The Return Of... Mornington Crescent - Page 4

Immortal Wombat · July 23, 2003, 13:58

How peculiar. It seems in an effort to avoid the over-prevalent premature Holbornage, everyone has missed it completely, and is now basing their entire strategy on the fact that Holborn is both free and nisbit free. Which bizarrely means that anyone who plays it would similutaneous screw up everyone's plans - including their own, rendering it more beneficial to avoid it completely. At least, for everyone with a chance of winning. But what a great opportunity for a late-start opening move.

Wharfhoppers R us!!

Holborn

Az · July 23, 2003, 13:59

damn you monolith.

Duh!
you can't play Northholt without Mill Hill East in Queen's rules.

monolith94 · July 23, 2003, 14:06

You couldn't have honestly thought that Mill Hill East would still be vacant by this stage in the game, could you have? My goodness.

And anyway, the impact of Holborn is overrated. Merely a flesh wound, as the prophet said.

Immortal Wombat · July 23, 2003, 19:24

Just wait 'til the endgame. You'll find yourself wishing Holborn was free.

*End Is Forever* · July 23, 2003, 20:01

Is Aldwych valid in this version?

Drake Tungsten · July 23, 2003, 20:17

Quote:

Foul. Drake's already taken Finsbury Park.

I can't believe he tried to steal Finsbury Park away from me. Thanks, IW; without Finsbury Park, my Arabian defence is done for.

To continue with the classical Arabian, I'll take Liverpool Street.

Imran Siddiqui · July 23, 2003, 20:51

Well, it seems my hidden strategy seemed to work wonders as I've left you all completely unaware for:

Paddington

Immortal Wombat · July 23, 2003, 20:52

yeah, maybe if I hadn't Holborned. It'll screw you and all after Stefu's next move.

Drake Tungsten · July 23, 2003, 20:55

A brave man, placing so much trust in a Finn.

Immortal Wombat · July 23, 2003, 20:59

Imran Siddiqui · July 23, 2003, 20:59

They're evil you know?

Drake Tungsten · July 23, 2003, 21:03

Being pure evil is somewhat of an advantage in Mornington Crescent. Allows you to use some of the more brutal techniques without remorse.

Imran Siddiqui · July 23, 2003, 21:03

Yeah, but relying on evil is a futile move.

Immortal Wombat · July 23, 2003, 21:05

We'll see. I've only a partial interest in the outcome anyway. Not like I'm going to win in a hurry.

monolith94 · July 23, 2003, 21:06

It's far more satisfying to use benevolency maliciously.

That said, I'm going to really like the looks on your faces when you see Heathrow Terminals 1,2,3 clogging up the arteries of your game plans...

Drake Tungsten · July 23, 2003, 21:06

Quote:

Yeah, but relying on evil is a futile move.

It depends on whether evil and you share the same interests or not. See the American Revolution for an example of when allying with evil was the right course of action.

Imran Siddiqui · July 23, 2003, 21:08

But evil will eventually burn you.

Relying on a Finn in Mornington Crescent is like trusting Satan in a game of Diplomacy

.

molly bloom · July 23, 2003, 21:50

In a theological vein, I summon up international freemasonry, an Italian banker's spectre, and the terror of the Inquisition:

BLACKFRIARS

to leave you dangling over water, by a noose...

(the seldom-used Banco Ambrosiano/P2 formation.)

MikeH · July 24, 2003, 04:07

Picadilly Circus

duke o' york · July 24, 2003, 04:41

Curiouser and curiouser…..

I am intrigued at the amount of bad blood in this contest and would remind all that MC remains a non-contact sport.

Things have certainly developed substantially since I left yesterday evening and, if I play my tokens right, in my favour too! I am much obliged to our dolmenic friend for his monolithic use of the more defensive airport station as it stymies any Arabian manoeuvring and marginally increases the value of the mauve tokens I placed at my home station. For those wondering if I had taken leave of my senses in declaring a home station on my opening thrust, and one with such an unusual location and no great pedigree then I need do no more than direct their queries to D. Alperton vs Lady Wapping, Greenwich Gala 3rd round 1932. Although her Ladyship was seeded in the top half of the draw, Alperton had a reputation for giant-killing and his Madagascan parlay towards the end of the initial stages caused a noisy reaction from the crowd. Once things had calmed down again, the fifth seed reasserted her control of the situation but I’d be giving too much away were I to continue my tale. I’m sure that most MC scholars familiar with the Madagascan will already know how the rest of this encounter played out and they will be at an advantage for the rest of this game, but I shall proceed regardless and see how erudite my rivals prove to be.

Piccadilly Circus raised a few eyebrows (well, two) from this corner but one of the best aspects of a workable MC strategy is being able to push on with what you have planned while remaining alert to any changes imposed on the environment by your opponents. Having given up on a pencil and paper rough calculation of the coefficients at play here, and not wanting to use the MCalculator as I’m not sure if it is allowed in this particular game, I shall throw caution to the sou’westerly and ratchet up the LV by taking us to Elephant and Castle via Ladbroke Grove. Anyone familiar with my past contests (despite the fact I haven’t appeared in Goldhawk Road, the MC equivalent of Wisden, for almost a year now), will know of my fondness for the E&C, but have you done enough research to spot the next move?

MikeH · July 24, 2003, 04:45

Nice idea but I've seen that one before. 1983 World Championship, game 5.

And what Bastadov SHOULD have done was Liecester Square which is a sacrifice for me but better to delay winning than go for the kill and lose!

Drake Tungsten · July 24, 2003, 04:50

Quote:

I am much obliged to our dolmenic friend for his monolithic use of the more defensive airport station as it stymies any Arabian manoeuvring

Does it ever. Non-contact sport or not, Monolith is going to pay for completely destroying my plan.

reismark · July 24, 2003, 10:46

Highbury & Islington. The shoe drops next turn.

MikeH · July 24, 2003, 10:49

Er... did you miss Molly Bloom playing Blackfriars?

Imran Siddiqui · July 24, 2003, 11:03

Oh, a move that I've seen before. Quite obvious what everyone is trying to do. And the counter is even more obvious! I thought everyone studied the moves of Kagayr!

Green Park

MikeH · July 24, 2003, 11:07

I'm just playing spoiling tactics really, duke o' york totally screwed me with his first move.

molly bloom · July 24, 2003, 23:04

Let's get down and dirty, then, and up the haemoglobin count.

White chapel, scarlet tracings, I go for the Mitre Square manoeuvre:

ALDGATE EAST

chequita guevara · July 24, 2003, 23:15

You know, sometimes I feel that maybe, just possibly, there's a game in there somewhere.

Zylka · July 25, 2003, 01:11

That's because anyone who plays Monnington crescent is a fagg0t wh0re!!!

WOW!#$ y#%q

Drake Tungsten · July 25, 2003, 04:01

It's time for a little damage control after Monolith's devastating move to Heathrow, so I'll move to South Kensingston. An unorthodox move, I know, but unorthodox moves are the only hope for a desperate man.