This game can be played in a variety of ways, so it has a fairly long interest span. The Manchuria shown on the board is roughly the shape of a tall isosceles triangle laid on its side with the narrowest point on the Jap anese player's left. Port Arthur is situated there. At the top is Mukden and nearby the Harbin entry hex for Russian reinforcements. The railway runs straight from Port Arthur to Mukden.
Japanese troops enter at lower right .
Initially the 50 Russian combat points strung along the railway can move up and down the railway but nowhere else, unless the Japanese approach too close. So if the Japanese reach the Yalu River early in the game they can make large incursions into Manchuria without losing a man. Then they have to decide whether to go for Mukden or Port Arthur. If the Russians haven't heavily garrisoned the narrow Port Arthur tip, then a quick sea invasion here and a three-hex front to keep intruders out should enable the Japanese to storm Port Arthur at their leisure. Sea Invasions are subject, of course, to Russian control of the seas.