Solid Russia Open

Probably covered elsewhere…  but tested in a couple of games recently, including games with small Axis bids that reinforced both Manchuria and Ukraine.

Russia 1:

Russia Buy:
8 INF (of course)

Combat Moves:
Take Manchuria using:
2 INF & 1 ARM from SFE
3 INF from Yakut
1 FIG from Russia
This battle has a better than 90% success rate for Russia with an average of 1-2 INF and 1 ARM left in Manchuria, plus the FIG landing in Yakut after the battle.

Strafe Ukraine:
Depending on any bid levels, you may need to adjust these forces down to prevent seizing the territory…
4 INF from Caucuses
3 INF from Karelia
2 ARM from Russia
1 ARM from Karelia
This will take out most or all of the German INF, and quite possibly 1-2 of the ARM as well
Retreat ALL forces to Karelia before taking the territory

Naval Battles:
Russian sub against German sub off Spain
Because of first strike provisions, this battle is actually a 60% win for Russia

1 TRN and 1 FIG from Karelia to Baltic
Again another 90%+ likelyhood of winning, with the FIG alive 70% of the time.

Non-Combat Movement:
2 INF from Evenk to Yakut
Land FIG from Manchuria battle in Yakut
Land FIG from Baltic battle in Karelia

Placement:
All 8 INF in Karelia

Benefits:

• Russia will be +3 IPC’s and collect 27 on R1
• Japan loses a fighter and more than a third of their Asian INF before they ever get to use them
• Japan has to re-take Manchuria before starting their advance on Russia, slowing them down by a full turn
• Russia has a small strike force of 2 INF and 1 FIG that may allow them to trade Manchuria again in Turn 2, depending on how much force Japan comits to retaking Manchuria
• FIG from Manchuria attack in R1 can also return to counter-attack any German incursion into Caucuses and land in Karelia or Russia in R2
• Germany is forced to use more expensive AF units to take out the UK navy in G1 without having cheaper expendible naval units to use to both attack and absorb hits.
• Norway ground forces are cut off and cannot be evacuated either to Europe or Africa
• Karleia is defended so that it should not fall, and Russia can counter-attack in Caucuses and/or Ukraine as needed

Combine with the Kwangtung Maneuver/Kwang Bang in UK1 to further damage Japan and cripple their Asian IPC gain and advance on Russia by another turn.

Oh, and before someone else posts asking about it…

The alternate strategy of a “Wall” in Yakut made up of 5-7 INF plus 1 ARM…

I also have been an advocate of that move as well, but I am shying away from it now and going with the more aggressive strat.  Here is the reasoning.
1.  By going offensive, you gain the IPC’s of Manchuria for your R2 purchases (an extra INF)
2.  By being passive and retreating to Yakut, you give away SFE for free or nearly free.  That COSTS russia an INF for their R3 build.
3.  By taking Manchuria, and backing it up with INF advanced to Yakut from Evenk, it will be at least J3 before Russia can breach your defenses and take Yakut.  Coincidentally, this is the SAME NUMBER OF ROUNDS that it takes Japan to take Yakut against the stacked defense.  But by being offesnive instead of defensive, you get the extra IPC’s trhough J3… a difference of 3 divisions over the 3 rounds between the two strats.
4.  Even considering losses to Japan BB’s of Manchuria, the net increase of INF is still 1-2 extra INF by being offensive.

So, with either open, against an aggressive Japan that is focusing on Russia, Japan will take Yakut in J3 with EITHER method.  So why not get the extra IPC’s for a couple of rounds?

@Bashir:

Switch isn’t this stating the obvious? :D

Actually, there are several variants for how you play outside of Ukraine/Karelia.
What you use to go after the German Navy…
If you go after just the Baltic Fleet or both the Baltic and the Atlantic sub…
If you pool your navy in UK SZ…
Whether or not to attack Manchuria at all…
Where to move the Evenk INF…

This post was to state reasons for doing even these “peripheral” attacks and NCMs in a specific way, and why.

DM, I think you may be mistaken.  Have not had a chance to prove this yet, but I still think you may be.

As little as 9 IPCs of forces in ASIA blocks most of this move.  2 INF in Manch to block R1, 1 in Kwangtung to block the Kwang Bang.

Using small bid in Ukraine is counter-productive, since it has almsot no real effect on the Russia/Germaany front.  BUT, in Asia, it prevents the lass of Manch AND Kwang, keeping Japan at full strength for J1 and forward.

Make it an 11 IPC bid and Japan can build those 3 INF before the game starts, and drop 3 TRN and an INF in J1.  That is a MASSIVE power shift in Asia… one that forces Russia to divert forces from Germany immediately, not 2-4 rounds in to the game.  Combine with trashing the UK Fleet in G1, as well as moves in Africa to gain IPC’s and weaken UK…

I think it is a heck of a strong tactic.

At 20 IPC’s, now we are talking 5 INF and an ARM in Asia.  Drop India, Sinkiang, China, SFE and Yakut all on J1…

I’ll tell you waht Darth…

I am more than happy to test this one in the near future…  game with MADDOG is to end by 9 pm tonight (give or take an hour) and now it is just a matter of playing it out.

I’d be more than happy to take on a Classic gome with ya…  20 IPC Axis Bid, all in Asia.  No technology.

I honestly think I can pressure Russia haster than you think… and do so in a way to give Germany some breathing room…

If you want to give it a shot, let me know, and I’ll re-set my Classic board after I am done with MADDOG…

And yes, I know that you decimated the Sea Lion Scare ploy… so I figure you are probably one of the best to test my PAsia strat against…

Sure… but I probably will not be able to do G1 until tomorrow (monday) evening.

20 IPC bid placement:
3 INF Manchuria
1 INF Kwangtung
2 INF FIC
2 IPC saved as Japan