From: keith@cco.caltech.edu (Keith Allan Schneider)
Newsgroups: rec.games.board
Subject: Re: A&A - Can Allies (!) ever win?!?
Date: 7 Nov 1992 11:24:45 GMT
Organization: California Institute of Technology, Pasadena
NNTP-Posting-Host: punisher.caltech.edu
Keywords: Axis & Allies

markhof@ls12r.informatik.uni-dortmund.de (Ingolf Markhof) writes:


>Hi!

>Again, I'd like to bring up this subject. From my first posting I know
>that most people are asking just the opposite question - "Can the Axis
>ever win". But after a couple of games I still believe that's much more
>easy to win with the axis. At least the axis won ALL games I ever played!
>And we even did not use any optional rules (e.g. russia's first turn attack
>forbidden).

Hmm.. that's strange.

>How to play the axis:

>In the first turn, Russia builds a fighter and 6 infantry. It attacks eastern

Well, that won't work.  Russia has 24 IPC's.  A fighter is 12, and 6
infantry is 18 (3 each).  This totals 30 (which is greater than 24).
Usually, when I play, Russia buys 8 infantry.

>europe to prevent an attack of all the germans tanks against Karelia. Germany

This isn't so bad.. you wipe out a fighter, etc.  Hope you didn't spend too
many of your forces to do it.  I usually play the no-attack rule, anyway.
In either case, though, it is probably a bad idea for Germany to attack
Russia on the first turn.  You have to decided whether or not the losses 
are worth attacking Eastern Europe.

Basically, German shouldn't attack if he is going to lose his tanks.  If
Germany attacks the first round in full force, he won't have wiped out the
navy.  It would be very bad to have a bunch of unprotected German tanks
just sitting around waiting to be slaughtered.  You need lots of fodder
(infantry) before you can pull off a successful attack (unless you get
really lucky).

>then kills all british sea forces, takes eastern europe back, and sends two
>infantry to africa. Now, Britania is almost out of the game, because it is

This is a very good German strategy.

>unable to get any land forces to europe. It may build an industry in South
>africa or in india. But an industry in south africa won't help russia, and
>the inndusty in India is taken buy Japan, easyly. So, the best choice for

Actually, it is a very good idea for Britian to build an IC in India.
With help from a few Russian fighters (not to mention some transported
British infantry), India can actually hold out for quite some time,
drastically slowing the Japanese advance.

>Britannia is to build fighters and to send them to Karelia. Japan builds an

This isn't such a bad idea either.  Or, you could save up some money,
preparing to build a large fleet at once (such as a carrier).

>industry and a transport. It eliminates the US fleet in the pacific, attacks
>the US forces in China and places its industry in the area just in the east
>of india. Now, the US are in a similar position as Britannia. The US may try
>to send the rest of its pacific fleet (Battleship, transport, and probably
>a sub (retreated from Pearl Harbour)) in the atlantic sea. The other choice
>is to build subs around the battleship at the west coast. But in the first
>case, japan can still catch the escaping fleet, and in the second case, japan
>may ignore the US fleet in the pacific.

I always seem to do well with the US concentrating in the Atlantic.  It
is difficult to really threaten Japan or even gain any money in the Pacific.
Besides, Germany has to be stopped.  Hopefully Britian in India will be able
to slow Japan for a bit.

>Now, the axis have two choice to win the game. They can win the game either
>by killing russia, or they can achieve an economic victory. This depends
>on the behaviour of the allies.

Either of these choices seems rather difficult to me.  Russia is difficult
to take, and an economic victory (which I don't use) is pretty hard too.

>The strategy of the allies is manly influenced by the US. The US may either
>try to attack Japan, or the may try to attack Germany. Attacking germany seems
>to be a good thing. All three allies will threaten germany! But who will care
>for Japan? 

Well, the way I do it, Britian and Russia work with Japan, while Russia
and the US concentrate on Germany.

>Several people told me: "Germany should build all infantry an then attack
>everyting in sight". I disaggree to this opinion. In general, germany must
>be played very carefuly. Germany must put as much preasure on Karelia as
>possible. But it must not attack Karelia as long as the allies will retake
>it! Germany must wait until the japanese forces are ready to attack Moscow,
>too! Germany puts most of its units into East Europe, and as least as possible
>(1 infantry) into the Ukraine. The Ukrains is usually taken by Russia, and
>retaken by germany, each turn. While Germany is threatening Karelia, the
>allies are forced to send fightes for defense.

I like to build all infantry for Germany.  This provides constant pressure
on Russia, and it is pretty good for defense too.  You have to work to
keep Africa though, as needed.

>Now, if all allies are preparing to attack germany, the axis can go for an
>economical victory. Germany will take Africa, while Japan will invade the
>far east. BTW, it's a  good choice to build a second industry in the
>Manchurai and to build 6 tanks per turn.

Of course, the US will be trying to retake Africa.  Actually, it should be
able to do so fairly easily, with a few transports of stuff.

I think it is better for Japan to develop a large infantry base before it
starts building tanks.  Otherwise, the tanks will beocme fodder for Russia.

>Ok. This is only a brief description. You must always care for your opponent
>actions. Altough I believe it's more easy to win when playing the axis, it's
>not easy to win for either side. I mean: Some small erorrs in strategy or
>tactic may cause your end if your enemy is able to utilize your errors!

>The main problem for the allies is that it need so much time to get their
>fleets back. If the axis is able to capture Moscow while the allies still
>haven't get anything comparable in exchange, the axis will win. (At least,
>we never played further, because the stituation was to  hopeless for the
>allies...).

Well, the allies steadily build a fleet...

>That's it. Comment's are welcome. And PLEASE tell me how to win with the
>allies...

See above.

keith