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.