Goldfinger - The Missing Chapter
Created | Updated Jan 28, 2002
<FONT><I>Originally posted to <TT>alt.games.mornington.cresent</TT> (sic) in 1994:</I></FONT>
<PRE>
In article 768124899SNZ,
[email protected] (Charles H King) writes:
|> In article 1994MAY3
|> [email protected] "Malcolm Ross Kinsella Ryan" writes:
|>
|> >Also, has anyone noticed that if you disallow double shunting in the
|> >Bakerloo variation (1823) that you effectively create a sudden-death
|> >version of MC? It's quite a thrilling variation, in my experience, as
|> >the players are knocked out one by one, until only the winner remains
|> >to claim MC. You have to use the 1823 rules of course, because in
|> >1824 the Willesdon Junction Revisionists reformed the BR extended
|> >shunting rules - which offers too many loopholes for sudden death to
|> >work.
|> >
|> >I am thinking of submitting this to the IMCC, I cannot find any
|> >previous reference to it among any of the histories I could lay my
|> >hands on. However, our collection of MC reference material here at
|> >UNSW is sorely limited.
|>
|> I think it's already there, I seem to recall reading a precis on the issue,
|> although I don't seem have anything which mentions it specifically (except for
|> a brief reference in the commentaries to the 1823 Palsworth Convention in Bath,
|> apparently the winner-to-be observed in one of the early rounds that, because
|> (Elmshawe? Danefrith?) someone had violated the Tanning Code for MC En-Passant
|> (effectively making double shunting impossible), his victory was "..only a
|> matter of time" (he'd won all seven Key Holdings on the Circle Line before the
|> incident..))
</PRE>
<P>I have to agree with Malcolm that removal of the double shunting creates a
more atmospheric and suspense-laden game, a factor exploited by Ian Fleming
in the now-legendary Golden Nugget scene in "Goldfinger":</P>
<BLOCKQUOTE>
<P>
Soon, Goldfinger tired of the blackjack and moved over to the
Mornington Crescent table. Bond maintained a low profile, playing two more
hands before downing the rest of his vodka martini and joining the throngs
following the obese but strangely magnetic millionaire. He observed the game
for a minute to get a feel for the strategies in play (most quite standard,
but one enterprising Egyptian was employing Batcher v. Von Braun to useful
effect) before, in one dynamic move calculated to give the greatest impact, he
glided through the crowd and calmly placed a $5000 chip on Tooting Bec. The
crowd, previously having been applauding and loudly commenting on the play
up till now, became suddenly silent. They and the players as one stared at
the new challenger.
</P>
<P>
"West Ruislip," announced Goldfinger with a calm that brought
admiration from the spectators.
</P>
<P>
"Turnpike Lane," replied the Egyptian, and the croupier brought in
the Central Line chips and announced that the West Brompton branch was now
out of bounds. Bond grinned as Strecher left in disgust.
</P>
<P>
"Knightsbridge," announced the sultry, coffee-skinned Brazilian in
the simple (but no doubt hideously expensive) dinner dress that had captured
a good percentage of Bond's attention. She gave him a sly smile, and Bond
would have made a mental note to send some good opportunities her way, had
she not played such a devastatingly unpredictable move. A cry went up from
the Egyptian, and now there were only three.
</P>
<P>
"Mill Hill East," said Bond, and placed another $5000 on the Bank /
Monument changeover. There was a collective gasp from the crowd. This was no
longer a game to be taken lightly.
</P>
<P>
"Notting Hill Gate," attempted Goldfinger, his expression failing to
conceal a definite lessening of reserve.
</P>
<P>
"Temple," said the Brazilian.
</P>
<P>
"Sheep-Flaxing-Scorrelsby is now beige," announced the croupier,
"and triple line-shunts are to alternate lines only."
</P>
<P>
Bond grinned. He was sorry to let the Brazilian go, but this game
needed to be won. "Rotherhithe," he announced, and leant forward to place
another chip on the beige.
</P>
<P>
"I'm sorry, sir," said the croupier, "but double-shunting is not
allowed at this table."
</P>
<P>
Bond stopped, and mentally cursed himself for lack of foresight. How
could he forget that only half of the Vegas casinos allowed that flavour of
the Bakerloo variation! Too many months in Monte Carlo, of course, with the
Europeans preferring the more relaxed game. The Americans, however, like
nothing more than good spectator sport.
</P>
<P>
"Wapping," he ventured, stunned, and immediately regretted the hasty
move.
</P>
<P>
"Tooting Bec," said the Brazilian, and picked up Bond's $5000. He
realised now that most of his strategies had been in vain, and that a
completely different tactic was called for. He wished he had Brown &
Gordon's "Advanced Sidesweeping and Single Shunting Tactics in Western
America" with him now, but, alas, it was in the glove compartment of the
Aston Martin.
</P>
<P>
"Hackney Wick," said Goldfinger, allowing a smile of satisfaction to
creep across his bloated features.
</P>
<P>
Bond started to panic, his mind a blank. Bethnal Green? No, two
moves and he'd be little more than a memory. Camden? If only. Blackfriars?
Not with the S-F-S heading for amber. Pizza in the Park? Alas, it didn't
exist yet. Suddenly a jolt of inspiration took him, and he almost shouted -
"Mansion House!"
</P>
<P>
The smiles disappeared from his oppontents faces as the applause
from the crowd became rapturous.
</P>
<P>
"Wimbledon Sou... I mean, South Wimbledon," mumbled the Brazilian.
The incredible effect of his move had obviously been noted, and Bond allowed
himself a moment of self-congratulation, although he still had work to do.
</P>
<P>
"Walthamstow Central," said Goldfinger. Now, the gloves were off.
Any hopes that Bond might carry this off painlessly went the same way as the
beautiful Brazilian, who was carrying her remaining chips, scowling, to the
canasta table. He was sorry to see her go, but now he could use his most
deadly tactics without hurting innocent bystanders, although, considering
some of her moves, she had been far from innocent.
</P>
<P>
He centred his eyes on Goldfinger's.
</P>
<P>
"St. John's Wood."
</P>
<P>
"Willesden Junction."
</P>
<P>
"Harrow-on-the-hill."
</P>
<P>
"Porcelain moves now allowed," announced the croupier. Bond steeled
himself further.
</P>
<P>
"Old Street," said Goldfinger.
</P>
<P>
The crowd was breathless with excitement as Bond took a moment to
contemplate his next move. If he was to get anywhere within the next few
moves (and he didn't have long before his rendezvous with Felix) he needed
to take some risks.
</P>
<P>
"Lambeth North."
</P>
<P>
"Covent Garden."
</P>
<P>
Bond felt an inner surge of elation, as he realised Goldfinger had
fallen for the bait. He played his next move the same way that he fulfilled
Her Majesty's orders; swiftly, cleanly, and with deadly efficiency.
</P>
<P>
"Golders Green."
</P>
<P>
A gasp went up from the crowd as the more attentive members of the
audience realised what was going on; Goldfinger seemed to literally deflate,
and made a last-ditch attempt to save the game.
</P>
<P>
"Regent's Park." Bond decided to relish the moment.
</P>
<P>
"Very clever, Mr. Goldfinger, but not quite clever enough.
Mornington Crescent." A roar went up from the crowd, and Bond was soon
surrounded by people offering their congratulations. "I haven't seen play
like that since Claymore retired in '45!" exclaimed one enthusiastic Texan.
As Bond collected his winnings, he noted the stare that the gold tycoon gave
him before turning to his bowler-hatted servant, and Bond knew that their
paths would soon cross again...</P>
</BLOCKQUOTE>
<PRE>
In article 768124899SNZ,
[email protected] (Charles H King) writes:
|> In article 1994MAY3
|> [email protected] "Malcolm Ross Kinsella Ryan" writes:
|>
|> >Also, has anyone noticed that if you disallow double shunting in the
|> >Bakerloo variation (1823) that you effectively create a sudden-death
|> >version of MC? It's quite a thrilling variation, in my experience, as
|> >the players are knocked out one by one, until only the winner remains
|> >to claim MC. You have to use the 1823 rules of course, because in
|> >1824 the Willesdon Junction Revisionists reformed the BR extended
|> >shunting rules - which offers too many loopholes for sudden death to
|> >work.
|> >
|> >I am thinking of submitting this to the IMCC, I cannot find any
|> >previous reference to it among any of the histories I could lay my
|> >hands on. However, our collection of MC reference material here at
|> >UNSW is sorely limited.
|>
|> I think it's already there, I seem to recall reading a precis on the issue,
|> although I don't seem have anything which mentions it specifically (except for
|> a brief reference in the commentaries to the 1823 Palsworth Convention in Bath,
|> apparently the winner-to-be observed in one of the early rounds that, because
|> (Elmshawe? Danefrith?) someone had violated the Tanning Code for MC En-Passant
|> (effectively making double shunting impossible), his victory was "..only a
|> matter of time" (he'd won all seven Key Holdings on the Circle Line before the
|> incident..))
</PRE>
<P>I have to agree with Malcolm that removal of the double shunting creates a
more atmospheric and suspense-laden game, a factor exploited by Ian Fleming
in the now-legendary Golden Nugget scene in "Goldfinger":</P>
<BLOCKQUOTE>
<P>
Soon, Goldfinger tired of the blackjack and moved over to the
Mornington Crescent table. Bond maintained a low profile, playing two more
hands before downing the rest of his vodka martini and joining the throngs
following the obese but strangely magnetic millionaire. He observed the game
for a minute to get a feel for the strategies in play (most quite standard,
but one enterprising Egyptian was employing Batcher v. Von Braun to useful
effect) before, in one dynamic move calculated to give the greatest impact, he
glided through the crowd and calmly placed a $5000 chip on Tooting Bec. The
crowd, previously having been applauding and loudly commenting on the play
up till now, became suddenly silent. They and the players as one stared at
the new challenger.
</P>
<P>
"West Ruislip," announced Goldfinger with a calm that brought
admiration from the spectators.
</P>
<P>
"Turnpike Lane," replied the Egyptian, and the croupier brought in
the Central Line chips and announced that the West Brompton branch was now
out of bounds. Bond grinned as Strecher left in disgust.
</P>
<P>
"Knightsbridge," announced the sultry, coffee-skinned Brazilian in
the simple (but no doubt hideously expensive) dinner dress that had captured
a good percentage of Bond's attention. She gave him a sly smile, and Bond
would have made a mental note to send some good opportunities her way, had
she not played such a devastatingly unpredictable move. A cry went up from
the Egyptian, and now there were only three.
</P>
<P>
"Mill Hill East," said Bond, and placed another $5000 on the Bank /
Monument changeover. There was a collective gasp from the crowd. This was no
longer a game to be taken lightly.
</P>
<P>
"Notting Hill Gate," attempted Goldfinger, his expression failing to
conceal a definite lessening of reserve.
</P>
<P>
"Temple," said the Brazilian.
</P>
<P>
"Sheep-Flaxing-Scorrelsby is now beige," announced the croupier,
"and triple line-shunts are to alternate lines only."
</P>
<P>
Bond grinned. He was sorry to let the Brazilian go, but this game
needed to be won. "Rotherhithe," he announced, and leant forward to place
another chip on the beige.
</P>
<P>
"I'm sorry, sir," said the croupier, "but double-shunting is not
allowed at this table."
</P>
<P>
Bond stopped, and mentally cursed himself for lack of foresight. How
could he forget that only half of the Vegas casinos allowed that flavour of
the Bakerloo variation! Too many months in Monte Carlo, of course, with the
Europeans preferring the more relaxed game. The Americans, however, like
nothing more than good spectator sport.
</P>
<P>
"Wapping," he ventured, stunned, and immediately regretted the hasty
move.
</P>
<P>
"Tooting Bec," said the Brazilian, and picked up Bond's $5000. He
realised now that most of his strategies had been in vain, and that a
completely different tactic was called for. He wished he had Brown &
Gordon's "Advanced Sidesweeping and Single Shunting Tactics in Western
America" with him now, but, alas, it was in the glove compartment of the
Aston Martin.
</P>
<P>
"Hackney Wick," said Goldfinger, allowing a smile of satisfaction to
creep across his bloated features.
</P>
<P>
Bond started to panic, his mind a blank. Bethnal Green? No, two
moves and he'd be little more than a memory. Camden? If only. Blackfriars?
Not with the S-F-S heading for amber. Pizza in the Park? Alas, it didn't
exist yet. Suddenly a jolt of inspiration took him, and he almost shouted -
"Mansion House!"
</P>
<P>
The smiles disappeared from his oppontents faces as the applause
from the crowd became rapturous.
</P>
<P>
"Wimbledon Sou... I mean, South Wimbledon," mumbled the Brazilian.
The incredible effect of his move had obviously been noted, and Bond allowed
himself a moment of self-congratulation, although he still had work to do.
</P>
<P>
"Walthamstow Central," said Goldfinger. Now, the gloves were off.
Any hopes that Bond might carry this off painlessly went the same way as the
beautiful Brazilian, who was carrying her remaining chips, scowling, to the
canasta table. He was sorry to see her go, but now he could use his most
deadly tactics without hurting innocent bystanders, although, considering
some of her moves, she had been far from innocent.
</P>
<P>
He centred his eyes on Goldfinger's.
</P>
<P>
"St. John's Wood."
</P>
<P>
"Willesden Junction."
</P>
<P>
"Harrow-on-the-hill."
</P>
<P>
"Porcelain moves now allowed," announced the croupier. Bond steeled
himself further.
</P>
<P>
"Old Street," said Goldfinger.
</P>
<P>
The crowd was breathless with excitement as Bond took a moment to
contemplate his next move. If he was to get anywhere within the next few
moves (and he didn't have long before his rendezvous with Felix) he needed
to take some risks.
</P>
<P>
"Lambeth North."
</P>
<P>
"Covent Garden."
</P>
<P>
Bond felt an inner surge of elation, as he realised Goldfinger had
fallen for the bait. He played his next move the same way that he fulfilled
Her Majesty's orders; swiftly, cleanly, and with deadly efficiency.
</P>
<P>
"Golders Green."
</P>
<P>
A gasp went up from the crowd as the more attentive members of the
audience realised what was going on; Goldfinger seemed to literally deflate,
and made a last-ditch attempt to save the game.
</P>
<P>
"Regent's Park." Bond decided to relish the moment.
</P>
<P>
"Very clever, Mr. Goldfinger, but not quite clever enough.
Mornington Crescent." A roar went up from the crowd, and Bond was soon
surrounded by people offering their congratulations. "I haven't seen play
like that since Claymore retired in '45!" exclaimed one enthusiastic Texan.
As Bond collected his winnings, he noted the stare that the gold tycoon gave
him before turning to his bowler-hatted servant, and Bond knew that their
paths would soon cross again...</P>
</BLOCKQUOTE>
