Dude, the Axis can win quite frequently! Somebody said somehting about the ‘optional rule’ of the 84 IPC victory. If you read the rules, you’ll see that this is NOT an Optional Rule. That’s standard game play. And the Axis can achieve that almost everytime. You want a strategy? Try this:
As Germany, you destroy every boat in the water that you can reach on the 1st round. Buy a fighter as often as you can. And you must ABOVE ALL ELSE take and hold the African continent. It’s worth 9 IPCs a round, but better than that: that’s 9 IPCs UK doesn’t have. Gradually build forces, infantry in front, Armor in the rear, as you advance on Karelia. Your Luftwaffe (air force) should be supplemented by a bomber every so often. And you use those Bombers every round on the UK. No money for them means less pressure on you as Germany. As you steadily advace on Karelia, the Russians will throw what they can at you. It’s a slug fest, back and forth over most of Eastern Europe. Always is. But ALWAYS defend Normandy against a US invasion. Having fighters within reach of ships too close is a good deterrent.
As Japan, your goal is to take Asia! Do NOT fight the USA in the Pacific. If the USA fights you in the Pacific, they aren’t helping UK which helps the Axis win even faster. You will see any invasion coming a long ways off. The only thing to fear form the Americans is the ‘Island Hopping’ that they could do. Always nice for Japan to win the crucial 1st fight in Pearl Harbor. It wins you nothing (don’t worry with the land, just kill the Pacific fleet), but ends the threat of Island Hopping to Tokyo for the time being. You must eradicate all the forces in India, China, and the Soviet Far East. Do so quickly, because 2nd round you want to buy an IC and plant it in India, INdo-China, or Manchuria. If you feel you should wait, then do, but only 1 round. Buy tanks to be produced from your newly purchased IC and gradually take over ever territory between Tokyo and Moscow! Japan can so quickly advance up the IPC that it’s almost impossible to stop. Remeber, those tanks can blitz, and a lot of those Russian territories are worth 2!
By doing this, Japan closes in on Russian so fast that they have to defend their capital. Meanwhile, Germany squeezes them from Karelia. Shortly, Russian has no money and it’s only a matter of time before they fall. Once Moscow has fallen, Germany and Japan must now concentrate and QUICKLY to eliminate the UK. Strategic Bombing the blue-blazes out of the Brits! No money and gradually invade. If Japan is lucky, they take Karelia giving them a fine port to build boats from. Keep them out of the money and you’ll win in short order.
Remember: only 2 Alllied capitals must fall for an Axis victory! :lol:
Hope this helps!