Mornington Crescent Game (Beginners welcome)

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
301

[QUOTE=Kyrie Eleison]
I also think we need a ruling on Sunspace’s last move. I’m a bit rusty, but I’m pretty sure that the Diminishing Letter Rule (DLR) can’t be applied to Docklands Light Rail (DLR) stations, no? Strict correspondence is required for those, according to Hobson’s adjunct #7, correct?

Until we receive a ruling, to keep the game on track, assuming that Tufnell Park is the last legitimate move, Leicester Square, and I claim the adjacent Covent Garden as home.
[/QUOTE]
Hobson’s adjunct #7 states that “player may not use the Docklands Light Railway to perform a move under the Descending Letter Rule” (Reference: Hobson’s Adjuncts Online, PDF versions, retrieved by FTP from the IMCC public archives.) It says nothing about using the non-DLR parts of stations that also have a DLR component. My move was a perfectly normal Twist and Shunt under the Diminishing Letter Rule, using the Victoria Line and the Silverlink Metro (changing at Highbury & islington).

302

Regardless of the status of the Descending Line Rule, I shall try the admittedly risky but potentially very rewarding Hansard Deployment (with the Commonwealth Time Dilation Advantage) to play Tower Hill.

I know, it isn’t Formal Season yet, but I’m calling upon the precedent in the Fosbery-Clarke Grand Match of '17 which ruled the Formal Season restrictions only applied to the Gentry and not players from the Colonies or otherwise not in possession of a Peerage. I think you’ll find Hobson’s agrees with me, if you have access to the 38th edition reprints and the included errata.

303

I’d just like to point out that the conflict arising between the DLR, DLR, DLR and DLR can potentially be resolved by declaring Crimson. - Subject of course to absence of scaffolding on Nelson’s Column, or multiple occupancy of odd-numbered busking pitches.

304

[QUOTE=Mangetout]
I’d just like to point out that the conflict arising between the DLR, DLR, DLR and DLR can potentially be resolved by declaring Crimson. - Subject of course to absence of scaffolding on Nelson’s Column, or multiple occupancy of odd-numbered busking pitches.
[/QUOTE]

Wasn’t this an outcome of the '96 E.E.C. Finals? Phelps in the fourth move against Wensleybury, if I’m not mistaken.

305

I’m going to play Throckmorton’s Reversal, declare Triddingtons, and play Kentish Town.

Remember, Triddingtons are now declared. Heh.

306

I believe so, although the difference there is that the game opened with Krebs, not Bassingtons. Well, in truth there were lots of differences, but that’s the key one.

307

A situation just like this was beautfully described in Pierce Homberly’s delightful little volume, Of Class and Classics in MC Tournaments. My copy is so georgeously bound in deep red leather with the London Underground inscribed in gold on the cover - exactly as the stations were in the day of printing in 1938. Depite the age, I am convinced the philosophy remains valid. I know you have all heard this famous quote many times, but for my own pleasure I shall quote it yet again.

Homberly wrote: “Lord Massertine was disputing with the Duke of Batavia at the 1937 Royal Games in the Presence of King George VI himself. Confusion reigned. Lord, Earls and even Dukes raised their toffy voices to debate this ruling and that declaration. It was young Billy Jones, at his first tournament, who said in his quaint Welsh accent, almost lyrical in his gentle tones: ‘You must never forget the Common Man, and so I shall declare the station which will henceforth erase all dispute so smooth rail travel may now ensue.’ While all the great men of the land listened, young Billy Jones stated, cool and clear, his move was to Clapham Common!”

As I shall now in honour of young Billy Jones and in tribute to all Common Men: Clapham Common!

Henceforth all stations aside commons are now declared Royal.

308

Oh, well done! Though we are in competition, that move brings a tear to my eye.

I have no idea how to counter, being new to the game but I will try to play Great Portland Street for a triple line score.

I realize I’m pretty feeble at this point, but I feel the need to keep my hand in.

309

You shouldn’t sell yourself short. As Aristotle put it, you’re not really going to read this, are you, or as we might say, it’s not in the grand sweeping moves alone that the game is won and lost. In which spirit, I believe it’s high time for a Reverse Shank to Finsbury Park. :slight_smile:

310

[QUOTE=Malacandra]
You shouldn’t sell yourself short. As Aristotle put it, you’re not really going to read this, are you, or as we might say, it’s not in the grand sweeping moves alone that the game is won and lost. In which spirit, I believe it’s high time for a Reverse Shank to Finsbury Park. :slight_smile:
[/QUOTE]

And so it would seem that the cat has been caught by the very person that was trying to catch him… how neatly you’ve set yourself up, opening the way for a Charger Loading- which perfectly suits my play of Tottenham Court Road. Mind the Daleks! :smiley:

311

It seems a degree of confusion may have arisen over the acronym ‘DLR’. Perhaps I may attempt some clarification?

Our friend Sunspace has already cited the most relevant part of Hobson’s. However, if you refer to the Proceedings of the 5th International MC Symposium (of the modern era) held in Kuala Lumpur, article 12.2 clearly states that “Unless it can be demonstrated that the play would be legal for all parts, sections and areas of a designated Docklands Light Railway station if plays utilising, based on or proceeding from the Descending Letter Rule were prohibited at the time of play, then the play shall not be considered legal for any part, section or area of such a station unless it is demonstrated that this same prohibition is itself contingent upon a consequence of a previous prohibition concerning the Diminishing Letter Rule, in which case the former prohibition shall take precedence in any adjudication unless all active players concede that this same prohibition shall not be deemed to apply”. [Underlining mine]

Of course, as all advanced players are all too sadly aware, this is ambiguous. Does the word ‘former’ refer to the former clause in the ruling i.e. to the relevance of the Descending Letter Rule, or to the ‘former’ or ‘previous’ prohibition in the sense of that which has occurred earlier in time, i.e. to the relevance of the Diminishing Letter Rule. I was lucky enough to know two of the delegates at the Symposium, and I am left in no doubt that the ruling means ‘former’ as in ‘earlier in time’ as in ‘the Diminishing Letter Rule’. However, this is just my opinion, not a fact.

Rumours suggest that this regrettable ambiguity is to be fixed at the next IMCS convention. However, I don’t know for a fact that this will actually happen, and if the matter does come up then there is bound to be fierce lobbying from both sides. It could even lead to unpleasantness.

In the meantime, what are we to do? In his admirably witty (if occasionally vague) booklet Plays, Ways & Whys - Rules Of Thumb For The MC Enthusiast, Gheriot-Whynne suggests that such disputes need never arise. He cites some rather abstruse mathematical analysis by some engineer called King-Smith from Melbourne, wherein she apparently ‘proves’ that any play valid under the Descending Letter Rule can be shown to be a derivation or subset of a play involving two non-parallel shunts and one Heitbaum Twist, or two Heitbaum Twists and a Damian Flex. She argues her case quite forcefully, but apparently the mathematical ‘reasoning’ is rather difficult for all but an expert to follow. Anyway, Gheriot-Whynne suggests that if we assume for a moment that she’s right, players should simply interpret plays that rely on the Descending Letter Rule as being valid plays unless the Docklands Light Railway is in snid or it’s a tri-colour play involving retro-motion or the play (and its acceptance) would lead to violation of the parallel shunt rule - all three of which are pretty obvious exceptions anyway.

In lieu of any definitive ruling, I’d say that we go with Gheriot-Whynne on this one. We should accept Sunspace’s move and go from there. It was an elegant and ingenious move, and in my view it doesn’t make a huge difference to the strategic balance of the game.

312

Incidentally, Martini - you just missed rather a rare opportunity! Malacandra played a reverse shunt to Finsbury Park. Nothing wrong with that, it was a perfectly good move. However, count them yourself: ‘Finsbury Park’ only contains three vowels! You know your Crunk’s Advanced Endgames as well as I do: it can be shown that three vowels played over a shunt are technically equivalent to a muted rotational play (excepting the Northern Line, obviously). This being so, dear Martini, you would legally have been entitled to declare Hassocks and reach ‘Preston Road’, four vowels, giving you (unless I am much mistaken) an almost certain MC in three against any defence! This could be blocked by any player who can achieve Quarridge in two moves or fewer, but I honestly can’t see that any currently active player is in a position to achieve this, although Sunspace comes closest.

As it is, you have moved to TCR, which of course renders the whole plan null and void - which is why I felt it was allowable to mention it. I admit I’m surprised, dear Martini, but also a little pleased… it shows you are human after all! (And let’s not forget, stories of ‘clear’ winning moves that went overlooked are a rich part of the MC heritage.)

313

[QUOTE=ianzin]
Incidentally, Martini - you just missed rather a rare opportunity! Malacandra played a reverse shunt to Finsbury Park
[/QUOTE]

[sings]No I didn’t![/sings] :stuck_out_tongue:

314

I saw that great player, Br. Christopher Henry play a reverse shunt to Finsbury Park in the London Friendly of October, 2005. When he found that by doing so he had missed out on MC in Five, he just laughed and laughed. Such was Henry’s manner. Games are always such fun events when he is playing.

I am really out of my depth on this one at this stage. I very nearly said Dollis Hill, thinking it was a very clever tactic, and was just about to post it when I realised what I was doing. How embarassing that would have been!

315

[QUOTE=ianzin]
As it is, you have moved to TCR, which of course renders the whole plan null and void - which is why I felt it was allowable to mention it. I admit I’m surprised, dear Martini, but also a little pleased… it shows you are human after all! (And let’s not forget, stories of ‘clear’ winning moves that went overlooked are a rich part of the MC heritage.)
[/QUOTE]

Ah yes, but- in the best traditions of James Bond Villains- that would have been too easy. :wink:

I could have quite easily declared Hassocks, moved to Preston’s Road, then casually sauntered to Mornington Crescent, possibly stopping to have a coffee and read The Times en route- but, call me a traditionalist if you will, I’ve always felt that a properly played match is about The Journey as much as it is about getting to Mornington Crescent itself. At the end of the match, a true Knight Commander of Mornington Crescent (and that term applies to everyone in this thread, I think it can safely be said) should be just that bit more enriched, and slightly wiser, for the journey.

Sometimes, it’s about the cut & thrust- I’m sure we all remember the upset at the 2005 Empire Tournament when Forsyth declared Mornington Crescent on the first move, invoking the dreaded Tube Strike Alternate Transportation Rule, which allowed him to take a London Black Taxi from King’s Cross Station. Oh, the howls of protest- I’m told that two of the players even fought a duel over it- and the stunned amazement when the Chairman declared “Mornington Crescent in One”. Why, I distinctly recall dropping my cigar in surprise. Mornington Crescent in One? At the Empire Tournament? Well, I can tell you dear friends, it was quite an experience, and a privilege- to see one of the great moments in this game’s proud history, the day when Forsyth made Mornington Crescent in One!

All this, of course, is a somewhat long-winded way of saying that I’m not unaware of my tactical “error”, but felt it in the spirit of the game not to attain Mornington Crescent so early in the piece, and with such ease. It would bring victory, but would it be a memorable one? No, I think not, dear friends.

Instead, I shall take advantage of the rather handy Rutland Weekend Television play to move to Cannon Street (Check your copies of The Pocket Mornington Crescent, it’s described on page 83.)

316

It’s just delightful to see how this game has expanded…

Meanwhile, I’ve been banking on the rushes back and forth (and don’t get me started on the progressions, you may notice I’ve been working toward getting my own stirrup again). I would have been quite peaceful to continue gathering tokens with all this fervent movement but the mention of young Billy Jones has inspired me as well. I cannot remain still.

Snaresbrook. Bluejays on every widdershins Eastern turn. We will always remember thee.

317

[QUOTE=Martini Enfield]
Ah yes, but- in the best traditions of James Bond Villains- that would have been too easy.
[/QUOTE]
Note to self: remember this handy and plausible excuse for next time I miss an easy win!

318

[QUOTE=lynne-42]
I very nearly said Dollis Hill, thinking it was a very clever tactic, and was just about to post it when I realised what I was doing. How embarassing that would have been!
[/QUOTE]
Well, not necessarily. Dollis Hill on its own would, admittedly, have been a disaster (note for beginners: a response sequence involving Kingsbury and a tri-colour would leave you pretty much up the proverbial creek).

However, if you had gone for Dollis Hill with Symbya Convention declared, you would have had the upper hand. No-one would have been able to flank you or go for the usual counter-measure, and in addition you would have blocked most District Line plays (well, at least the ones that any sane player might go for). True, you’d still be a little vulnerable to a good inversion play, but then that’s pretty much par for any Dollis Hill manoeuvre (unless you’re someone like the late, great Fleischmann, who in my view could play the Jubilee stations better than any player before or since).

319

Whee! Since I’m playing from a Commonwealth Realm where Parliament isn’t sitting, I can go into Tennant-Lowe firkin and cash in my Bakerloo tokens to get to Camden Town. The very doorstep!

320

And since one other player is in Tennant-Lowe firkin, I can go to any station named after a pub (as long as I have a red token). I choose Elephant & Castle.