# Has it been that long since our last Mornington Crescent? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [December 9, 2009, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-it-been-that-long-since-our-last-mornington-crescent/520615 "2009-12-09T19:15:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2009, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-it-been-that-long-since-our-last-mornington-crescent/520615/41 "2009-12-10T21:21:43Z")
> [@Red\_Skeezix](#): > > Such vulgarity! I thought this was to be a friendly game! All was going smoothly until you dragged in your Mancunian bastardized “rules”. If you cannot play like a civilized gentleman, I’ll be forced to resort to the Official Imperial Revised Ruleset (Unofficial Victorian Gusset Variation) and declare you to have taken a back seat directly to Blackhorse Road, you scoundrel. Weasel your way out of that one. ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Skeezix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/aca169/32.png) [@Red\_Skeezix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Skeezix)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2009, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-it-been-that-long-since-our-last-mornington-crescent/520615/42 "2009-12-10T21:53:49Z")
> [@Smeghead](#): > > Weasel your way out of that one. I felt the play was perfectly acceptable under the sources I’ve previously mentioned. I can’t help it that your knowledge of the game is severely lacking. Earl’s Court to Blackhorse Road is not a legitimate declaration at this stage, especially since the play originates only in the Victorian Gusset Variation (Unofficial), which is meant for players under the age of 6. Should I don my knickerbockers for this game? Perhaps I can acquire a pair at **Chancery Lane**. ---
**Author:** ![EristicKallistic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/85e7bf/32.png) [@EristicKallistic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EristicKallistic)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2009, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-it-been-that-long-since-our-last-mornington-crescent/520615/43 "2009-12-10T21:57:36Z")
As knickerbockers have been invoked and we’re still outside the scrum: **Dollis Hill** and I’m calling onside. ---
**Author:** ![runcible\_spoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9fc29f/32.png) [@runcible\_spoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/runcible_spoon)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2009, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-it-been-that-long-since-our-last-mornington-crescent/520615/44 "2009-12-10T21:59:03Z")
Gentlemen, gentlemen! No matter our latitudinal persuasions, I think we can all agree that under any Ruleset, the next move must be a tokens-down crossover to **Woodford**. Let us not behave like Colonials, please. ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Skeezix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/aca169/32.png) [@Red\_Skeezix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Skeezix)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2009, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-it-been-that-long-since-our-last-mornington-crescent/520615/45 "2009-12-10T22:03:45Z")
Astounding! Knickerbockers and Yankee Doodles thrown down. Absolutely Astounding. I eagerly await the rejoinder to that exquisite play. ---
**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:** [December 10, 2009, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-it-been-that-long-since-our-last-mornington-crescent/520615/46 "2009-12-10T22:26:47Z")
I know technically it is not my turn, as I am right-handed and of fair complexion (Stockholm, 1932), but I am calling my first right of first refusal on privilege (per the Lexington Rules Supplemetnal volume 12 Revsion the First) to submit that I am diverting the game to **Charing Cross** and I am also upping the ante by declaring fish n chips. ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2009, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-it-been-that-long-since-our-last-mornington-crescent/520615/47 "2009-12-10T23:32:55Z")
I was perusing my copy of Collin’s last night- the rare Bombay imprint that I found in an Antiques shop in Cairo some years ago, as it happens- and was reminded of the brilliant Armstrong-Whitworth in-motion switchback that Carruthers so brilliantly invoked in the 1946 Kingston Open Tournament, and the parallels it has with our current game. As such, I think it would be greatly remiss of me not to play **Waterloo** at this juncture… ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2009, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-it-been-that-long-since-our-last-mornington-crescent/520615/48 "2009-12-10T23:39:41Z")
The declaration of fish n chips by Gangster Octopus puts me in a bit of a spot here. As I’m sure everyone can see the best move from Waterloo would be to use a river shift to London Bridge, but you can’t do that under fish n chips, so I’m left with… …with… Ah, crap. **Embankment.** ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2009, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-it-been-that-long-since-our-last-mornington-crescent/520615/49 "2009-12-10T23:42:38Z")
Gentlemen - and I use the term advisedly - I feel I must apologize for the ruffianish influence I have allowed to leak into this distinguished company. Although the regrettable remarks did not, of course, begin with me, it behooves those of us of breeding to remonstrate the lower orders with gentleness and patience. I should not have allowed the rough side of my tongue such free expression amongst this assemblage. Therefore, I will make the traditional Move of Pathos and simply add $200 to Free Parking. And, Mr. Skeezix, although I appreciate your kind offer to improve your appearance with a pair of knickerbockers, please rest assured that no such gesture is required. Besides, they would look downright ridiculous over the ruffled petticoats with which you are normally adorned. ---
**Author:** ![Trepa\_Mayfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/edb3f5/32.png) [@Trepa\_Mayfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trepa_Mayfield)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2009, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-it-been-that-long-since-our-last-mornington-crescent/520615/50 "2009-12-10T23:46:55Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > [Here ya go.](http://www.amazon.com/Little-Book-Mornington-Crescent/dp/0752844229/ref=pd_sim_b_1) Unfortunately, it’s temporarily out of stock and almost ten years old, thus doesn’t include the major rule standardizations put in place during the 2006 FIMC (Federation Internationale de Mornington Crescent) conference in Reykjavik, which, among other notable changes, outlawed the popular Sikorsky-Romanov maneuver, as well as permanently sanctioning skip-stop and widdershams declarations. At any rate, basic MC theory remains largely the same, so the above book would serve the beginner well, provided he keep in mind rule refinements may have altered the legality of certain plays in the book. That said, one may always play Mornington Crescent according to pre-2006 rules provided such declarations are announced in the initial move and agreed-to by all players. Of course, such games are not eligible in FIMC rankings. Ay-yiyi, this is complicated. Okay…hang on, lemme puzzle this out. We’re on Embankment. I’ve got…5, no, 4 tokens. Yeah, four, because we haven’t seen the double-down through Farringdon yet. And…hang on. Have we had more than 15 players yet? We have! Okay. Well, that means we’re clearly not using the Eastern Arrangement. There goes my first idea. Hmm. Well, I’m not sure this will pay off in the end, but 200$ is nothing to sniff at. **Temple**! And I’ll take that 200. ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Skeezix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/aca169/32.png) [@Red\_Skeezix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Skeezix)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2009, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-it-been-that-long-since-our-last-mornington-crescent/520615/51 "2009-12-11T00:10:34Z")
Embankment to Temple with a Money Grab? A Somerset House Hustle? Decisive action is required. I replace the 200 in free and add 2 tokens to Marlborough St. Also, I claim interest-free-exchequer for declaring knickerbockers before fish n chips. I offer a slight variation on the game stopper from the All world 1944 Bomb Shelter Tourney. I declare **Leicester Square** , and close the Piccadilly to doubles. ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Skeezix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/aca169/32.png) [@Red\_Skeezix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Skeezix)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2009, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-it-been-that-long-since-our-last-mornington-crescent/520615/52 "2009-12-11T00:14:42Z")
Mr. Smeg, I appreciate the fashion advice but sadly it is unwarranted. It would truly be a day, that I accepted charity from a noveau briggand such as yourself. ---
**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:** [December 11, 2009, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-it-been-that-long-since-our-last-mornington-crescent/520615/53 "2009-12-11T00:20:17Z")
> [@Red\_Skeezix](#): > > I offer a slight variation on the game stopper from the All world 1944 Bomb Shelter Tourney. I declare **Leicester Square** , and close the Piccadilly to doubles. Can we get a ruling, please? I am unaware of being allowed to close Piccadilly to doubles until Heathrow 1,2, 3 although I must admit that I have not kept up on recent changes. ---
**Author:** ![Trepa\_Mayfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/edb3f5/32.png) [@Trepa\_Mayfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trepa_Mayfield)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2009, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-it-been-that-long-since-our-last-mornington-crescent/520615/54 "2009-12-11T01:16:42Z")
> [@Gangster\_Octopus](#): > > Can we get a ruling, please? I am unaware of being allowed to close Piccadilly to doubles until Heathrow 1,2, 3 although I must admit that I have not kept up on recent changes. Flipping through my rulebook now… …let’s see. Piccadilly, Piccadilly…this book does agree that that move is not allowed. It goes into quite a bit of detail as well…it seems this rule was added in just two years after the original rules were drafted, in order to stop an infinite loop in which players simply can’t avoid the shunts. Fascinating. ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Skeezix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/aca169/32.png) [@Red\_Skeezix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Skeezix)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2009, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-it-been-that-long-since-our-last-mornington-crescent/520615/55 "2009-12-11T01:25:16Z")
> [@Gangster\_Octopus](#): > > Can we get a ruling, please? I am unaware of being allowed to close Piccadilly to doubles until Heathrow 1,2, 3 although I must admit that I have not kept up on recent changes. I believe it is a legitimate play. Both Colin’s and Colonel’s agree that an insulted interest-free-exchequer can close Piccadilly to doubles during stirrups if they’ve declared 2 paid a and have not Cockfosters. There is an interesting commentary in my edition of Colonel’s (April 1930, vellum) handwritten by the illustrious Commodore Abraham V. Pierce describing the required conditions, and notable matches (Orient Express '26, Mornington For the People '23 and The Isle of Wight Invitational III). ---
**Author:** ![Trepa\_Mayfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/edb3f5/32.png) [@Trepa\_Mayfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trepa_Mayfield)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2009, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-it-been-that-long-since-our-last-mornington-crescent/520615/56 "2009-12-11T02:39:06Z")
> [@Red\_Skeezix](#): > > I believe it is a legitimate play. Both Colin’s and Colonel’s agree that an insulted interest-free-exchequer can close Piccadilly to doubles during stirrups if they’ve declared 2 paid a and have not Cockfosters. There is an interesting commentary in my edition of Colonel’s (April 1930, vellum) handwritten by the illustrious Commodore Abraham V. Pierce describing the required conditions, and notable matches (Orient Express '26, Mornington For the People '23 and The Isle of Wight Invitational III). Oh, I get it. I forgot that you were insulted. Carry on. ---
**Author:** ![Wargamer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/df705f/32.png) [@Wargamer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wargamer)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2009, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-it-been-that-long-since-our-last-mornington-crescent/520615/57 "2009-12-11T02:52:39Z")
Now this is the type of Slam Bang action in the Early Mid-Game I was hoping for! Although the Colonial crack does strike a bit close to home. I digress. I know that many Europeans look down on Scallazzi and the New Brunswick School Style of MC, but she, aside from being the finest female Umbrian-American player, executed the Knickerbocker Reverse as well as anyone since the aforementioned Carruthers. With insults abounding, stirrups in play, and cash in the kitty, I will drop two, yes two, Gold Tokens in **Hammersmith** , increase riders to 7, declare bus transfers open for the next 6 moves, and expect us to gallop into the Mid-Midgame by morning. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2009, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-it-been-that-long-since-our-last-mornington-crescent/520615/58 "2009-12-11T03:00:11Z")
**Dalston Kingsland** ---
**Author:** ![Trepa\_Mayfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/edb3f5/32.png) [@Trepa\_Mayfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trepa_Mayfield)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2009, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-it-been-that-long-since-our-last-mornington-crescent/520615/59 "2009-12-11T03:14:42Z")
> [@Wargamer](#): > > Now this is the type of Slam Bang action in the Early Mid-Game I was hoping for! Although the Colonial crack does strike a bit close to home. > > I digress. I know that many Europeans look down on Scallazzi and the New Brunswick School Style of MC, but she, aside from being the finest female Umbrian-American player, executed the Knickerbocker Reverse as well as anyone since the aforementioned Carruthers. With insults abounding, stirrups in play, and cash in the kitty, I will drop two, yes two, Gold Tokens in **Hammersmith** , increase riders to 7, declare bus transfers open for the next 6 moves, and expect us to gallop into the Mid-Midgame by morning. Wait…we have gold tokens now? I thought it was just red and white up until the 60th move! Clearly, I’ve been skimming. Okay. Well, in that case, I’m going all out. I’m plonking down 150$ for 3, yes 3 gold tokens, and doubling the traffic speed with a white and gold! This allows me to move twice, so I brush by **Aldgate East** to remove any chances of early theft and retreat to **Queen’s Park**. Wait…hold up. How many zones are in play again? I think I may be using an outdated map. ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Skeezix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/aca169/32.png) [@Red\_Skeezix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Skeezix)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2009, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-it-been-that-long-since-our-last-mornington-crescent/520615/60 "2009-12-11T03:56:53Z")
> [@pedescribe](#): > > Wait…we have gold tokens now? I thought it was just red and white up until the 60th move! Clearly, I’ve been skimming. > > Okay. Well, in that case, I’m going all out. I’m plonking down 150$ for 3, yes 3 gold tokens, and doubling the traffic speed with a white and gold! This allows me to move twice, so I brush by **Aldgate East** to remove any chances of early theft and retreat to **Queen’s Park**. > > Wait…hold up. How many zones are in play again? I think I may be using an outdated map. It’s risky but I hate to see double traffic with 7 riders and 6 bus transfers, so I’m gonna phone in a customs inspection at **Heathrow 1,2,3** to put us back on standby at **Queen’s Park**. I guess that means everyone takes a brown token. It’s a penalty to me, but I think it will payoff in the late mid-game. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-it-been-that-long-since-our-last-mornington-crescent/520615.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-it-been-that-long-since-our-last-mornington-crescent/520615.md?page=4)