# Mornington Crescent Thread **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 30, 2004, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mornington-crescent-thread/266832 "2004-09-30T13:08:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 9
**Author:** ![Kymodoce](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8797f3/32.png) [@Kymodoce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kymodoce)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2004, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mornington-crescent-thread/266832/161 "2004-10-05T16:23:45Z")
> [@mcms\_cricket](#): > > … (the use of which, I’ve always felt, was cheating) … I say Sir! I consider it to be awfully poor form for you to use the C word _whilst a game is in play_! Gottmans ‘Etiquette for move dispute’ (Revised 1976, ISBN 24577812) clearly lays out the required procedure for resolution, please re-read pages 176 to 191! ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2004, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mornington-crescent-thread/266832/162 "2004-10-05T17:13:14Z")
Nope. Still not convinced. I hope no one has forgotten Dolores Toadvine’s strategy, and how it backfired in her face–Quincey Wapshot made a move to Gretna Green, creating a quadrilangular fandango that Dolores couldn’t get out of for six hours. _They missed tea_. ---
**Author:** ![Jurph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/50afbb/32.png) [@Jurph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jurph)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2004, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mornington-crescent-thread/266832/163 "2004-10-05T17:17:21Z")
I’ve seen play like this before, and I’m convinced Mangetout has suborned at least one other player here – either via direct communication or perhaps subtly, through a reference to a pre-arranged rule – to push this game to the south through misdirection. Chesney’s Left Hook is widely regarded as the best strategem in this situation, but Chesney never had to play against cooperating adversaries. And Chesney, brilliant as the _Methods for Reducing Circle Line Stalemates to Easily-Ended Northern Endgames (2d Ed., unexpurgated)_ was, I’m going to take a page from his most brilliant protege, Grayson-St.-Sudbury. The text I’m referencing should therefore become obvious; the right move here is **Seven Sisters** , and not just because Mangetout was expecting Chesney’s Left. There is a deeper strategy here. Perhaps someone can be convinced to align their goals with mine instead…? ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2004, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mornington-crescent-thread/266832/164 "2004-10-05T17:27:03Z")
> [@Lute Skywatcher](#): > > I don’t have a move, just wanted to say this has to be the longest MC game this board has ever seen! Well, obviously, once the game gets to a certain point, the Page Three Conventions dictate disqualification for early withdrawal, so it **must** continue or we won’t have any Doper representation at the biennial Internationale in Glasgow. And we wouldn’t want that, right? ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2004, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mornington-crescent-thread/266832/165 "2004-10-05T17:56:25Z")
I forgot that Glasgow was on the meetings schedule!! With that, under the Unification Ratification Settlement Agreement of 1877, I can make a one-off play of **Grange Hill**!!! ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2004, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mornington-crescent-thread/266832/166 "2004-10-05T22:12:06Z")
Grange Hill? You’re throwing it all away man! Mirrored by prime increments to **Tooting Broadway]** ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2004, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mornington-crescent-thread/266832/167 "2004-10-05T22:17:48Z")
No-trumped by **Dollis Hill** ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2004, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mornington-crescent-thread/266832/168 "2004-10-05T23:20:23Z")
Right, we’re playing Casterbridge Rules now are we? Well, you’ve pretty much thrown away the advantage you had earlier, so… **Pudding Mill Lane** ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2004, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mornington-crescent-thread/266832/169 "2004-10-05T23:24:24Z")
The Dessert Specification allows me to take **Monument** ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2004, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mornington-crescent-thread/266832/170 "2004-10-06T00:46:06Z")
I think it’s time I declared blanket at Farringdon. ---
**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:** [October 6, 2004, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mornington-crescent-thread/266832/171 "2004-10-06T00:46:40Z")
Doing the Circle Line Half-Twist, **Baker Street**. I _think_ that blocks the entire District line; but what do I know? I’m just a bloody Yank. ---
**Author:** ![Kymodoce](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8797f3/32.png) [@Kymodoce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kymodoce)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2004, 7:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mornington-crescent-thread/266832/172 "2004-10-06T07:43:55Z")
Hmmm… Yank or no, that’s a good move. Still, as we approach the 180-move Jackson Reversal Point, it’s time to block a few of the obvious gambits. As you all know, the JRP traditionally revolves around one of the major line intersections, such as Victoria, Baker Street or Moorgate, but I am going to try for something a little different. Let’s see if we can push this out to the South West, but nothing so obvious as Hounslow. **Kew Gardens** Good luck with that. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2004, 10:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mornington-crescent-thread/266832/173 "2004-10-06T10:26:03Z")
I’m running out of options here, so I’ll nestle myself into **Paddington**. ---
**Author:** ![Iceland\_Blue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/4bbf92/32.png) [@Iceland\_Blue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iceland_Blue)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2004, 11:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mornington-crescent-thread/266832/174 "2004-10-06T11:05:57Z")
Havering-atte-Bower ---
**Author:** ![Fat\_Marrow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ebca7d/32.png) [@Fat\_Marrow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fat_Marrow)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2004, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mornington-crescent-thread/266832/175 "2004-10-06T19:18:40Z")
I’d like to take this opportunity to draw to the attention of this group the modern adaptation of rules as published in the little book of Mornington Crescent (1998). As you will see it clearly states that you cannot under ANY circumstances cross lines after a Double-Back UNLESS you are playing non-parallel Spoons. This, unforunately for some of you means that I can now take this all the way back to **Hounslow West** (blocking any triple diagonals to MC via Baker Street for at least 7 moves - unless you’re very experienced and remember the almighty Houghton-Pembroke shift that won the North-Western conference of 1953). ---
**Author:** ![jessicala](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/eb9ed0/32.png) [@jessicala](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jessicala)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2004, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mornington-crescent-thread/266832/176 "2004-10-06T20:42:40Z")
Forgive me, I’m new at this and not sure I’m reading the play correctly. But it seems to me like you’ve left an opening to shift to **Piccadilly Circus**. If I’m understanding correctly, this move is legal as long as we take the Bank Stratem into consideration. (But I could be wrong - I’m new to this.) ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2004, 9:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mornington-crescent-thread/266832/177 "2004-10-07T09:29:56Z")
Play seems to have slowed somewhat; I’m invoking Hambleton’s Timeout Clause - shuffles between stations with licensed busker pitches (more inclusive than you’d imagine) are now wild - taking it back to **Goodge Street**. ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2004, 11:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mornington-crescent-thread/266832/178 "2004-10-07T11:23:18Z")
If I take the Disused Platforms wildcard, I can skip Holborn and get to **Covent Garden**. ---
**Author:** ![Iceland\_Blue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/4bbf92/32.png) [@Iceland\_Blue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iceland_Blue)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2004, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mornington-crescent-thread/266832/179 "2004-10-07T11:41:20Z")
Aldwych(utilizing the same Disused Platforms rule) ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2004, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mornington-crescent-thread/266832/180 "2004-10-07T14:37:35Z")
This is a gamble, risking getting bogged down in the closed-stations paradox, but I’ll say **British Museum**. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mornington-crescent-thread/266832.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mornington-crescent-thread/266832.md?page=10)