Harry R. Schwartz

If I knew any stations on the London Underground, I’d love playing this game:

Two players alternate naming the stations on the London Underground. The first to say “Finchley Central” wins. It is clear that the “best” time to say “Finchley Central” is exactly before your opponent does. Failing that, it is good that he should be considering it. You could, of course, say “Finchley Central” on your second turn. In that case, your opponent puffs on his cigarette and says, “Well, …” Shame on you.

Originally from Beck and Fowler’s paper A Pandora’s Box of non-Games, reproduced in Hofstadter’s Metamagical Themas.