# 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:** 5
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2009, 8:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-it-been-that-long-since-our-last-mornington-crescent/520615/81 "2009-12-12T08:20:43Z")
A splendid grasp of back-foot play you have there - Ranjitsinjhi himself would doff his cap at that one. Now, my 3rd Edition _Reeve’s Concordance_ (I know, I know - call me an old fuddy-duddy all you like :D) actually lists the current position with the interesting claim that it’s impossible to Loop from here, which leaves me free to play **Dollis Hill**. Technically that’s MC in 247 (_sic_) but the variations are incomputable and in practice I think you’ll find it’s still up in the air. Mind you, the cashable token gives me a pull in the ending. ---
**Author:** ![Terraplane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/74df32/32.png) [@Terraplane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terraplane)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2009, 8:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-it-been-that-long-since-our-last-mornington-crescent/520615/82 "2009-12-12T08:43:05Z")
> [@Red\_Skeezix](#): > > Well, since agents are in play, red and gold are pitshivered. It looks like we’ve entered the mid-game proper. That means aggressive moves and wagers on all plays for the cascading empire. I wager 4 brown and 3 white on an onside keep-left for **Great Portland Street**. 2 reds or a brown bid to the gentleman who can give me the year and event where this move precipitated the MC in 6. Incredible. Absolutely incredible. You _had_ Mornington Crescent. The principals were teetering and the blue gate was open. You had it right there and you just gave it away. I’ve never seen such a thing. More the luck for us all I guess but wow, I just can’t believe it. Anyway, since **Red Skeezix** blew his opportunity to shut us all down, and since the board seems to be leaning towards a dirty Ruckham Scramble, I think the best move for me is to hop on over to **Paddington** and invoke a silent trill. Remember, that’s two _FULL_ hexagons before you can flex me, hopefully in the interim I’ll work out a new move. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2009, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-it-been-that-long-since-our-last-mornington-crescent/520615/83 "2009-12-12T14:21:20Z")
Well, I’ve been absent, but I will take this chance to upgrade the Knid to Vermiciousness, fulfill the first hexagon, collect a red and green token, and shunt antiwiddershins through the Cryer Loophole into Marylebone, which, since it includes the word “Mary”, gives me an additional Nativity Wheedle for later use. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2009, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-it-been-that-long-since-our-last-mornington-crescent/520615/84 "2009-12-12T14:50:08Z")
**West Ruislip** (because the weekend just started) ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2009, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-it-been-that-long-since-our-last-mornington-crescent/520615/85 "2009-12-12T15:33:26Z")
Rook the corners, and double down to **Knightsbridge**. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2009, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-it-been-that-long-since-our-last-mornington-crescent/520615/86 "2009-12-12T18:08:47Z")
**Hyde Park Corner.** Mornington Crescent in 7. ---
**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 12, 2009, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-it-been-that-long-since-our-last-mornington-crescent/520615/87 "2009-12-12T21:44:46Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > **Hyde Park Corner.** > > Mornington Crescent in 7. Took me a while to find the specific variable you were using, but…yeah. Nice one. ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2009, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-it-been-that-long-since-our-last-mornington-crescent/520615/88 "2009-12-13T04:15:15Z")
Can you take Hyde Park Corner if the corners are rooked? I’m not at home and don’t have my rule book. ---
**Author:** ![Terraplane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/74df32/32.png) [@Terraplane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terraplane)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2009, 8:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-it-been-that-long-since-our-last-mornington-crescent/520615/89 "2009-12-13T08:39:37Z")
> [@pravnik](#): > > Can you take Hyde Park Corner if the corners are rooked? I’m not at home and don’t have my rule book. Sure you can, if you’re playing _prison rules_. I’m just kidding, it’s actually a great move and one we should have seen coming, what with him sitting on East Putney during a scullery sink. I think he might be overestimating his chances though, there are still three cracked diamonds available and with a little bit (ok, a **lot** ) of luck it’s still anybody’s game. ---
**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 13, 2009, 8:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-it-been-that-long-since-our-last-mornington-crescent/520615/90 "2009-12-13T08:49:35Z")
> [@Terraplane](#): > > Sure you can, if you’re playing _prison rules_. I’m just kidding, it’s actually a great move and one we should have seen coming, what with him sitting on East Putney during a scullery sink. I think he might be overestimating his chances though, there are still three cracked diamonds available and with a little bit (ok, a **lot** ) of luck it’s still anybody’s game. Since I’d hate to see such a promising game finish so early- the last one I can recall with that problem was the Tsingtao “Friendly” Tournament in 1904, and that got interrupted by the Russo-Japanese War and was, I believe, never concluded, making it the third oldest game of Mornington Crescent still officially in “Suspended Play”, at least according to my copy of _Mind The Gap!: 100 years of Mornington Crescent_ (a limited imprint but well worthwhile for the dedicated enthusiast!). On that note, of course, I think that **Greenwich** is the play we’re all looking for here. You’re welcome. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Isamu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/7c8e57/32.png) [@Isamu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isamu)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2009, 9:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-it-been-that-long-since-our-last-mornington-crescent/520615/91 "2009-12-13T09:56:04Z")
_Colour Commentary_ Oh very droll Mr. Enfield. For those that didn’t get it, our Mr. Enfield is, of course, making a not so subtle reference to Lord Strapham’s Invitational Exhibition Tournament of 1869 which was, as we all know, held at the Greenwich Royal Observatory grounds and is still the **2nd** oldest game of Mornington Crescent still officially in Suspended Play - when spirited disagreements concerning the appropriate time-zone of play (see appendices to Mcarthy pertaining to Coordinated Universal Time c/f atomic time with a tolerance of 0.9 second) resulted in enormous casualties to the body of contestants. As per the official rules of play in force in the summer of 1869, heirs of any player who expires mid-game, are eligible to continue play on behalf of their deceased forebears. This game cannot be resolved until all heirs in perpetuity formally renounce their right of entry to the tournament. One of the darker chapters of the game that nevertheless bears mentioning. Carry on! ---
**Author:** ![Terraplane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/74df32/32.png) [@Terraplane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terraplane)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2009, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-it-been-that-long-since-our-last-mornington-crescent/520615/92 "2009-12-13T12:06:46Z")
> [@Isamu](#): > > One of the darker chapters of the game that nevertheless bears mentioning. > > Carry on! You know, I think it might be best if we don’t talk about that much? It would be nice to draw some new blood into this game but if all they hear are the horrors it’s just going to drive them away. May as well mention the '53 Chippenham orange juice drownings while you’re at it, no? You’re already on the path so why not completely freak everybody out? Anyway, since **Martini Enfield** seems to have come across a copy of ‘Mind the Gap!\*\*\*\*\*’, I suppose I’ll have to change my entire strategy. I’d been running a serrated Takahishi Throw but since that’s outlined in Chapter 45-G I have to assume he’s seen through my plan from the get go. I’m not making a move yet, but I _am_ going to invoke Alamagordo’s Shield and toss down my red, blue, and pink buttons. I know it’s unusual but the final judgement of the Conference of Turkmenabat '61 Tribunal clearly gives me the right, even if it is a bit dirty, so I don’t want to hear any nonsense about “Oh, you’re just salting the magma! Wah wah wah!” - Is that an original? I might know a collector, those things go for top dollar nowadays. ---
**Author:** ![Wargamer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/df705f/32.png) [@Wargamer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wargamer)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2009, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-it-been-that-long-since-our-last-mornington-crescent/520615/93 "2009-12-13T17:34:44Z")
The depth of play here is outstanding, as it usually is during our little _tete-a-tetes_. I hate to have missed \*\*Martini-Enfield’s \*\*earlier play of **Baker Street** , as it could have led to a Doyle Inversion, not seen since the 1919 Reparation Match between Doyle and Schnitzer in a recently patched up Liége. But, as that move has, unjustly it seems to me, fallen into disfavor due to the Hungarian Speed School’s influences in the late 20’s, I can see why it might have slipped us by. Ahh well, it was afleeting opportunity, which fell by the wayside. The Wayside, which for the purposes of this move is located at: **Bromley-by-Bow**. ---
**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 13, 2009, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-it-been-that-long-since-our-last-mornington-crescent/520615/94 "2009-12-13T17:56:00Z")
> [@Isamu](#): > > _Colour Commentary_ > > Oh very droll Mr. Enfield. For those that didn’t get it, our Mr. Enfield is, of course, making a not so subtle reference to Lord Strapham’s Invitational Exhibition Tournament of 1869 which was, as we all know, held at the Greenwich Royal Observatory grounds and is still the **2nd** oldest game of Mornington Crescent still officially in Suspended Play - when spirited disagreements concerning the appropriate time-zone of play (see appendices to Mcarthy pertaining to Coordinated Universal Time c/f atomic time with a tolerance of 0.9 second) resulted in enormous casualties to the body of contestants. As per the official rules of play in force in the summer of 1869, heirs of any player who expires mid-game, are eligible to continue play on behalf of their deceased forebears. This game cannot be resolved until all heirs in perpetuity formally renounce their right of entry to the tournament. > > One of the darker chapters of the game that nevertheless bears mentioning. > > Carry on! That is the most awesome thing I have ever heard in the last month-and-a-half. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2009, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-it-been-that-long-since-our-last-mornington-crescent/520615/95 "2009-12-13T21:09:19Z")
Though only two people have moved since my last move, a full day has passed and so I’m entitled to move again (cf. Rule 18.17©(ii) of the Tremaine’s Standardized Laws of Mornington Crescent, 17th Edition, and refer to the index for such rules as apply to games by mail, which according to the 1995 Helsinki rules conference are assumed to apply to Internet and online games.) I’m continuing with my same line of attack and, involing my second red token for a triple westbound skip, playing **Dalston Kingsland**. MC in 4, if you let me. ---
**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:** [December 13, 2009, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-it-been-that-long-since-our-last-mornington-crescent/520615/96 "2009-12-13T21:25:55Z")
> [@Terraplane](#): > > You know, I think it might be best if we don’t talk about that much? It would be nice to draw some new blood into this game but if all they hear are the horrors it’s just going to drive them away. May as well mention the '53 Chippenham orange juice drownings while you’re at it, no? You’re already on the path so why not completely freak everybody out? Freaked me out, for sure! 😕 :o :smack: But I was worried about getting my feet wet with you sharks, anyway. It’s just as well. I’d have pissed everybody off anyway, trying to take the train through the Chunnel, or something. Septimus ---
**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 13, 2009, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-it-been-that-long-since-our-last-mornington-crescent/520615/97 "2009-12-13T22:32:22Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > I’m continuing with my same line of attack and, involing my second red token for a triple westbound skip, playing **Dalston Kingsland**. MC in 4, if you let me. A bold move indeed! Perhaps a little _too_ bold, though, as McHarold discovered back in the '52 Rhodesia Open Championships when he tried a similar move (Although I do believe he had a white token rather than a red one, as was the fashion at the time.) The next move is so painfully obvious that I hesitate to make it, but the alternative- as seen at the Singapore Master’s Tourney in '67- was one of the myriad causes of the Great Schism of '68-'75 and to avoid a repeat of _that_ unpleasantness it’s oddly appropriate that I play **Swiss Cottage** now. ---
**Author:** ![Wargamer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/df705f/32.png) [@Wargamer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wargamer)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2009, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-it-been-that-long-since-our-last-mornington-crescent/520615/98 "2009-12-13T22:42:00Z")
HA! **Acton Central**!! I’ve been waiting for **Swiss Cottage**. I think the Acton Shunt Variant puts paid to **RickJay’s** plans. It was the obvious move **Martini Enfield** , and occasionally, as here and in the '58-B Commonwealth Invitational, they pay off. ---
**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:** [December 14, 2009, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-it-been-that-long-since-our-last-mornington-crescent/520615/99 "2009-12-14T00:45:41Z")
If I’m not too late to jump in, I am going to declare Traipsing with a swift **Colindale**. Although this inevitably leads to the endgame, it does rather apply Mockers to the recent call of MC in 7. In this line, MC is delayed until all the points have changed at least 3 times between Barking and Whitechapel (according to Mungo’s Almanac, 1973 edition). ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2009, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-it-been-that-long-since-our-last-mornington-crescent/520615/100 "2009-12-14T01:39:24Z")
Ohhhh sweet. 🙂 **Manor House** , and I request Freedom of the Graveyard. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-it-been-that-long-since-our-last-mornington-crescent/520615.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-it-been-that-long-since-our-last-mornington-crescent/520615.md?page=6)