition is the name of the game in Brownian rules, but do not know as much about customs associated with Gibberty rules. ---
**Author:** ![Alex\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Alex\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alex_B)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2002, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-anyone-keen-to-play-mornington-crescent/110950/24 "2002-05-27T19:24:15Z")
If **ianzin** has no objections I’ll take his place, for this move at least since his connection’s gone for a duck. Willesden Junction, eh? Ooberleunt’s Observance applies here so I’ll have to declare all Actons illegal and parse the Jubilee line. **Kew Gardens**. (No rubbers.) Alex ---
**Author:** ![Sebhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@Sebhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sebhal)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2002, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-anyone-keen-to-play-mornington-crescent/110950/25 "2002-05-28T12:59:38Z")
MORNINGTON CRES… oops. Sorry, **Alex B** , I misread your declaration of Actons _il_legal. Bit premature there (as usual). Can I humbly submit (my favourite move under strict Gibberty) Tower Hill, almost Fenchurch Street, _but not quite!!_ ---
**Author:** ![kabbes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e99b99/32.png) [@kabbes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kabbes)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2002, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-anyone-keen-to-play-mornington-crescent/110950/26 "2002-05-28T14:02:27Z")
Could be time for a threestep, hint hint. ---
**Author:** ![TwistofFate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@TwistofFate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwistofFate)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2002, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-anyone-keen-to-play-mornington-crescent/110950/27 "2002-05-28T14:19:30Z")
well, if we weren’t using strict gibberty, and were allowed Castillian moves (unfortunately now disallowed because of the above declaration of bassingtons… I would suggest the threestep of Harrow on the hill, North Harrow and West Harrow, thereby isolating the west of the Metropolitan line… I just cant see how to make a three step under strict gibberty… ---
**Author:** ![Alex\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Alex\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alex_B)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2002, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-anyone-keen-to-play-mornington-crescent/110950/28 "2002-05-28T15:43:10Z")
A clarification: from _The Diagonal Circle: Post-Structuralist Hermeneutics on the Jubilee Line_ by Li Yu Mei O’Grady (1997) > [@](#): > > If any or all mainline stations are blocked (including but not limited to shunts and overbites) an open play (closed) may peruse to the Northern Line (all crosses barred) as long as the Defending Player (open) remains out of knip (Tuesdays (closed) not withstanding). I hardly like to mention such an obvious ruling, but I thought it would be useful for the beginners. Alex ---
**Author:** ![Robb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a183cd/32.png) [@Robb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robb)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2002, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-anyone-keen-to-play-mornington-crescent/110950/29 "2002-05-28T17:13:00Z")
It’s thoughtful of you **Alex B** to think of us beginners. I do hope to get a stop in before the end of the game. Though, this does remind me of the time I got trapped at the Baker Street station whilst the operater had a tea and biscuit break. ---
**Author:** ![ianzin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ed655f/32.png) [@ianzin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ianzin)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2002, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-anyone-keen-to-play-mornington-crescent/110950/30 "2002-05-29T21:23:26Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Alex B \* > \*\*A clarification: > from _The Diagonal Circle: Post-Structuralist Hermeneutics on the Jubilee Line_ by Li Yu Mei O’Grady (1997) > \*\* C’mon Alex, you of all people should be perfectly aware that the '97 edition of O’Grady was very badly littered with proofing errors, and contains several mistakes which were only corrected at the 98 Bruges Summit. Specifically, may I point out that in the rule you quoted, “an open play (closed) may peruse to the Northern Line (all crosses barred) as long as the Defending Player (open) remains out of knip” the ‘all crosses barred’ pertains _except_ if Bassingtons have been declared or sustained within three previous moves by either player (four moves if we’ve had consecutive consonants). This revision was needed, since without it any player achieving motion West in Zone 4 loses to Lambeth North in 3 _against any defence_. Remember the big row at the '97 Halifax Invitational when more or less _everyone_ was playing Lambeth North and winning? I’m not one of these players who seems more interested in the rules than the game itself, but I do think it’s important to get these things right, especially concerning the almighty confusion caused by the O’Grady cock-up, if only for the benefit of beginners. Oh, and **Twist** , don’t mourn too much for Castilian moves under Gibberty. Djarrksson, among others, has shown that the Castilian repertoire, though much favoured in the 60s and 70s, generally fails to modern openings such as the Bakerloo Gambit Declined, the Gagarin West and the Kabbes FourSwitch. ---
**Author:** ![flapcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@flapcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flapcats)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2002, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-anyone-keen-to-play-mornington-crescent/110950/31 "2002-05-29T23:12:36Z")
Close to home AND work ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2002, 11:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-anyone-keen-to-play-mornington-crescent/110950/32 "2002-05-30T11:20:05Z")
This seems an appropriate moment to play the Bermondsey Bump. So few MC players take full advantage of South of the River slantwise strategies, and more’s the pity, say I. The sheer unexpectedness of using of the Morden Slingshot to circumvent your opponent’s obstacles, the chutzpah of the New New Cross Cross (as opposed to the Old New Cross Cross, which is only allowed when Shoreditch is open), the satisfying thwack of a well-played Oval… it’s a whole new world of possibilities, folks. ---
**Author:** ![Alex\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Alex\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alex_B)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2002, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-anyone-keen-to-play-mornington-crescent/110950/33 "2002-05-30T12:55:30Z")
> [@](#): > > …the 98 Bruges Summit… Ah, I remember it well. Remember how some of the Officiating Board were causing a commotion on the bar after the Exhibition Matches? I’ll swear some of them drank a whole pint of shandy that night. And who can forget Doris Mandalay, the octogenarian streaker? Alex [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-anyone-keen-to-play-mornington-crescent/110950.md?page=1)