Cress

Cress is a challenging and often controversial game that involves its players in the mechanics of the game far more than is usual, customary or, at times, safe. All moves are in the form of an action and a declaration. For instance, "Salt shaker diagonally over soup bowl, inverted - Curlew doubled and billed" would be a useful move if, for instance, your opponent was threatening with a nasty pincer movement from the coffee-cups.

Play usually starts out sedately, often in the manner that the players actually started their day. Gradually, the involvement and intensity builds until the players either resign, die or are forced to win. Winning is often not a particularly attractive option, especially as it may require some sort of bodily sacrifice. However, this does not deter the more dedicated players remaining; nor should this be taken as a sign that Cress necessarily has to resolve into physical violence.

[PW]

Popular Cress variants include Garden Cress, Kitchen Cress, Intergalactic Cress, Office Cress and many others.

The governing body in charge of Cress is the International Cress Federation. Mornington Crescent and Cress are slightly related games; it is actually possible to play Mornington Crescent as a subset of Cress, although this is not a very satisfactory game. However, the game of Mornington Chess, which is more closely related to Mornington Crescent than Cress, is managed under the auspices of the ICF rather than the IMCS.

[SM]

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