Weebls Stuff Mornington Crescent - The Shirley Open

[Ozzylator]

While Murray demonstrates the fine sport to the newcomers, I hereby declare the Shirley Open arena for those of us who fancy shaking off the rust before the Clement Attlee opens in earnest.

Opening declared rules - I or any deputy nominated may invoke or void any or all oysters in play, to keep the match flowing. By public request, 1974 Higgs-Royston rules are valid but I feel the Anderlecht variant is a little stunted for the scope of this match and is therefore inapplicable - in this instance we will play a modified Sanderstead variant whereby wards on the Circle line score triple instead of the typical Sanderstead two-and-a-half: we want to keep a solid flow here.

In one final addition, in deference to my heritage, the Croydon Tramlink is a valid extension of the District Line. We have to keep the game evolving even to this day.

In light of this, I nominate the tramlink's Sandilands.

[Disgruntledgoat]

The Anderlecht variant does limit Euston interchanging, of course, perhaps later in more advanced rounds.

As my opening gambit, I put forward the fairly safe bet of Shoreditch. It limits further East London departures, but can open up the possibility of the DLR, which I believe is valid in the Sanderstead variant.

[Ozzylator]

Touchy issue, largely due to the loss of page 6 of the codified Sanderstead third edition. But seeing as we're playing Tramlink it'd be rude not to.

[Disgruntledgoat]

Anyone joining in?

[Ozzylator]

Anybody at all?

[Reine Marge]

All right if you insist I shall join in :rolleyes: Please note I will be invoking Montague's Third Principle where necessary ... and with that in mind I say, Chalk Farm

[Felishka]

Sorry to be ignorant but I don't understand what this game is about. :(

[Shalashaska]

*Sigh*
I would but I don't know the British version of the game. In Ireland, we envoke Gracherstajin's fourth law, and I don't think it would work in this game.

[Anchovy]

I was raised on the Yorkshire variable of Pithies' First Rule as opposed to the more common Third Rule so i don't think I know how to join in exactly. I will see if I can be of help in the third quarter.

[Disgruntledgoat]

I think it this situation it would be safe to join during a Metropolitan interchange, but with the necessary zone limits, of course.

Moving the game forwards, Chancery Lane bypassing Blackfriars' risky Fotheringham manoeuvre completely.

[glitch]

Sorry to be ignorant but I don't understand what this game is about. :(

Just read the above posts more carefully and you should get it :)

I'm going to play Reeves Corner - another bold move as the station was only opened following the most recent revision of the rules, throwing its validity into question. Wallace's Exception allows it, and Rowland was permitted to do so in the '87 Basingstoke quarter-finals. I believe this move is valid for fourteen points (only twelve under Bernstein ruling - the game's instigator should make this clear).

[Ozzylator]

Ah a fine round in my absence. To some queries: Shalaska, "Old Gracherstajin" and his eleven fine laws are perfectly welcome here - simply multiply the resultant points cache by 1.5 to take into account this game's pacing. Also Anchovy, the first rule was always a bit inflexible for my taste but there's no reason it can't be reverse-engineered into this round - I mean, after all, we're among friends, and at any rate Earl's Court hasn't been forced. As for Glitch's bold move, you're quite right, I should have clarified - we will in fact be using the Warren compromise method for evaluating ruling discrepancies - this would give you thirteen points for Reeves Corner. Unlucky for some but we will see.

As for my own move, I think I should thwart any potential Mackerel Opening by shifting St John's Wood into play.

[Disgruntledgoat]

I'm going to head for Tufnell Park and accept the points deduction under the Sanderstead variant's current ruling.

It's a bit unorthodox, but it worked for Hazeldean in the '92 Hampshire Invitational, it can work for me.

I would also like to remind all players that of course no shunting is allowed. It's tempting but it's just not cricket.

[Paradigm^]

I'd like to get in on this, but can I just confirm we're playing February 1968 rather than June - I know 02/68 is the standard but some people play otherwise, and with the moves that have been made so far it does make a difference for once and will very much affect my strategy (the Piccadilly Line being in knip always does, I play my cards very close to my chest ;) ).

[Ozzylator]

Oh you worrier - don't worry, this is classic 02/68. You play your strategy - I've made a bit of an untoward home advantage for myself in initiating the Tramlink, like I always learned, so it's only sporting to keep everything else as fair as possible.

And a Picadilly knip? Some purists might call that an unfair accusation. Mind you I've always been noted for hogging Picadilly, District and Circle so what do I know.

Anyway I'm wary of disgruntledgoat's move - he probably knows something I don't. Nevertheless I'll bite the bullet and shuffle down to South Kensington. Bread-and-butter move really - I could be falling straight into his trap.

[Paradigm^]

I'm pretty sure that if we were playing Sanderstead on 06/68 we'd have a Picca-knip by now, unless I'm getting confused and mistaking it for Anderson '86? It's a moot point anyway though if we're on 02/68.

Ozzylator, I think you're right in being suspicious of Disgruntledgoat, and I think I can see what he's planning. So I'm going to get defensive and take Finsbury Park early, in case the worst comes to the worst.

[Boyinabox]

It's been quite a while since I last played so I'm a bit shaky on the rules squareside but am I right in thinking that if I start by settling at Canary Wharf I still have room to sidestep to Canning Town without exposing myself to an embassy pass by Glitch in the third segment?

If not, I'll go for a default run at Blackfriars. Always a safe bet.

[Disgruntledgoat]

Ok, part 2 of Hazeldean's Hampshire Route really needs me to move out into the relative safety of Zone 3, but in reality I think it would be more advantageous for me to skip this out and travel straight to Goodge Street.

I believe this is to be acceptable? Although I can't help feeling like I've forgotten something...

[Felishka]

OMG! I still don't get it, this is so confusing. Are these real places?

[BobbyNoShoes]

Goodge Stree to Tottenham court road. As we well know to knofler gambit prohibits further northwards moves until de-coupling has occured.

[edit]

Felishka as a new player it'll probably be best if you wait for some one to progress us to at least Bethnal green and from there i'd recomend skippin on to waterloo (avoiding london bridge where possible)

That should give you the best chance at scoring a few before having to fight for charing cross although all of this is speculation until we see decoupling and a move to the earl of spencers compensatory measures (designed to get new people into the game, although not to popular with advanced players)

[Ozzylator]

Beautiful play. You're bringing tears to my eyes.

At this point a move to Hatton Cross could only be a good thing.

[Felishka]

Sorry Bobby, but this game is too intellectual for me. I don't understand where the links are and don't know more than half of the places.

[Disgruntledgoat]

Ok, something is starting to unfold. Bakerloo line switch to Maida Vale.

All players with the letter "a" in their names receive bonus points for interchanging for the next three rounds, in accordance with Svensson's 4th ruling on Bakerloo Line interchanges.

[BobbyNoShoes]

Ooh missed out on 3 points there, in retaliation i'm going to shunt Disgruntled from Maida vale and the station is mine.

If we're still following Svensson's 4th then shunting reduces the point bonus to the next 2 rounds not three. But acording to Svensson's 3rd i must skip my next turn

[Disgruntledgoat]

Was about to have a go for shunting, but Svensson's 4th is in play and its listed as one of the shunting exceptions in the Norwich Convention of 1983.

So, well played.

[Paradigm^]

Damn. It looks like I've been forced into a corner somewhat, despite my best precautions. With this Svensson's 4th in play (I'm really not a fan), my best bet is Uxbridge, since the Hammersmith and City isn't an option any more. If things continue in the same vein though, we're looking at a repeat of the 1991 Cromwell Semi-Final shocker :\

[Ozzylator]

Not if I have my way. I've been checking the lie of the land and it was suddenly blindingly obvious - the Central line provides a complete Zone 6-to-Zone-6 without needing a single interchange. So if I invoke the Statham Shuffle to shift my start from Uxbridge to West Ruislip it should take nothing more than an elementary move to Epping to break the deadlock.

[Disgruntledgoat]

I have to confess this hasn't quite worked out how I wanted it to, and I may be stuck going round and round the circle line thanks to the earlier shunt.

So, starting in Paddington, anti-clockwise is pretty much my only viable option until, at the very least, Svensson's laws cease being applied or someone (inadvertently) does me a massive favour.

[BobbyNoShoes]

well disgruntled as i shunted you it's only sporting to make my next move to aldgate east via canada waters. freeing up both the jubilee line and the DLR. you'll have to excuse the sporting pun (as we all know the freeing of two lines in one move was introduced through the convention of the advanced sportsman)

[Ozzylator]

It's time to end this madness. Svensson isn't applicable if three interchanges on the Hammersmith and City are completed consecutively - so a move to Kings Cross St. Pancras will end this ludicrous rule and put me in a very mobile position for the coming game.

[Paradigm^]

Thank fuck for that - I was losing out in a big way there.

Well, this leaves me free to move up the line from Uxbridge and take Harrow-on-the-Hill. A standard split-track play, nothing special from me here this move I'm afraid.

[Arfmaster]

.....Can somebody explain this to me? I recognise the place names, Is this some sort of monopoly variant? I wish to get in on this act.

[Kamikazi spoon]

.....Can somebody explain this to me? I recognise the place names, Is this some sort of monopoly variant? I wish to get in on this act.

hint: get wikipedia, listen to "i'm sorry i havnt a clue" and get the london underground up...


anyhoo, this is gonna be a risky move...

marylebone

[glitch]

armaster: read the other posts in this thread more carefully - you should get it soon enough.

I hope he won't mind my saying so, but Paradigm's move was very amateurish - he's left me wide open to simply play the next station on the Metropolitan line, which is Northwick Park. The astute player will see that my strategy largely involves making obvious, dubious moves for the sake of moving the game along.

Note that this move eliminates the possibility of a station in Zone 7 (or on the Piccadilly line) being played for the next couple of turns. I think the next player will need to assess the situation and make his or her choice with care to avoid a premature conclusion to this rapidly developing game.

edit: Apologies, KS made his play while I was writing this post. I won't change my decision, but this does allow the next player to pick a station on the Piccadilly line.

[Ozzylator]

Thus shafting you grandly because I can now move to Leicester Square.

[Paradigm^]

Glitch, I apologise in advance - it would appear you have fallen straight into my cunning trap.

Upminster.

[glitch]

I admit, my earlier move wasn't as brilliant as I'd first thought.

When considering my next move, I thought I saw an opportunity to play Mornington Crescent, which would have ended the game (though only on a technicality - this would be the same loophole exploited by Norris in the Danish '82 finals). This of course would have defeated the point of my opening gambit and it would have felt like a hollow victory at best, even if it were allowed. Anyway I've decided against it, and I'm going to play Willesden Junction instead. Hopefully this move won't be as weak as my last.

[BobbyNoShoes]

I think it may be time to bust out London Bridge for me, whilst a blatant "Double Andrews" i think you'll like where i'm going with it. Although having glitch at willesden Junction could prove problematic if zone 3 and 5 are removed from play. Even the great Norris couldn't work around that one i dare say

[Paradigm^]

I'm tired and feeling lazy so I'm just going to go for Marble Arch and be done with it. I'll deal with the repercussions later.

[faragher]

Are we playing with the DLR (and the extended Jubilee line?). I know its '68 rules, but in Semi's of the 2002 Swedish Open, Rolfeffersen was allowed to push south of the river to Greenwich, sealing the District Line for 22 moves due to the referee ruling that anachronistic shunts could be allowed under the Down Street and Aldwych convention
If so, I won't be so bold as to go as far as him, but I would like to play Cutty Sark which also has the advantage of allowing boat transits westwards. If not, its a full bore scramble to Chalfont and Latimer I'm afraid...

/edit

God I love this game. Why did no-one PM me to let me know?

[Ozzylator]

Faragher: We are playing DLR, Extended Jubilee Line and Croydon Tramlink as extension of District line.

Also, now you've weighed in I reckon it's time to consolidate - I know from experience that you're a fearsome player. I'll shift down the district and Tramlink until I'm at East Croydon. Not only is this a mighty transport hub for buses and national rail, it gives me the chance to shift along to Birkbeck and then straight up to New Cross Gate - but naturally avoiding a penalty fare because I'm travelling on the Tramlink. Cheeky stuff I know but the game has to evolve to keep up with the times.

[Paradigm^]

East Croydon? Sorry Ozzylator but that's just not cricket and you know it. If you're going to violate the rules so flagrantly it's not worth playing with you. Everyone knows East Croydon isn't open until all the Parks have been cornered - this is the one rule that's been around since the beginning, and the only time it's been breached gave the Black Summer of '72 its name. (I need not remind you that the ruling was overturned unanimously by the BMCC - or have you "forgotten" again?)

Way to go bringing up a dark stain on the noble game, man. Seriously, grow up.

[Ozzylator]

Bit harsh - Poswold's "Mornington Crescent Through The Ages (third reprint)" states that the Sanderstead rules variant permits for an uncornered move through any National Rail station provided the player takes an adequate penalty - and points are hardly in short supply in this fast-paced match.

[Paradigm^]

Don't try that bullshit with me, Ozzylator. It's not gonna fly.

[BobbyNoShoes]

In Ozzy's defense the Black Summer of 72 is never spoken about and can often slip the mind as an incident we'd all rather forget.

I'll have to knobble the coffler and take Barking thats 4 points to all trains with a conductor, enjoy

[Ozzylator]

In all sporting fairness the Thorpe Upminster trap you've been playing lately is a bit of a below-the-belt strategy that I'm sure people have been overlooking for the sake of sportsmanship. People who live in glass houses, and all that.

[Paradigm^]

Oh, fuck off. There's a difference between being sneaky and outright breaking the rules. As far as I'm concerned, you should be disqualified, and I'm pretty sure the BMCC is on my side on this one.

[Ozzylator]

I'm not happy being hounded like this. I've played the game respectfully for years now - I've written books on it. I have broken no rule.

[Boyinabox]

Everyone knows East Croydon isn't open until all the Parks have been cornered - this is the one rule that's been around since the beginning, and the only time it's been breached gave the Black Summer of '72 its name. (I need not remind you that the ruling was overturned unanimously by the BMCC - or have you "forgotten" again?)
Ozzylator, I think you're right in being suspicious of Disgruntledgoat, and I think I can see what he's planning. So I'm going to get defensive and take Finsbury Park early, in case the worst comes to the worst.

Pot, kettle much Paradigm^?

If we're playing by Higgs-Royston rules then you should know full well that the All Park's rule is rendered invalid if the first park station taken is over 120 years old. I think you're just trying to obfuscate the game using a classic Robert J Fischer psyche, you know full well Ozzylator cold simply use a Waterloo-Basingstoke overground shift to sidestep the All Parks rule even if it was in effect.

In short, sit down and be quiet.

Anyway, I honestly think I'm out of the running already but I'll just do a discrete pass to Kentish Town. It's not a game winner but I think it'll at least consolidate my position.

[Arfmaster]

Is this it? Random article on wikipedia, and various things on the london underground?

[BobbyNoShoes]

for gods sake arf, if you don't know the rules PM people i wont stand for such frippery specially whilst Boyinabox is always at Kentish town. I will, with malice, take kings cross and i'm willing to gamble Shadwell for it

[glitch]

If you're playing for the first time I recommend waiting for someone to play a station on a primary-coloured line then shunting east (or anti-clockwise if on Circular) and then playing a station with "Saint" in the name. If that happens to be one of the stations on a Monopoly board then...

Sod it. Look, if you don't know how to play, just Google it for God's sake. Or message one of the players. If you still don't understand, don't post! It just seems childish to whine that you don't get it when other people are trying to play the game.

[Paradigm^]

If you're going to Google the rules, do make sure you include the fact we're playing Sanderstead in your search, otherwise you're going to get all sorts of misleading stuff.

[Ozzylator]

I figure a move to Shadwell should be inoffensive enough so as not to tread on anybody's corns.

[Anchovy]

I call Euston! Yes! I never get Euston!

[faragher]

Euston? Euston!? Cheap move. Shows little class, especially given that its snowing.

It's a one stop, no risk move for me then chaps.

Oh, wait, snow. Balls. Bloody Finnish always making life awkward. NL is down so its off to Seven Sisters I'm afraid. At least that stops you all from using the Highbury and Islington interchange.

[BobbyNoShoes]

I'm starting to feel the pinch now, using mulberries second i opt for Monument but excluding bank. Risky but i need the points

[Disgruntledgoat]

I think we've all missed the bigger picture here. There's been some fantastic play in my brief absence from the Shirley Open, but I think we are all above petty arguing and squabbling, and have seen some damn fine Crescenting.

And on that note, Barbican for a textbook Half-Hammersmith approach that leaves everything wide open again. I've got a feeling that this may lead to the conclusion of this round at least...

[Ozzylator]

Ah I feel it's time for the hammer blow. Bank and Monument.

[BobbyNoShoes]

Nooo i had gambled just monument just to see it taken away from me at the last. I'm not in a position to do anything but change conductors and wait for a link onto the DLR.

I believe with a winstanton 2'nd the game is over for all but Ozzy

[Disgruntledgoat]

Ealing Broadway

It's academic now though, well done Ozzy. Good game everyone...

[Ozzylator]

And with a final run up the Northern line it's touchdown time in Mornington Crescent.

It's been fantastic playing here. You guys are the best opponents I've had in years. Any rule requests for the next round?

[Disgruntledgoat]

No preference for me, really. Perhaps a provincial Canadian version for some spice or the Uzamaki variant on the Tokyo subway?

[BobbyNoShoes]

Congratulations Ozzy on a hard fought and well deserved victory.

Disgruntled, hold on old boy the Tokyo subway with Uzamaki. Don't let Uzamaki fool you thats best applied to the new york underground system, it adds a level of complexity not normally found by their simplistic colour coded system.

For me it has to be the Dutoronomy brothers crippled running, i just like factoring real time weather into the game

[Ozzylator]

Reluctant to experiment with overseas networks - even taken as extensions via Heathrow and London City they seem to rest almost entirely on their novelty value.

[Boyinabox]

I wouldn't dismiss overseas networks as simply novelty game types. The gridplan and straight track layout of the New York Subway makes it an easier game for beginners to Mornington Crescent to get to grips with whilst the unique layout also makes normally rare moves such as Bakenheimer Switches far more important.

Also it may give us a chance to beat you. :D

[Ozzylator]

Oh boxy I'm flattered, really, but I just got lucky. If Bobby had played the full Bank AND Monument complex I'd have been nowhere, locked on the DLR with nary a point to my name by the time the opportunity struck.

[Ozzylator]

Shame this is sliding to oblivion. Anyone up for another round?

[Disgruntledgoat]

Yeah go on then.

[BobbyNoShoes]

it was fun, why not. Finsbury park rules?

[Ozzylator]

Finsbury Park featuring DLR and Tramlink with triple points for Hammersmith and City cross-switches. Shunting acceptable on alternate turns. Thompson invocation and Hubbarding also in play. Acceptable?

[Disgruntledgoat]

I like it.

[Ozzylator]

Well under Thompson we can get underway.

So a classic opening of Stonebridge Park.

[glitch]

An odd opening move for a seasoned professional such as yourself to choose Ozzy - stations on the Bakerloo line are notoriously easy to follow up with Thompson's Gambit. Invoking my Tertiary Token so early in the game presents only a slight disadvantage so I reckon it's worth playing Highgate.

[Disgruntledgoat]

Sticking with the edge of play, Cyprus DLR station.

Of course, topping up your Oyster Card is more difficult if you stick on the DLR, but this is only applicable if the game lasts a month or more.

[Reine Marge]

I see this is going to be one of those memorable games. I'm going to take a chance and invoke Percival's Rule of Transigence (revised version), Ongar

[Chinchilla]

Hey, another game of Mornington Crescent! I knew it had been too long since the last one.

I need to read the posts and catch up with the latest moves....and what version you have chosen to use.