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Comment by stavros | Hacker News Reader

I don't understand this. Why wouldn't I just immediately say Mornington Crescent? And why would I anticipate what the next person says? Why don't they just say Mornington Crescent? This is baffling.

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Perhaps listening to a game would help: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lziCsPmlbZI

I was looking for that, thank you!

This is another good one where the taking part is the fun bit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FqLIvLCwxLo

No, I'm still confused. What is going on? Is the whole point that it's gibberish?

It’s not actually a game about saying “Mornington Crescent.” It’s a game where you pretend to play a game which is about saying Mornington Crescent, and pretend there’s all these rules and clever moves to make and clever things to say, and the more satisfyingly similar to that imaginary game that you get, the more clever / nonsense your “moves” sound, the more you have won.

Oh. I see. An Elizabeth Line reverse swing strategy here, I see. What has this come to?

Look tomoyoirl, I'm as upset as you are about you being barred from the AMCC (Amateur Mornington Crescent Committee), and you running off in protest to join the ACMC (Amateur Mornington Crescent Club), but there's really no need to spread these absurd stories!

Is this about that time you were Clapham Junctioned on that West flank? I agree it shouldn't have happened and you were right to argue you weren't in nib, but c'mon... no need for this, it's just a game...

I just like being helpful to people who are confused and afraid. Sorry if that’s a problem to you, or anyone else.

Anyway. Aldgate East. Your move.

You know full well that you can't start play with any station on the Hammersmith & City line in a leap year February outside of sanctioned L4+ tournament play.

Well, ordinarily no, but as it happens I am qualified to use the Orthodox rules for the calculation of the date of Easter, which you will find bypasses the 40-day window entirely and renders the restriction moot. Have a pleasant pancake day, and remember you are dust; to dust you shall return.

I am so happy that at least a few people here knows how the game works, and it's made even funnier by the smattering of commenters who don't get it! :-D

Like I said, it's a great exercise for teaching kids about interpersonal communication. And apparently a couple of adults as well.

It's kind of like a more cerebral party game. The object of the game is not to win; the object of the game is to use it as a framework for a social interaction.

The closest analogue is probably something like Apples to Apples, but with debate permitted. You're trying to make the most amusing (and therefore strongest) play every turn, but nobody really cares who wins.

Gibberish was actually a station near Baker Street that closed in 1937. Are you making a joke?

One tease is to mention stations nearly adjacent to Mornington Crescent, and see if the other contestants take the bait. Of course, a 9-dan player will acknowledge the potential move, but then give a preposterous, but perfectly valid, reason why it cannot be accomplished.

It’s not the winning, it’s the taking part

> Why wouldn't I just immediately say Mornington Crescent?

Congratulations, you win! Let's play another round. I'll start.

Tottenham Court Road. Your turn.

(Also, thank you for illustrating why this is a good exercise that a lot of people - including you - would benefit greatly from!)

Mornington Crescent.

This game is great.

(Seriously, though, I get the joke now)

Congratulations, you win! Let's play another round, I'll go first.

Hyde Park Corner. Your turn!

Northfields

Mornington Crescent.

No, I'm sorry we've already stated in this thread we're playing the Atlantic variant for our American cousins - you therefore can't do the Piccadilly Stretch from Northfields, and you therefore lose the game.

I'm Greek, which means I can capture High Barnet under the Her Majesty variant and win the game.

Too soon.

Oh I am sorry, you might not be aware that Greeks explicitly lost the ability to play Monarchial Variants when Prince Philip passed away. It's stipulated in Volume XIIV of the Windsor Appendix. To be fair to you, it is in itself in Appendix IV, Section 41, so it's easily missed by casual players.

You can if you're playing the 1972 West Kensington Consortium rules but most players consider this rather poor form.

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