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Quiz about Mornington Crescent The Complete Guide

Mornington Crescent: The Complete Guide Quiz

Many listeners to Radio 4's 'I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue' enjoy the game on the show. Some people still feel uncertain about all the rules of the game. Test your knowledge of the rules and other interesting MC facts.

A multiple-choice quiz by rosc. Estimated time: 6 mins.

Author
rosc

Time
6 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
223,220

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Difficult

Avg Score
4 / 10

Plays
571

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. When was the game of 'Mornington Crescent' first devised? Hint

No one knows for sure.

In the first century BC.

In the eighteenth century.

In 1974.

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Question 2 of 10

2. How many teams may play on each side? Hint

only one, obviously

two to thirteen teams

up to four

any prime, even number will do

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Question 3 of 10

3. What is Aldbright's Opening? Hint

Marble Arch

Cockfosters

Kensal Rise

Totteridge and Whetstone

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Question 4 of 10

4. Where must play begin in the 'Lifts and Escalators' version? Hint

Covent Garden

Arnos Grove

Chalk Farm Road

Fairlop

5. Amateur players usually keep well within the bounds of safety. However, there are a number of health and safety concerns worth bearing in mind. Which of these is dangerous if swallowed by small children? Hint

Gospel Oak

Plaistow

Hadley Wood

Stanmore

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Question 6 of 10

6. Which move was awarded the 'Best Move in a Foreign Language' in the 2002 Mornington Crescent Academy Awards? Hint

L'Uton

Crouch End Tiger to Hendon Dragon

From Here to East Tilbury

Grays and Dollis

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Question 7 of 10

7. Any game of Mornington Crescent worth its salt requires suitable culinary accompaniments (as Anthony Worrell Thompson made admirably clear in 'In Search of Mornington Crescent' broadcast on Radio 4 on December 24th, 2005). Which of these is best served at spring matches? Hint

King's Cross Buns

East Ham

Charing Cross Buns

Brent Cross Buns

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Question 8 of 10

8. There is an interesting variation which involves play beginning at Mornington Crescent and continuing until the first move has been identified. What is this variation known as? Hint

Reverse Mornington Crescent

Royal and Ancient Mornington Crescent

Krapy Rubsnif

Standard Deviation

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Question 9 of 10

9. What is Barry Cryer's favourite move? Hint

Knightsbridge to Ongar

Any double-back diagonal manoeuvre

To the nearest pub

Hainault to Heathrow

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Question 10 of 10

10. Which rule prevents Humphrey Lyttleton from playing the game at a professional level? Hint

The UK League no longer has a professional division.

He was accused of taking drugs in 1952.

He officiates in the game on 'I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue'.

He no longer has a high enough handicap.

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. When was the game of 'Mornington Crescent' first devised?

Answer: No one knows for sure.

'No one knows for sure when the game called 'Mornington Crescent' was devised, nor by whom.' (From 'The Little Book of Mornington Crescent', published in 2000 by Orion, p12) The Romans did have a game called 'Non iguato Cresseunt' but given the idiosyncratic method of Roman counting, anything resembling the standard game of Mornington Crescent would have been rendered virtually unplayable.
Many people think that N.F.Stovold, the 'Father of Mornington Crescent', invented the rules, but of course he was just the first person to write them down in his 'Almanac' in 1782.

2. How many teams may play on each side?

Answer: two to thirteen teams

There must be at least one player in each team. Throw the dice to see who will be Team Captain (whoever the dice hits is Captain). The Captain may then appoint other officers such as Lieutenants, Petty Officers and so forth.

3. What is Aldbright's Opening?

Answer: Totteridge and Whetstone

Kensal Rise is clearly forbidden on account of the diagonals. From Totteridge and Whetstone, the experienced player should be able to reach Mornington Crescent in three.

4. Where must play begin in the 'Lifts and Escalators' version?

Answer: Fairlop

'In the unlikely situation that players land on a station with operational lift servicem they must immediately return to Fairlop. If they land on an escalator however, they are quickly catapulted to Chalk Farm Road.' (The Little Book of Mornington Crescent, p104).

This leads to a stop-start game which can be extremely frustrating. Best played after dinner on Christmas Day with the family, in my experience. Arnos Grove is, of course, the classic Diagonal Opener.

Answer: Plaistow

Parson's Green is toxic and Hackney Wick has small parts which should not be put in the mouth. Dr Graeme Garden provided these and other light-hearted thoughts on the life-threatening nature of the Game in 'Stovold's Mornington Crescent Almanac 2002', p68.

6. Which move was awarded the 'Best Move in a Foreign Language' in the 2002 Mornington Crescent Academy Awards?

Answer: Crouch End Tiger to Hendon Dragon

The others were awarded 'Best Move', 'Best Musical' and 'Best Make-Up'.

Answer: Brent Cross Buns

The recipe includes 8lb self-raising salt, a pinch of flour and 3 tbsps (from the Tbspina region of Hungary if possible). For the rest of the details, see 'The Little Book of Mornington Crescent', p29.
'In Search of Mornington Crescent' may still be available to 'Listen Again' at the BBC website (www.bbc.co.uk/radio4). The programme gives a clear summary of the history of the game, and of course, the rules.

8. There is an interesting variation which involves play beginning at Mornington Crescent and continuing until the first move has been identified. What is this variation known as?

Answer: Reverse Mornington Crescent

'Krapy Rubsnif' is, of course, 'Finsbury Park' reversed. However, this is of no relevance to Mornington Crescent, though it may be of interest to 'Ciryl' players. The Royal and Ancient rules require anyone forced out of bounds to take the nearest playable station (usually Charing Cross).

The Standard Deviation is perhaps the purest form of the game, allowing the nib holder to play advantage after a looped move.

9. What is Barry Cryer's favourite move?

Answer: Knightsbridge to Ongar

In 'Everyman's Guide to Mornington Crescent' presented by Raymond Baxter, Cryer admitted that Knightsbridge to Ongar was indeed his favourite move. So did everybody else.

10. Which rule prevents Humphrey Lyttleton from playing the game at a professional level?

Answer: He officiates in the game on 'I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue'.

Mornington Crescent officials are not permitted to be professional players of the game. Old Etonian, jazz-trumpeter, former Grenadier Guard, Lyttleton was probably the greatest British exponent of the game in the last century. Sadly, no one in our generation will ever have the joy of hearing this genius at work.

I hope you have enjoyed the quiz and will now play Mornington Crescent with a renewed confidence in the rules!

Source: Author rosc

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor linkan before going online.
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