Mornington Crescent
 

I think the Cellar is ready for this. I know that there are some experienced players out there, SundaeGirl has it in her genes, Steve Dallas is surprisingly knowledgeable, Labrat is reading up on the rules, and I'd be very surprised if CycleFrance is not a regional champion ...
I hereby open the inaugural round of Mornington Crescent in the Cellar. In deference to the presumed number of novice players I suggest we play by the simplified Cardew/Fordyce conventions, as amended in 2006, this amendment subsequently annulled in Janaury 2007 by the Hainault (via Newbury Park) regulation.
I'll open play with a generous move ...
East Finchley.

I'm sorry, I admit I've not play under the Hainault regulation. But was there not some talk of a change to make the Cardew/Fordyce convention more in line with the Islington Protocols, thereby removing the need for such regulations in the first place?

Canary Wharf (Steve that was done away with in the third revision)

Uh, I think I've got the basic notion down.

"Russell Square"

Is that OK?

ah, well-played

does Stoke-on-Trent count?

This is hysterical to someone who doesn't know how to play. Please continue.

Hmmm..... I'm going to have to say..... Dollis Hill.

Thanks, I had forgotten about that revision.

Glatt, feel free to jump in and make a move, once you've read and undertstood all the rules.

(It's too bad you can't play Mao via bboard...)

As a Yank, I'm at a distinct disadvantage here. My only exposure with this is from an uncle's, er . . . longtime companion who was a master player. He used to get us playing Acacia Avenue, but I'm sure this group is far too advanced for that. As he grew older, he grew funnier, and used to yell, "no inverse crossings!" at us when we cut across his backyard. Alas, he is no more, as he was fatally stung by a mating platypus while "on holiday down under" as he had put it. However, he willed me his battered (and rather smelly) copy of the annotated Finsbury rules, so I hope you will allow this variation in play.

In his honor, I'm going to make an obverse play and say --Vauxhall.

Ooof. Didn't see that move coming.

I'm delighted to see that this has got off to a flying start, but I'm afraid your move, Cloud, of Vauxhall, puts you in huff and has to be disallowed, especially in view of the Islington Protocol about which I had totally forgotten (thank you Steve).
I therefore counter with
Island Gardens.

ooo. dirty.

I downloaded the PDF of the amended rules from the second international congress and am only about halfway through, but I think I've discovered a weakness in the standard strategy. This may be a foolish mistake, but I'm moving straight to King's Cross.

Please have mercy on me.

A very crafty play, glatt. It seems that both you and UT (who also seems to have an excellent grasp of the rules) are born exponents of the game. I may have been mistaken in giving such a generous opening move ...

Don't think that no-one noticed your ingenious move to Stoke on Trent, barefoot serpent; you almost put UT in knip.

Okay, I've had to cheat a little, and get help from my grandson, since my copy of the Finsbury rules has a big--unidentified--stain obscuring the section on permissible counters to knips, and loops, which I need.

They are teaching his class MC as a memory and strategy aide, based on a text called, "Let's Play Morningstar Crescent: Simplified American Standard." Based on his help (he's 7):

Shepherd's Bush to block.

Grandson? GRANDSON? I need to see picture proof you're old enough to have a grandson.
Preferably nekkid picture proof.

Oh Mornington Crescent? Hmmmm

Shepherd's Bush was ruled PG13 and as such is unacceptable in the basic verion of the game. I believe that puts you in Knip and offers me the opportunity to sneak in a quick World Trade Center :eek: I sense an Aldwych coming on.....

I beg your pardon, Monster, but I believe your interpretation of the rules is incorrect. Certainly, I'm older than 13 (with FIVE and 3/4 grandchildren, no less), so Shepherd's Bush should be a perfectly acceptable move.

However, in the spirit of cooperation, and given that most of us are still learning the ins and outs, I'm going to ask for someone to offer me a trade-up play, in return for a--I think it's called a one-over?--so I can get myself out of knip, thank you very much.

some help from the more experienced players might be nice. Show us newbies how it's done!

Could we compromise with World Trade Center but no Knip and I'll protect you against Aldwych?

(There are no newbies -Limey was just trying the sucker-punch)

That's sounds fair. As I understand it, two players can cooperate on a one-over, as long as there are no loops in play. I suck at games, sorry.

except for Trivial Pursuit. I kick ass at Trivial Pursuit! not the music version, though.

In the recent definitive match of Smy vs. Smye manouevres like this were brought into question, though I think that was quite understandable as there were only two players in the game.
This game is developing along an interesting trajectory, with the translatlantic stamp certainly making a difference to the moves chosen - I'll venture into new territory myself and suggest advancing to Greenwich Village ...

Am I a novice or is that a disqualification?

Assuming your advance is an actual play, rather than a "suggestion," Limey, I believe that introduces a North-South vulnerabilty. Therefore, my next move will be to:

Walthamstow Central.

You are right, UT, I shouldn't have presented the move as a "suggestion". I am sure that you have referred to the reports of the 1826 friendly transatlantic tournament between teams from Horse Springs (USA) and Altrincham (UK) in which this matter was clarified in a friendly manner. I stand corrected and will make no more suggestions, only actual moves.

Phew... I'd hoped I wasn't speaking out of turn.

Well clearly the only sensible move to be made from Wathamstow is direct to Grange Hill -the Bronson Memorial Manoover (sic). Get out of that one!

You've got it backwards I'm afraid... the Bronson Memorial Manoover, if that's really what you want to do, would require you to move to Cockfosters.

I think you're a little confused -that's the Brisley Maneuver, also known as the Brown Line Detour.

http://tv.cream.org/arkwelimages/gh.gif

I have a great deal of experience with the Brown Line Detour, and I assure you that's not it.

I bow to your greater knowledge, but stand by Grange Hill as the next stop.

I know myself. I'm going to get my feelings hurt if I continue to play, so I think I'm going to withdraw. If anyone needs to consult the Finsbury rules for any reason, just let me know.

Play fair!

I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings. But I do want to play Barking. I feel strongly about it. Barking Barking Barking!

down boy!

I'll take the bait, UT - Isle of Dogs!

Can we please move out of East London as I see them as stations rather than moves... There's a wonderful Italian ice cream shop in Barking...

Anyway.

As Barking is wild - being a mainline station - I move Barking to West Ham to Stratford- two to three privilege sacrificing Plaistow (as this is where my ex used to live so I'm glad to be rid of it).

I can't believe the opportunity for this classic move presented itself so readily! Playing as a veteran of many years standing, since before the Jubilee and The Oyster existed, I give you

Time for an east-west Joker - via the Circle Line jug handle which isolates Earls Court (I have a feeling that might be about to be played - could be wrong though - bit of nail-biter) - so it's High Street Kensington with a compulsory northbound intervention.

I think that closes the Canus Gambit.
Warren Street

Isn't it the Ball-Sac Binding Maneuver?

You're getting too close to Hampton Court introducing the Ball Sac Binding Manoeuvre (and that can be painfull - as well as being overground)

But I think I have time to slip in a Shepherds Bush while you're not looking...

I'm beginning to see that radio broadcasts that I've heard have been heavily edited.

I'm going to queer your crafty pitch for Shepherds Bush with a little Swiss Cottaging.

Speaking of which - Hamstead

Hampstead I presume?
At which point you lay yourself wide open for the classic blocking manouevre:

Euston

(try & get back to Mornington Crescent from that one! HA!)

Hells teeth! And I was poised to leap en passent to MC from there.

OK and don't say you weren't warned.

Well that's just backwards! I'm rolling a nine on that one and moving to Marylebone.

Hokey Dokey.

Really elegant reversal there Monster, and to be sure Marylebone does challenge the 1926 ruling on High Church traversal, at least with four or more players. Interesting precedent in (I believe) 1953 due to its being Coronation year of course. Thought provoking. Anyway I digress. OVAL

Hardly cricket CZ! And I'm sure the 1926 ruling was amended by the d"Oyly Carte variant of 1936 covering odd-numbered players on weekdays. Add to this the Festival of Britain appendix (Skylon mark 3 revision) and I am left with no choice other than to play ST. JAMES'S PARK. Not very good-spirited, I admit, but my hands are tied, as I am sure you will appreciate.

Almost certainly a feint by CF to bring on a cascade (Parks and Gardens in this case) as referred to in the Wheatstone Memorial Game currently ongoing elsewhere in the ether ... There is , of course, the possibility of a Hagiographic Strategem as perpetrated in the Vatican City Mornington Crescent Tournament of 1933 ... hm... which to choose ... better be quick before someone blocks me ...

St Pancras!

Zounds B-Limey, you'll have to get up a little earlier if you think you're going to slide that one past us. Pretty reminiscent of the famous Ruskin-Redgrave manouvre of 1932 if I'm not mistaken. Before our time admittedly but re-enacted by Garden v. Rice at Chichester during the Summer festival of 1976, the year of the great drought and silver jubilee. I am surprised at you but nevertheless impressed!

In the spirit of Brooke-Taylor, Kew Gardens.

Damn'ee CZ - you know horticulture 's my weak point, but it's not the end of the line yet you know... unless.....

MORDEN

Simply because I'm a new player, I'm not afraid of the controversy:

Heathrow Terminal 4

*sharp intake of breath over the teeth*........

Tower of London, please. And I claim the dozen scones (heh heh)

Tonchi I think perhaps you meant Tower Hill where the District and Circle skim west just before the old Tower itself, unless yours was a devious ploy to liberate the stone=scone under cover of playing the game...? Deeply sneaky.

Out at Terminal Four Ut, pretty wild and wily, we must watch you very closely.

My work today took me into the lives and loves of Bedlam so partly in their honour I give you LAMBETH NORTH

one up, two down. drink.

If you stop at Tower Hill first, the ravens will see you coming and block the scones nicking. Tower of London manoever was taught to me by a Chilean refugee from the Pinochet regime in 1974, and I feel it only fair to mention it only works outward bound. Carry on.