Mornington Crescent

[faragher]

I know we have had this before, but I think a new place especially for games deserves a new game of MORNINGTON CRESCENT.

Points will be allocated for style, successful rule challenges and winning. Less for winning though. A league will not be maintained, though with the help of some arty people I might try to get some banner / trophies etc to put in sigs.

If you do not know how to play Mornington Crescent, this is a good place to start (http://www.geocities.com/verdrahciretop/mc1.html) , or of course you could try to get the classic book on the game (unfortunately now out of print) "Mornington Crescent: Rules and Origins" by NF Stovold.

Rules will be agreed before play, and all variations will be accepted, except for Watling Street, which frankly I find a bit vulgar. Oh, and I still haven't got my head around the Oyster Card things, but I'm sure we'll manage.

I suggest a flying start, with people joining in as they find the game.

The first game will be confined to the Underground as it exists today with DLR allowed. No straying please. Referees will be me, and WhiteTotem.

Good luck, and beware of brass tokens!

[Meadow]

If you wish to know how to play, remember this - you know the game chess? Well, it's a bit like that, crossed with basketball.

If I may be so bold, I'll Shunt to Bank.

(moves in Italics, Stations in Bold - I find the Schofield principle most apt in these online situations)

[totes]

Also, as I'm a ref I can't play at the minute, but some more informations for you all. A good play may result in you getting a "good play" icon to put in your signature from me in a PM, so get your rocks off with good moves to prove that you are the best!

Winners receive the "winner" icon to put in their signature.

Don't go begging for Good Play icons either, as you won't get them.

[Aladdin Sane]

Good to see that this is back again (even if I did kind of forget to keep posting in the last one, heh).

Anyway, without further ado I'd like to start by playing Marble Arch - so that I am well within the inner quadrant and keeps my laterals relatively safe from any underhanded shunting for the time being.

[Zhyl]

I think I will block you, tagging the next player and setting me up for a dive for the home run. Triple slide to Waterloo

[Discodoris]

I love the unusual modern starts, so will gracefully descend upon Custom's House under the 2004 Al-Rassan Gambit, which effectively counterturns the direction of travel. Sorry dears.

[Al]

Excuse me but I have to contend. I know I've not had a turn yet but I was under the impression that a triple slide precludes the next player from counterturning - indirectly as a result of the Incomplete Fretwork Principle first proposed by De Mondue in 1972 as a way of preventing exponential disassociation within the primary collective.

Forgive me if I misunderstood the rules

[totes]

Begone, you little non-understander of the rules!

The book clearly states that as of 2002, all triple slide-related hinderances are void!

Play on!

[Al]

In that case I shall expand into Elephant & Castle

[streety]

Hmmmm the old expanding trick...
I will counter your move by performing Finster's Quadrouple Bypass Operation allowing me to mount the Bakerloo line at Lambeth North

[Al]

Are we meant to wait and play in turn or should we just go with whoever's here?

[totes]

I'm not really sure for now; best to ask faragher when he returns.

But for now, let's play with whoever's here.

Game on!

[Megistos]

Inspired by L. Butcher's masterful play of 1965 which won him the World Championship, I'm going to play both Embankment and Westminster.

Should anyone object to the taking of two stations during the same turn, I suggest they recall the Triangular Amendment of 1936 in which is clearly stated:

"If a Player should so wish, he may take two Stations in one Play if and only if they complete a [Goskin's] Triangle (here: with Waterloo) below the Line when said Player is not in Nip."

I'm afraid that blocks off the Diagonals in Waterloo's Quadrant, for anyone hoping to achieve the powerful Double Loop.

[Yorkshire Tea]

I was initially going to perform a starter Triple Bypass to High Holborn but I realised that would put me on collision course with a Rutledge's Backhammer when I eventually gained the five extra reversal points at Russell Square, which would be, you know, just a bit fatal. Thus I must play safe and simply sideslip to Leicester Square - a boring and wholly unoriginal move, but one which will set me up well for my D-Type Slam later on... oh dear, said more than I should have :(

[[murray]]

All this excellent play benefits me mightily in my opening move in where I shall perform an Ornitier Opening Spectacular, in the process taking Highbury & Islington, with which I hope to set up a Mahon Shuffle up the 9th parralel.

[Al]

But a Mahon Shuffle is easily prevented with a simple Backhand Slipstream "Double-or-Quits", in this case, since the 9th parallel itself requires that the player move doubleside up the ninth *adjacent* - something which is impossible if the canny player (me) under-blocks the previous move with another basic shunt to any of the Claphams.

Thus it befits me to choose the most beneficial. Clapham Common forms the Otherwise Incomplete Triangle with Leicester Square and White City, meaning I could feasibly set up an Upstart And Downstep into...

I shunt to Clapham South. Let's see if anyone can spot why.

[faragher]

First of all, good start everyone. I hadn't expected this level of technical ability and the level of strategy that we are seeing this early. Let's keep it clean.

So, some rule clarifications - as we are on a flying start we do not have a determined order of play. This means that you can play in any order, subject to the Yakov-Muller codicils - that is:
- No player may move more than once in succession.
- No two players may alternate moves more than twice, unless there are more than two other players in knid.
- No player may move where they have more than the current daynumber of moves in the preceding monthcount of turns.
- Zone 1-2 interchanges score double.

Also, we have our first award. It is the highly collectable, signature approved, Weebls-Stuff Mornington Crescent Game #1 Participation Rosette! Thanks to WhiteTotem for this.
http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/4428/rosette1rh2.gif (http://imageshack.us)

[Aladdin Sane]

I shunt to Clapham South. Let's see if anyone can spot why.

Ah, now it would appear that you are attempting to pull off a round and round rearside quadrant loop with that move, for which I salute you for it is a move not seen very often and one of my favourites, but unfortunately you neglected to protect your 5th diagonal which could have easily been done had you declared at least 3 of your daily token limit on Waterloo, ans as such now allows me to to transform to Edgeware.

[[murray]]

Is every participant of this game allowed to have the Rosette in their sig, fara, or just the winner?

In order to facilitate quick progression, I am going to initiate the first stage of a triple pike rotissary circuit which will enable me to slide up to Goldhawk Road with a Bossington stretch, made famous by Ted Bossington in his 1980 European Invitational final victory. Next time I endeavour to get a couple of people in knid!

[faragher]

']Is every participant of this game allowed to have the Rosette in their sig, fara, or just the winner?This is a participants rosette. There will be winners trophies, as well as some other prizes :)

Also, HELLO MURRRRRRRRR YOU FILTHY JUGHEAD!

[Zhyl]

Damn, I'm boxed. How could you box me so early on in the game? Well, in that case I can't move.

NO! I see I can sneak and outside edge and move to Amersham. Phew, that was close.

edit: this may help new players (http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/pdfdocs/colourmap.gif)

[stalefish]

I'm rather new at this, but I believe I can float to Acton Town to gain control of the area around Heathrow.

Right?

[totes]

Wrong!

Floating around the Heathrow area has been deemed dangerous due to low-flying aircraft. It also states that whosoever tries to play this move will have his/her direction counterturned; but since play is in this state in the first place, this seems to work in your benefit!

Do continue.

[stalefish]

Then I invoke the 1991 Gateway Proposal to redirect to Holland Park, allowing me, if I get very lucky, a Crescent in 3 moves.

[foo_fighter]

Not if I play a twin parks move and go to Green Park, countering your manouvre towards the much feared Chancery Lane, which I believe you were heading towards.

[stalefish]

In that case, I shall play a rather boring Travel to Highgate, which should hopefully prove useful soon.

[totes]

...manouvre towards...

Inability to spell manoeuvre results in the illiterate one being pushed forcefully into Finchley Central, as of 1973.

Carry on...

[Meadow]

In that case, I shall play a rather boring Travel to Highgate, which should hopefully prove useful soon.

I sieze my chance and Backflip to St John's Wood.

[foo_fighter]

Pardon my french. It's a little rusty, how I like my women.

From St John's Wood, there is only one move I can make which does not end us up going round the Acton circuit. Therefore, I step over to Elephant and Castle.

[Spoo]

Forgive me if I am a bit rusty, haven't played in a while. I think I shall drop a small blue token on Liverpool Street having noted that Oxford Street and Tooting Bec have alligned in linear fnar (as they did famously during the first trial of the Dorkinson-Smythe Variant 1876). With the angles looking bicubic and with minimal pressure on the third rail I jitterbug into Ealing Broadway hopefully avoiding any Northern Line residual twang.

[NorthernLine]

Hurrah! My favourite opening move remains available: I will fizz into Morden and await the inevitable play that will allow me to bin clockwise to Willesden Green; thus, avoiding the unmentionable loop just above me.

Come on, you know you want to help me out!

[Aladdin Sane]

The last couple of moves appear to have set me up for a nice attempt at the Chesenham Drive (which actually originated from a Russian adaption of Mornington Crescent, but was adpated to our own English version when a young J. Willinger deployed such a move with amazing flair and grace to seize the champions title during the 1965 grand final). Without boring you with all the details, I shall hop, skip and jump to Baker Street, the resultant destabilisation of the circle line caused by such a move unfortunately putting anyone south of the river into knid.

[Discodoris]

For my next move, I will exchange to Bank

[faragher]

Forgive me if I am a bit rusty, haven't played in a while. I think I shall drop a small blue token on Liverpool Street having noted that Oxford Street and Tooting Bec have alligned in linear fnar (as they did famously during the first trial of the Dorkinson-Smythe Variant 1876). With the angles looking bicubic and with minimal pressure on the third rail I jitterbug into Ealing Broadway hopefully avoiding any Northern Line residual twang.Masterful stuff. The use of the 'merely an amateur' gambit, combined with our first outbreak of tokens and the reference to one of the greatest players of the late 19th century can only mean one thing:

You have won our first trophy!
http://img146.imageshack.us/img146/333/sigmovedd6.gif

[Spoo]

Masterful stuff. The use of the 'merely an amateur' gambit, combined with our first outbreak of tokens and the reference to one of the greatest players of the late 19th century can only mean one thing:

You have won our first trophy!
http://img146.imageshack.us/img146/333/sigmovedd6.gif


You sir, are a scholar and a gent. Most honoured.

[Zhyl]

Myself and a few friends have been working on a fool-proof strategy that will gurantee a first turn win. Unfortunately, we haven't worked out all the bugs as it is only in the beta stages of development.

My last move left me on an outside edge and as everybody has been playing rather defensively so far it leaves me little opening to catch up on the ground I lost from being boxed so early on. However, I think I will call Disco Doris' bluff and Silly Walk (c) to Euston

[[murray]]

I appear to be in a rather sticky situation here, being close to renumeration thanks to Spoo's move, but conversely find myself lucky to be north of the river after everyone south of it was put in knid. Ive been thinking all night what I can do to put myself in any kind of advantageous position, and it finally came to me at about 4am. "What," I thought, "did John A. Matranga do in the same situation, when being swung dangerously close to renumeration by Francis Turner III in the All Britain Open in 1933?"

Why, he performed a Harrow Foxtrot of course, allowing him to squee up the Hammersmith & City line, banking a right down the Northern Line to Oval.

However, this requires that i match Spoo's small blue token with 3 miniscule red tokens...

[faragher]

I have to say that I am a little disturbed about the proliferation of token use in this game. Whilst tokens have remained part of the game despite their demise on the actual underground, I feel that we are failing to capitalise on the new tactical advantages available by the quick swipes available on the Oyster Card.

However, I would like to remind everyone that if we do use these new approaches, failure to swipe out on exit can lead to automated knip (as well as a severe fine!)

[Zhyl]

YES! MY OPENING!

Victory dash to Morningto...

*gets hit in the head by a flying brick*

*Get's knocked out*

*Wakes up in Camden Town*

Damn, missed it. Maybe next time...

[Aladdin Sane]

Bad luck Zhyl, you must be pretty new to the game to not realise that straight dives to MC aren't possible when play is still in reverse before 4pm on a Friday...

In a bid to solve the sudden influx of tokens, I'm going to instead play a purple Tolkien on Burnt Oak in a bid to down-weigh the northen line, which should cause the southern knid areas from my last move to project an ever so slight radial shunt along the topleft diagonal, which whilst not enough to dislodge any other player, will provide just enough momentum for me to double switch to the circle and waltz over to Moorgate, thus completeing phase two of my Chesenham Drive and putting me in a rather nice position, I feel.

[Al]

Ah, now it would appear that you are attempting to pull off a round and round rearside quadrant loop.
Close. A round-and-round rearside reciprocation, which is not quite the same, although based on a similar premise and foiled by much the same move.

Anyway I'll save my tokens and walk to Bethnal Green.

]"What," I thought, "did John A. Matranga do in the same situation, when being swung dangerously close to renumeration by Francis Turner III in the All Britain Open in 1933?"
I think you'll find that was the 1943 All Britain Open. 1933 was famous for John McAdam vs Francis Turner II Jr, which is easy to confuse, where McAdam forced Turner into the North Circular Turnpike trap with a cunning play of Light on Your Face.

edit: how do i quoted murray?

[bionic sheep]

The sun is rising in the north, and Jupiter is in Uranus. I note the time signature, apply pressure amd wipe the dust from the windows, carefully allowing myself breathing space and covering my back against dual-track manipulation.

Kings Cross.

[Spoo]

Kings Cross places me in an ideal position to play an All Zones Pass thus rendering void ALL tokens less then orange and smaller than quite large (as per the token size deffinition sub-clause famously declared at sea off the coast of Brazil aboard the HMS Twitery SeaDonkey captained by MC Grand High Guru Captain Richard 'Several Gallons' Robbins).

Acknowledging the masterfull use of the Harrow Foxtrot by murray I shall risk an Eaton Soap Fetch into Embankment which I believe to be a fair move and damn the consequences.

[[murray]]

I think you'll find that was the 1943 All Britain Open. 1933 was famous for John McAdam vs Francis Turner II Jr, which is easy to confuse, where McAdam forced Turner into the North Circular Turnpike trap with a cunning play of Light on Your Face.



An easy mistake to make. My apologies.

Moving on with the game. For this turn, now my tokens are out of play, it seems that I am forced to use the Amarant Swoop in order to take Bow Church. Before I get the inevitable "you can't do that!" from everyone in the game, it IS an even month, the shirt I am wearing is a dark enough shade of green. I can post a picture if you dont believe me.

[Spoo]

']An easy mistake to make. My apologies.

Moving on with the game. For this turn, now my tokens are out of play, it seems that I am forced to use the Amarant Swoop in order to take Bow Church. Before I get the inevitable "you can't do that!" from everyone in the game, it IS an even month, the shirt I am wearing is a dark enough shade of green. I can post a picture if you dont believe me.

As long as your socks are of the correct length and you concede any rights you may or may not have to shimmy quadratically back to the outer loop I am willing to accept the move without photographic proof.

[[murray]]

My socks are of regulation length, and all rights are hereby conceded.

[Zhyl]

Well, it would seem that as I've been standing next to the damn thing for the past 2 moves I think it is my right to play the "Zhyl wins" card. Description:

Cost to play: 3

Effect: Flip a coin. If heads, Zhyl moves to Mornington Crescent. If tails, Zhyl doesn't move but instead puts into play seven large indestructable black tokens with flying, taking all tokens into his hand that haven't been played by players this turn.

I bought this card off e-bay for £5. Nobody else seems to have a use for it.

*flips coin*

[foo_fighter]

In a bid to solve the sudden influx of tokens, I'm going to instead play a purple Tolkien on Burnt Oak in a bid to down-weigh the northen line, which should cause the southern knid areas from my last move to project an ever so slight radial shunt along the topleft diagonal, which whilst not enough to dislodge any other player, will provide just enough momentum for me to double switch to the circle and waltz over to Moorgate, thus completeing phase two of my Chesenham Drive and putting me in a rather nice position, I feel.
This last move clearly puts me out of knid, as I was south of the river when the original move that put me into knid happened. However, I cannot make any moves that will not put me back into knid, so I best make the most of it. I will side-step over to Mansion House. This means I shall be out of knid next turn, just as long as no-one goes near Swiss Cottage.

Sure hope that 'Zhyl wins' coin won't land on heads. Duck, everyone!

[[murray]]

I must challenge the use of this card. Such an item must surely be a flagrant breach of regulations?

[totes]

Why yes, yes it is.

No, you can't hear burning noises.

Carry on.

[Spoo]

I would like to draw your attention to the fact that it is Friday and the weather today was mostly clement. No-one in there right mind would flip a coin on a clement Friday, clearly the coin cannot land untill the next overcast Tuesday or untill someone falls into a bilinear spring totum on the outer zones.

[[murray]]

Well noticed, Spoo.

[bionic sheep]

Well, on with the game. While I appreciate the current rulebook states that turnwise shuffles can only be applied on the second and sixth days of the week, and even then only during months which end in the letter 'y', I would like to point out that, when used in conjunction with my dastardly play of a double token and a fiesty forearm flick, I think you'll find it to be quite a devastating move. And so, by carefully applying the above strategy, I can proceed onto Goodge Street. Not the station with the most immediate tactical significance, I confess, but useful for long-term strategists like myself.

And before anyone contests the above move, I'd like to point out that it does have precedent dating back to the delectable Earl Fitz-Warmsley of Huntingdon Lodge, one of the greatest - and no doubt the most revered - players ever to grace our great game.

[Zhyl]

Oh bums, rumbled.

It just leaves me to go straight to Baker Street.

Did you know that 25% of Americans believe Sherlock Holmes to be a real person?

[[murray]]

I will therefore play a Golders Green Goblin Gambit, taking Golders Green, surprisingly. I believe I score double for alliteration and must receive a pat on the back from anyone East of Euston for summoning mythical creatures. Also, anyone currently at a station situated on the same street as a residence of a fictional character is now in Knid.

[scram]

']Also, anyone currently at a station situated on the same street as a residence of a fictional character is now in Knid.

Except for those at Baker Street because, as we all know, Sherlock Holmes was real.

[[murray]]

Only if youre American!

[Zhyl]

Damn, I'm now boxed, tagged and in knid. I really can't move this turn then.

Elementary.

[Meadow]

If I'm not very much mistaken, I do believe this allows me to seize control of the DLR with a Hostile Takeover of Canary Warf. I'm assuming the 1979 post-Callaghan government rules are being played here?

[faragher]

OOF! Apologies for the absence, too busy lying on the beach all weekend.

Excellent play all round at the moment, and some interesting tactical play. Good to see that a wide range of rules are being referenced.

Keep up the good work.

[flapjackboy]

OK, time to watch a master at work.

From Canary Warf, I invoke Marsden's rule of three and perform a triple lateral Brooke-Taylor shunt to Heathrow Terminal 4

[Meadow]

*sigh* Oh, Flapjack, you fell right into my trap. Had you gone for 1, 2 and 3 I would have been paralysed, but somehow they always go for 4. Thus:

*achem* It is with no small pleasure that, invoking the 1983 Knid-rethink of Brighton, while also bearing in mind the spirit of that master of the game, Barry Cryer himself, I can use my aforementioned grip on Canary Wharf to perform a perfect Backhanded Flip right into the Northbound Platform of Mornington Crescent.

Well played, everyone, I've certainly enjoyed this round a lot, as Faragher said it is clear we have some true professionals among us.

[faragher]

WE HAVE A WINNER!

Nice one. I am happy to declare this game over.

Also - have a trophy:

http://img283.imageshack.us/img283/5521/sigwinnergame1qi7.gif

Refs for the next one me and WT again. Applications by PM for next game refs please. Meadow gets to declare the rules used...

[Meadow]

Thank you kindly, Chair!

As for the rules of the next game, if I may be a little controversial, I'd like to see how the players here can adapt to the recent Tramlink Expansion Pack, released in the late 1990s. I know there was a staunch opposition to it at the time, but I hope we've moved on enough to at least give it a chance.

Standard rules apply, with the following exceptions:
- You cannot be caught in Knid unless the player three turns before you is in Loop
- Leapfrog is disallowed, being far too 'gamey' for my tastes
- The East London Line automatically gives the travelling player access to the DLR, regardless of Travelcard status/Oyster card billing

With that, I open the floor to the first move! May the best traveller win!

[Meadow]

As we all seem a little timid to begin, may I take the liberty?

A straightforward Circus Leap from the starting point of East Croydon to New Cross Gate, if you please.

[Ozzylator]

Such timidity is not without its merits, especially when considering the skill of the esteemed winner of the last round. Bearing this in mind, I believe that a shunt to Farrington would be a wise move.

[streety]

You seem to have misjudged the outer rectum which could prove your downfall. Using the vomitbox3000, I will trundle down to Royal Oak.

[Discodoris]

hmmm, I will take the plunge and swipe my Oystercard as I calypso into Liverpool Street, using the Brick Lane gambit first brought to the game by the original play of Winston Barrilove the III, as witnessed in the epic game of the 1999 masters

[Meadow]

hmmm, I will take the plunge and swipe my Oystercard as I calypso into Liverpool Street, using the Brick Lane gambit first brought to the game by the original play of Winston Barrilove the III, as witnessed in the epic game of the 1999 masters

Correction

I do believe it was Winston Barrilove the IV.

For my move, I will swim to Camden Town. A simple move, but a fallback for many masters of the game.

[faragher]

Correction

I do believe it was Winston Barrilove the IV.

For my move, I will swim to Camden Town. A simple move, but a fallback for many masters of the game.Pfft. Just because you won the last game, you think you know it all. Winston Barrilove III was the undispted master of the late 90's Mornington Crescent international tournaments. His son, Winston Barrilove IV, whilst a dab hand at Go, Chess, Mahjongg (the proper game, not the bloody stupid tile matching game) and Bridge, was a bit of a flop when it came to MC.

[Meadow]

Pfft. Just because you won the last game, you think you know it all. Winston Barrilove III was the undispted master of the late 90's Mornington Crescent international tournaments. His son, Winston Barrilove IV, whilst a dab hand at Go, Chess, Mahjongg (the proper game, not the bloody stupid tile matching game) and Bridge, was a bit of a flop when it came to MC.

Apologies. Correction withdrawn.

(however, Barrilove III undisputed? I seem to remember he came pretty close to defeat at the hands of the talented Russian Pakarov in the 1997 open. The tabloids had a field day.)

[Ozzylator]

When the esteemed gentlemen have quite finished their discussion, I shall take the opportunity to phase shift all the way to Daltson Kingsland. Professor Donald Trefusis would have been proud.

[[murray]]

In that case I will start with a Lazzara Boardwalk into a Dorian Shunt, from my starting position of Uxbridge to take Maida Vale.

[Meadow]

White Wine Spritzer to Alperton.

[Ozzylator]

Good move, good move. Barrel Roll to Kew Gardens

[[murray]]

Invoking the Miners General Strike treatise, all areas petitioned by the miners in 84 are out of bounds until the second quantum lateral is bypassed, and the shufflepuck is broken. This was first used by Scargill himself in an All-England Union Figureheads Invitational in 1984, when he used it to try and promote the cause of the miners.

This allows me to Manhattan Drop into Wanstead.

[Zhyl]

But you can't do that without tapping first other wise you would leave your prime location exposed and, if I'm right, this is not allowed, unless someone else were to do it for you.

Run to Picadilly Circus.

[Ozzylator]

Hmm, interesting. I think I shall invoke a risky move by scooting to Clapham South, which should be allowed given the precedent of Timothy William Tarantula esq. in the Johnsonian Semi-pro Tournament of 1996.

[totes]

Hmm, interesting.

I demand to see proof.

I think I shall invoke a risky move by scooting to Clapham South.

I think you will find, good sir, that you will not be allowed to scoot after Piccadilly Circus has been played, due to restrictions put in place after this was declared to be the "cheap 'n' easy" option.

Your direction of travel has now been reversed, for such blatant disregard of the rules.

[Meadow]

Invoking the spirit of the pre-Obscenity Laws game, I will make a Phallus to Stockwell.

[foo_fighter]

A good move there, however setting me up nicely for a reach-around to Seven Sisters, which I believe could help me in the long run.

[Ozzylator]

I think you will find, good sir, that you will not be allowed to scoot after Piccadilly Circus has been played, due to restrictions put in place after this was declared to be the "cheap 'n' easy" option.

Your direction of travel has now been reversed, for such blatant disregard of the rules.

My apologies, sir. I am but a learner to this fine game.

As such, I shall waft to Croxley, provided no rules are broken.

[Mushroom]

In 1932, the great Sir Reginald Wilberforce, the inventor (if you recall) of the Ross Defence, a strategy now sadly outdated since the introduction of the Jubilee Line, set off on his ill-fated expedition to the South Pole.
Less than an hour before he left his base camp never to return, his messenger brought him the latest move in the game of Mornington Crescent he had been having with Herbrand Russell, then Duke of Bedford.
He left the messenger with his returning move, and set off into the bleak conditions, never to be heard from again. Thus becoming the only man in history to have his last words part of a game of MC.

In homage to him and the move he made, I will solemnly plod to Harrow-on-the-Hill.

[totes]

I do recall.

No need to be all solemn about it though.

[Discodoris]

Since there has been heavy rain over London today, I have taken the consumer route gambit, vibrating the Central line through the financial district in the classic westerly only direction. In common with the absolutely classical manoeuvers of Cahoon and McPherson, I will shop to Tottenham Court Road. Umbrella play is to be keenly anticipated...

[CheHamstera]

Good afternoon one and all. The thread makes for nail-biting reading so far. Congratulations to Meadow on a spectacular win and well done to all for such varied game-play.

I understand my move would be safer under the cover of darkness, as famously played by Burt 'Scooter' Humphries during the semi-finals of the International League Challenge in St Albans during that fateful summer of '67, but in the hope of making an unforgettable entrance I will damn the rain and excecute a risky hexagonal cha-cha-cha into the relative safety and shelter of Marble Arch.

Graceful, yet slippery, I hope you'll agree.

[Meadow]

As I will be departing for Denmark tomorrow morning, I shall leave you all with my parting move. A somewhat more recent tactic is what I favour in this game, one first used in the infamous Man vs Machine clash, Barry Vadanov vs the MC Supercomputer, Deep Brown. (not to be confused with the later model, Deeper Brown, which managed to draw with the Russian champion)

As I believe was Vadanov's own 17th move in the gripping game, I shall execute a simple flip to Mill Hill East, thus reversing my opponents' advantage completely. It should be noted that vs Deep Brown, Vadanov required only six more moves to win following this attack, one of which was a executed in Knid.

[CheHamstera]

While I understand a hexagonal cha-cha-cha followed by a flip excecuted with the proper and precise 45.03 degree angle can be dauting to many players, frankly I thought you were all made of sterner stuff. :rolleyes:

As the majority of my fellow players seem to have vanished - no doubt stuck in the perpetual delays on the circle line - I shall press home my advantage with a move favoured by the gentlemen of the Explorers League in the early part of the 19th century, and duck into Great Portland Street. I believe this puts all players who are at stations with a point of the compass in its name into knid, unless of course anyone can tell me this is not so.

[[murray]]

I must hatily apologise for my absence. I have been down at university taking postponed exams which has had my mind on other things than MC. But now that I'm finished, I should be back in business for the near future.

With that in mind I shall execute a quick Sunset Flip into West Ham, thus closing off the 5th bilateral frugalised grebian route that I think Che was trying to use. Luckily I just escaped her compass point knidification! (sp?) If I am correct I've got MC in 2.

[CheHamstera]

Bah! Foiled again!

I shall have to retire to consider carefully my next move.

[totes]

Lots of good moves being played today!

I may have to get out my "Nice Move" trophy for you.

Play oooooooon!

[Discodoris]

ooh, [murray], your use of the Sunset flip has wonderfully freed me from the restrictions imposed by that executed by Meadow. Watching what Che was doing - playing with such panache (lovely stuff Che), has caused my opportunity. Without further ado, I take the chance presented to me and use the wonderful Graham Gardner move of Northern Soul shuffle and proceed to Mornington Crescent without further ado...

[totes]

We have a winner!

Now to pester faragher for the winner's trophy.

[faragher]

DORIS WINS!

And so, justice is served.

Have a trophy:
http://img238.imageshack.us/img238/3541/sigwinnergame2nt1.gif

And everyone have a rosette for taking part:
http://img151.imageshack.us/img151/5307/rosettegreenie9qj0.gif

[CheHamstera]

*round of applause*

Well deserved win Ms Disco.

[Zhyl]

Disco Doris comes up with the goodies.

[NorthernLine]

As it has been more than six hours since the trophy was presented, I invoke the Sheffield Grandslam 1982 Round Robin conditional rule #17 (as used by G Gasparoff) that allows me to make the first move as the last winner is clearly indisposed.

And given England's lacklustre performance today, I slither out at Oval.

[[murray]]

Surely there must be some rules about entire branches of the underground playing Mornington Crescent!

I kid, I kid. I will Electric Chair Drop into Goodge Street.

[Zhyl]

Oh play fair! We haven't hanged anyone in England since the sixties! An implement of execution is clearly against the rules in a british-based game!

[[murray]]

No execution is implemented at all! It is mearly a name for how the move is performed. Humphrey Boggens, the inventor of the move, described it as slumping into the station, in the manner of someone just put in an electric chair.

[Zhyl]

But then wouldn't this cost you extra tokens, having to import it and all?

[[murray]]

Oh I do apologise! I completely neglected to mention that I used 3 sequin sized gold tokens to import the move. If this means I incur a penalty I can but apologise.

[Zhyl]

Oh, that is good then. Well in that case I tap my black token for 5 and then quickspeed to Waterloo.

[CheHamstera]

In honour of the inclement weather, I'm not sure whether to choose a strike or a rumble as my first move this round, but hoping to impress upon you what a dymanic player I am, I will strike Willesden Junction, and damn the consequences!

But I will pay for any damages...

[Phork]

Hello again, all.

To get into the flow of things, I would like to use an stochiometric inverted twist slide (with electricity) into Picadilly Circus.

[Meadow]

I return from Denmark with a triumphant Swoop to Green Park.

[CheHamstera]

I hope to revitalise this thread with a spectacular and unusual Frankenstein's reanimate, and jerk zombie-like to Charing Cross.

It's alive! It's alive! It's alive! Mwuhahahaha!

*ahem* Sorry - don't know what came over me then!

[Zhyl]

Ok, I'm going to move my army in the south up to your sicilian defence and then banish your imperial warmage with my soulless reaper and then Fly to South Kensington.

[Reine Marge]

an impressive move, but is it in shunt?

[CheHamstera]

Helloooo!

Does anyone else think a 4 month break in a game is just a touch too long?

I think we ought to wipe the slate clean and get this going again - new year, new game?

Are you with me?!!

[faragher]

MEGA BUMP

Righty. Its time for some Mornington Crescent once more. For those not familiar, you could do no worse than to read the preceeding thread - and take a look at the rules here (http://www.geocities.com/verdrahciretop/mc1.html) - though they are now a little out of date.

Myself and some of the more senior MC players had a chat today about the rules we should use. I think it is worth reproducing in full here:



16:12 <nwa> i'm still working my way through my copy of the rules
16:12 <faragher> I have an early copy, but its so out of date now
16:12 <nwa> yeah i think my copy dates from 1947
16:12 <nwa> its the first post-war rule set at least
16:12 <nwa> frequent references to bomb shelters
16:12 <Megistos> the only ruleset worth using is Old Stovold's original
16:12 <skoo> but this is 2008
16:12 <skoo> the 7/7 bombings have taken their toll
16:12 <nwa> the new rules are too technologically minded
16:13 <nwa> and there is no provision for each player having to wear a cravat
16:13 <Megistos> allowing the 7/7 rules might be offensive to some people
16:13 <skoo> muslims?
16:13 <Megistos> being able to arbitrarily close stations by declaring them bombed could be upsetting
16:13 <Megistos> or bomb victim families
16:13 <nwa> i am neither a victim or a muslim
16:14 <faragher> but you can always invoke 'blitz spirit' to keep the line moving
16:14 <nwa> but the bombing rule defeats the spirit of the game i feel
16:14 <Megistos> only if you're playing with a post-1945 ruleset
16:14 <skoo> but ww2 was all about the bombs
16:14 <Megistos> which I don't personally believe in
16:15 <skoo> I'm a modernist when it comes to mornington crescent, gotta keep up on the latest rules
16:15 <Megistos> if it were up to me I'd play every game with the great rulesets to come out of the later 1700s
16:15 <Megistos> but games played with said rules often suffer a bit from having no underground lines built in those days
16:15 <nwa> tudor court rules meg?
16:16 <Megistos> that's going back just a bit too far for me
16:16 <skoo> you can't tell me that Bartholomew's crossing is better than a quick volley round the Causeway at Euston
16:16 <Megistos> having to pay tribute to the monarch every turn grates after a while
16:16 <Megistos> skoo: I certainly can, especially in light of the fact that the Causeway wasn't constructed in 1750
16:16 <nwa> but the new rules do indicate that the players have to be sober and salute boris johnson every other turn
16:17 <skoo> exactly my point, the Causeway is a fantastic addition
16:17 <Megistos> that's why I settle for the comfortable middle ground
16:17 <nwa> 1945 rules are, i think still the purest form of the game
16:17 <Megistos> Pre- or post-May?
16:17 <Megistos> they play very differently

WitSo this leans towards the post-may 1945 rules, no Jelsa Conferencing and Oystercards score double in zones 3 and 4, new Jubilee and DLR inclusive.

I'd adjudicate on technical issues as we go along, so please bear in mind I still use Sturmet's "Refereeing Mornington Crescent: Avoiding Over-Smug Gambits Amongst Talented Amateurs" as my bible.

You have been warned.

Anyway, I've tossed a brass token, and its fallen to Stockwell for our start. Chocks away, and keep it clean.

[Dr_nwa]

I am going to start simply and DANCE to Kennington

[scram]

No point in rocking the boat this early in the game. I'm going to keep South of the River and slip across to Brixton

[skoo]

Well played... I can't tell if you neglected to see the vantage that move gave me, or if you are trying to lure me into the Wallace Coup of '22...

Regardless, I'd be a fool not to take Pimlico.

Mine now!

[scram]

Shit. Honestly I was hoping that someone other than you would play after me, Skoo. Victoria line's always been your field of expertise. No point in the Wallace Coup now, you'll only get out of it.

Only two real possibilities to go with and I think I'm going to go with the less obvious one:

Putney Bridge

[Mr stabby]

I'm gonna keep with the summer and play South Wimbledon

Nice risk free move

[Dr_nwa]

i say, I completely neglected to ask, is the new london overground in play?

Regardless of whether it is or not, I am going to use Sir Henry Wither's legendary ha'penny dasher move first played at the 1923 renegade World Championship final and arrive at Kentish Town

[faragher]

I did say that DLR was allowed Dr-N, which should have told you that overground moves are permissible as long as they are clockwise

I'm obliged to make a congestion charge for you wasting time in this manner. You can pay by text, or set up an account online.

[skoo]

Blackfriars. Plain and simple. I can't afford to play any other move at this stage.

[Dr_nwa]

Because of my congestion charge I am going to have to play Lewisham

Similar to skoo this is all I can do.

[Zhyl]

I'm going to block off a few lines from the off and play Bank. It's going to restrict me later, but it will also stop me from being tagged before the first half is over.

[scram]

Taking advantage of the other players' restrictive movements, I am going to capitalise the North of the River transport hub with a move to Leicester Square. Entwhistle's Folly utilised to great effect, I think you will find, gentlemen.

You're making it too easy. Come on and give me a challenge.

[Dr_nwa]

I feel that due to Scram's masterful use of Entwhistle's Folly, I am going to use my oystercard as a 2 zone single and double hop to King's Cross

[scram]

Due to planned engineering works (http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/livetravelnews/realtime/tube/tube-all-future.html) the Jubilee line is dangerous territory until someone rolls a 15.

I'll play it safe with a bronze slip to my home station of Baker Street

[Reine Marge]

It's been a while but as it is my birthday today I am going to dive in!

Invoking the Horticultural Rule of Green Thumb I say - Kew Gardens. I realise that is making things difficult but I think you can all meet the challenge head on.

[scram]

Hey, a new challenger. Welcome and happy birthday. Double points for you.

As you've brought the colour green to the top of the pile I'm thinking you intend to progress via Richmond. And as I have spun a 3 I'm going to cut off that avenue with a crushing blow at Liverpool Street

[Al]

I'm going to bring it on home to North Acton at this point because you're at the wrong end of the Central line and it's too easy to hop around from there. You've opened other people up to the Alternate Improbability Skip, and I can't let that happen.

[Dr_nwa]

As it is monday and the sun is widdershins of what remains of the Cutty Sark, I am allowed under the rule change of 1944 to declare the central line closed due to bomb damage at the switching station.
With this in mind, I am skipping to Great Portland Street

[scram]

You seem to forget that the 1944 rule changes also shut down the Jubilee line for five turns. Unless, of course, that move was a deliberate attempt to force the game into a stalemate. You are reckless, nwa, and for that I will have to take one on the chin for the good of the game, moving to Oval and leaving myself in knip. :(

[Mr stabby]

I think I'm gonna play Bank but keep Beckton in backswing so you can't put me in Knip, especially with Zhyl playing it just a few turns ago.

[Chinchilla]

Well, usually I would make a move here that relies on Tudor Court Rules....but i see that we are playing with the present day layout of the underground. I mean, how am i meant to make a Plague Pit Gambit if i can't use Tudor Court?

So I will Worthington's Reversal back to Great Portland Street.

Call me a bad sport if you will, but my hand was forced! :mad:

[Dr_nwa]

Well with my cunning master plan of reckless gamemanship is panning out nicely, I'm going to go ahead and shunt to Euston.

[feeshy]

Ah, but you see that has left me a nice opening to amble into Vauxhall... And, if I may, I shall stop here for my next turn for tea and a muffin.

[Mr stabby]

nwa, I'm gonna play Arsenal and taking your shunt into account I think that leaves you to Turgoose for the next 3 goes.
Sorry buddy but points are low

[Zhyl]

nwa, I'm gonna play Arsenal and taking your shunt into account I think that leaves you to Turgoose for the next 3 goes.
Sorry buddy but points are low

What the hell? Since when was this sort of play allowed? Is anyone refereeing this game?

While the jury's out, I'm going to play Blackfriars.

[Mr stabby]

Theres no need, its within the rules of the game so long as I wasn't in Knip and I had a spare Toodle.
Unfortunately now I'm not left with many options, my next move could make or break me.

[Zhyl]

Ah right, I didn't realise that you could get a spare one at this stage of the game. My friend is borrowing volume XVI of the rulebook, so I'm going from memory rather than looking it up. Sorry about seeming a bit agressive.

[Mr stabby]

its alright, I don't know whether to call a false judication on you and end your game or just leave you be, risking a new player coming in and taking me out, but if they don't I can pick up travellers insurance.
I think I'll leave it, and play East India.

[Chinchilla]

Overhand Shunt to Canning Town and, as we are now in the second half, I`ll tag Zhyl.

[Reine Marge]

Oh crumbs this is getting tricky. I can only remember a game like this ... oh, no, wait I can't remember a game like this at all - I must be referring to a match of Australian rules Kerplunk! Silly me :rolleyes:

Right in that case I know exactly what to do - Leyton