I was lucky enough while idling at Serendipity University today to witness an masterclass in the game of Mornington Crescent between Zephyr Cantrell and Urtha Bennett. Naturally you're well aware of the rules, but until you've seen it played by intellects of this calibre you've never really seen it played.
After the traditional round of drafting, and a clarification that yes, they were playing the Lyttleton variant, Zephyr opened with a Dutch runabout to Moorgate via Aldgate East, which personally I've never seen played before, and apparently neither had the rest of the audience, judging by the gasps. Equally surprising was Urtha countering with a fourfold blind through Euston/Warren/Goodge.
From there the two played a cat-and-mouse game across the Hammersmith & City line, with the highpoints being a Layman's Knee by Zephyr at Sudbury Town (with Egyptian Cross to Golders Green, no less), and an even more impressive triple crown for Urtha culminating at Blackfriars. This, mind you, after being scuttled at Baker Street, Knightsbridge and Shepherd's Bush - in that order!
However, all good things must come to an end, and on her eleventh turn Zephyr made the mistake of passing west at Paddington to avoid a Southwark/Putney Bridge pin without noticing the worrying state of the Embankment. Seizing the moment, Urtha dove in to make the final move and win the game.
What was Urtha's game-winning play?
After the traditional round of drafting, and a clarification that yes, they were playing the Lyttleton variant, Zephyr opened with a Dutch runabout to Moorgate via Aldgate East, which personally I've never seen played before, and apparently neither had the rest of the audience, judging by the gasps. Equally surprising was Urtha countering with a fourfold blind through Euston/Warren/Goodge.
From there the two played a cat-and-mouse game across the Hammersmith & City line, with the highpoints being a Layman's Knee by Zephyr at Sudbury Town (with Egyptian Cross to Golders Green, no less), and an even more impressive triple crown for Urtha culminating at Blackfriars. This, mind you, after being scuttled at Baker Street, Knightsbridge and Shepherd's Bush - in that order!
However, all good things must come to an end, and on her eleventh turn Zephyr made the mistake of passing west at Paddington to avoid a Southwark/Putney Bridge pin without noticing the worrying state of the Embankment. Seizing the moment, Urtha dove in to make the final move and win the game.
What was Urtha's game-winning play?
