The inevitable return of Mornington Crescent

[ComeIntoTheGardenMaud]

As winter approaches and the nights draw in, one’s thoughts naturally turn to wholesome, homely entertainment. Instead, though, I invite experienced players and novices alike to join me in a game of Mornington Crescent.

To keep the pace gentle, I’ll begin with an inverse Lepton to

Seven Sisters

The only possible move from there is a triple Oyster to Caledonian Road, but that’s my last foxed play so I’ll have to retire gracefully and spectate.

I can’t see MC in three from here, unless… No. Surely not? No-one has pulled off that particular formation since Helsinki ‘83. I’ve read about it, of course, but never seen it in a live game. How thrilling.

The Piccadilly line always seems to throw up conundrums, as it indeed did in Helsinki 83, not that I was there to witness it.

Playing the closed stations rule therefore, so York Road it shall be.

Mornington Crescent

I can't believe it! I was there in Helsinki. The strategy worked!

Oh Bravo @squarepegleg. That was quite a rapid game chaps.

Well done, squarepegleg! Helsinki was a pivotal moment in the development of the modern game. So many of us learnt so much from it, especially once the riots caused by the unorthodox and unprecedented use of the Palmerston Shuffle on the southbound Northern line had been quelled.

Over to you to start the next game.

Goodness me. A true Gladstone on an unfenced board. I never thought I’d see the day. Bravo!

Thankyou everyone!

I think I'll go easy now and begin with

Victoria

Breathtaking Squarepegleg! Utterly splendid.

Brondesbury

Can't believe I missed the action. Again! (I was late to the final day in Helsinki due to the blizzard so missed it then as well)

Jolly well done!

I'll take it easy for now - although the very shrewd amongst you might recognise this move and therefore know what can come next!

Nine Elms

According to Chapter 13 of Stovold that combination means my only legal move is to go south of the river so Balham

Which means, therefore, that the only possible move is (of course!)

Farringdon

Really? I’ll try to retrieve the situation with

Battersea Power Station

Very elegant.

Harlesden.

Are we playing that all stations opened since the 2014 symposium in Bruges are wild?

If so, I am free to do perform a Jakeson Twist

Finsbury Park

I’ve consulted Sprockett’s and the answer is yes, apart from the leap year stations, which are obviously tocked.

Abbey Wood.

Tocking is so restrictive, especially when Circle and District lines are in nubbings, but it doesn’t prevent a bifurcated lunge to

Willesden Junction

Oh I love this move! One of my favourites...

Pimlico

Oh golly gosh I feel compelled, Overground outage 1961 and all that
White Hart Lane

Oh ho... nicely done.

Hmmm. Going deeper as per the Frontier Rules...

Hampstead

You do know the Tufnell Park residual ruling (1956), yes? When all of the deep-level air-raid shelters were decommissioned, sprout lobs to the first above-ground station on any branch were legalised.

Stamford Brook

Sorry. Sincerest apologies. Belsize Park residual ruling. Such a silly error.

Playing the Scandinavian Triple exemption gives me

Hammersmith (IKEA)

If I'm not mistaken the Scandinavian triple allows me a VERY rare tram network move!!

Ampere Way

Now I'm going to have to have a sit down!

Ooo, a beautiful move. I’ve been looking to play Ampere Way for some years now. So pleased to see it in play at last.

i THINK that allows me to do a widdershins Reverse diagonal deepdive to

Clapham Common

There is some very sophisticated play going on here. I'm going to go with something a bit more straightforward as I think another oblique risks me ending up in Nidd.

Tottenham Court Road