Subject: Fw: Axis and Allies (Europe) Strategic Questions Michael Sandy wrote in message <1ec0j99.1dsg7zf1c7i752N%mehawk@teleport.com>... I recently posted an article on rec.games.board and alt.games.axisandallies about the German strategy of building 4 INF in Poland with the initial bonus. This strategy has some weak points, and some points where the best German strategy isn't obvious. The basic sequence goes: 1) Germany takes 4 INF in Poland 2) The Allies respond with 3 ART in Belorussia. 3) Germany invades Baltic States with 11 Inf (two convoyed from Belgium), 1 Art, 4 Arm, East Poland with 3 Inf, 1 Art, 1 Arm, and Bessarabia with 3 Inf, 1 Arm. 4) Russia concentrates in Vyborg and Belorussia, including the tank from Archangel in Vyborg. Russia builds 3 Art, 4 Inf, of which 2 Inf and 1 Art are placed in Leningrad. Unless the German stacks in Bessarabia and East Poland are very weak, the Russians only hit the East Poland one with infantry and planes. 5) Britain attacks the German transport in the Baltic and lands two fighters in Vyborg. 6) Germany has a decision to make. He can't strafe Leningrad. If he attacks he is very likely to accidently get in and thus split his force, and he doesn't gain much by attempting to strafe, killing 2 Inf at the expense of 1. Further, not that many reinforcements can get to Baltic States. Unless Germany lands most of his fighters in Baltic States Russia will be able to swamp the Baltic States. 7) Germany could attack Belorussia. With probably 10 Inf, 7 tanks, 1 Artillery, 2 fighters (landed in Finland on turn 1) and the bomber, he has an attack power of 44, with a little more if either East Poland or Bessarabia survived. The problem is that Russia will probably have about 18 Inf, 7 Art, some tanks and the Russian fighter after turn 1. So moving to East Poland on turn 2 makes sense. Attacking Ukraine on turn 2 is a matter of personal taste. Germany _could_ reinforce his stack at the front on turn 2 by building 8 tanks on turn 1, and this would allow the Germans to have a hard to strafe stack in Baltic States, but this will weaken them in the out years. One of the effects of this German opening is that Russia has to make a serious effort to take Norway early. If the Allies make a big effort to free the Russian convoy, and then send reinforcements through Norway, then Russia could hold out fairly well. Michael Sandy Subject: Fw: Axis and Allies (Europe) Karelia Gambit Michael Sandy wrote in message <1ec42fs.1dt5ztu1nlc8lsN%mehawk@teleport.com>... Well, its Monday again, and that means it is time for Michael Sandy to post another article about an opening strategy for Axis and Allies (Europe). I call it the Russian Karelia Gambit. It is a gambit, rather than a strategy, because it is a response to a German move rather than a strategy all by itself. It is an unusual opening which could trip up a Germany which doesn't expect it, but it isn't necessarily a particularly strong opening. If Germany spend his IPCs on a transport in the Med or an extra sub, Russia should consider using the Allied bonus IPCs to fuel a limited offensive. Usually this involves strafing in Baltic States or Eastern Poland, or just jumping up and down on a small tank stack. However, sometimes Germany concentrates his forces, or only strafes into Baltic States and Eastern Poland, and generally leaves the Russian nothing to hit. Russia could build 4 Inf in Karelia. On the Russian turn 1, 7 Inf and a tank attack Finland. On the British turn her fighters hit the German transport and land in Finland. Russia moves 3 tanks into Karelia. Russia has 24 defense factors among 10 units in Finland. Germany could conceivably use his entire airforce along with 7 Infantry to take it out, but his air force will have to land in Norway. The British and Americans should have two transports in the Denmark Straits ready to jump on the German airforce, now separated from its Infantry. If Germany does something foolish, like attack Vyborg or leave 3 Inf in Finland, Russia could very easily overrun Norway on turn 2. The tanks Russia brought to Norway should be able to get back into Russia before the turn 1 German infantry build gets too far into Russia. If the Allies have Norway on turn 2, the Western Allies can do amphibious invasions on top of Germany's tank builds. Germany will need to station fighters in Germany to pump up its defensive forces. Even without the Karelia build, Russia can probably push Germany out of Norway on turn 3. Among the German ways to react to this Gambit: Use the transport to ship 2 Inf to Norway, and pull back from Finland. At this point, Russia should consider abandoning the attack Norway plot. Russia's build has probably saved the Vyborg infantry from being attacked and prevented Germany from using the transport more aggressively against Russia. Russia could take Finland with a lone infantry, and then Germany is prevented from moving his infantry stack _and_ his fighters into Finland. The Karelia Gambit has a number of weaknesses: 1) The attack power of the Russian force is reduced by about 1/3. The tanks in Karelia could still strafe into Baltic States, if a target presented itself, but Russia's counter attack power will be greatly diminished. Russia could either build lots of artillery or just pull back, building lots of infantry. 2) This delays Allied Lend Lease a bit, although Allied transports can land lots of troops in Norway. This doesn't matter if German troops reach Moscow first. 3) The great prize of the Karelia Gambit is the opportunity to kill German planes on the ground. Germany can just forfeit Norway, take his lumps, and press harder against Russia while Russia's forces are split. 4) Even a few more German ground units in Scandinavia can make it more expensive to pull off. If Germany is planning an accelerated attack on Russia, then Russia probably can't afford this Gambit. However, if Germany is planning on a turn 7 attack on Moscow, with most of 5 turns production aimed at Russia instead of virtually all of 4 turns of production, then an early conquest of Norway would pay bigger dividends. Michael Sandy