Russian Defense… or attack, first turn and on

Here is a general thought about the starting positioning/strategy of the axis.  No matter what, usually Germany will focus it’s efforts on either the UK or Russia.  A good axis player will keep you guessing up until the moment they strike.  Once that nation is the target, they are put on the defensive and it’s tough to turn the tables once you’re in that position.  A few quick thoughts.
1.  Are you retreating your Eastern Units?  I believe they all arrive back at moscow by turn 6.
2.  Are you sending a tiny force south through the Caucasus to snag Iraq and eventually some africa axis territories?  That’s bonus money!
3.  If you do really want to get offensive, help the allied cause by invading Scandinavia.  That will get you bonus money and cut bonus money for Germany.

All that being said, here are 2 excellent resources for ways to approach playing Russia:

This awesome post from Gargantua giving all Russia offensive fans hope! http://www.axisandallies.org/forums/index.php?topic=34670.0

Also check out this youtube video series from YoungGrasshopper regarding Russian Strategy! https://youtu.be/JBK_hdAjUpw

Enjoy!

I don’t think invading Scandinavia is ever an option, since there are usually a lot of Finnish infantry, and if Russia attacks them in force, they will become much weaker in Leningrad and Belarus.

Use this:

1. Buy all inf, but also 1 ftr for the first 3 turns.  Gives you defense w/some offense

2. Move 1 mech into Caucasus to drive down to take Somalia and Ethiopia for bonus income if UK can knock out Italian African forces but not occupy those terr.

3. Move Cruiser in Baltic one space forward to block possible amphib by Germany.

4. Keep 18 inf and 2 AA in far east there.  That is against conventional wisdom but you preserve the far east for income and threaten Japan enough to keep a significant Japanese forces tied up there.

5. Build UK Minor factory in Persia to send fighters and mech inf into Russia for support.  This will only be possible if Egypt is held.

If Germany DOWS on russia round 1. Scramble uk. If he skips a fleet… say sz 111 or sz 110, do not retreat it, move it toward the medit sea, make him lose some air to sink it. Try to get Russia his NO +5 by clearing the seazone with a destroyer.

G2 dow on russia. Now is he buying mech round 1 or infantry? If he is, scramble. You can afford to lose a few planes. Just keep 1 fighter from scotland to be able to sink italy with good odds (along with the bomber).

Yes this is what you got to do. Turn on the aggression. If you really want to keep germany honest. Have usa make a few carriers atlantic, rest transports with tons of guys locked and loaded. You you can easily cut into some of germany’s income making the G5 / G6 / G7 takeover of russia more difficult by forcing him to make a few infantry to defend germany.

What has been your opponents  approach with Japan?  Has it been similar each game?  What turn is the U.S. Getting into the fray?  I assume that if Russia is your largest concern, your opponent is winning with the VC’s on the Europe map.  If that’s the case, after fortifying Moscow and snapping up Iraq and any African territory to net you bonus IPC for Russia, try to attack Germany in the west with USA and UK to open up a 2 front war ASAP.

Hope everyone’s ideas have helped spark a new strategy! Reading everyone’s thoughts always helps me look at the game with new perspective.  Looking forward to hearing how the next game goes.

He waits until round 4 to let USA in the war? That sounds super good for the allies. You can go full pacific if you want, carriers mass fighters. Move that to Japan waters, Fly through siberia and into Russia to defend it. Pretty simple.

Like I said scramble UK in sz 110. You are going to hit some air. USA can go mega drop europe, balanced buy, or heavy pacific. As long as you are able to help Russia hold, you be fine.

The pacific should be fine, he is starving his own income when he does not declare war and UK pacific gets rich, it is an ideal scenario.

Sounds like there are some weaknesses in your opponent’s game.  If your opponent declares on Russia and violates Mongolian neutrality, sometimes you can move the 18 inf 2 aa in Siberia into China which is usually enough to enable China to survive awhile.  Otherwise you can move the Siberians back to Moscow, though they won’t be there till Russia 7 and a good German player might be able to attack Moscow on G6 or G7.  If so, you’ll need Allied fighters to help defend Russia.  Think of the Allied fighters as equivalent to the Allied lend-lease aid that flowed through Persia, Archangel, and Siberia in the actual war and which helped prevent Soviet defeat.

On the Europe side, it’s critical to gain the initiative in the Med with the RAF and eventually flood the Med with 3-6 subs convoying sz 97 (you’ll also need sufficient Allied air in range to destroy any destroyers Italy builds).  So fighters and bombers and subs are useful buys for UK in the early game (assuming you don’t have to worry about a German Sea Lion)  After that, concentrate on building up a UK/USA fleet in the North Atlantic and make landings in Norway and Normandy (preferably both).  Build USA factories in Norway and Finland asap.

If your opponent is so heavily invested in taking Siberia with Japan, then you might be able to contest the strategically critical territory of Yunnan with a defensive combo composed of Chinese men, UK Pacific men, and Russian planes.  Then you potentially get the +6 and can build Chinese artillery.  Just something to think about if you get the opportunity.

As for Russia, there’s not much you can do against a good player.  Don’t spread yourself thin and don’t let your forces get divided and conquered.  For the most part buy inf plus art as needed.  In order to maximize Russia’s income (and especially if your opponent declares on G2), think about trying to capture as many +3 NOs (Iraq, Libya, Ethiopia, and there’s 2 more in Africa) as possible.  To achieve this, it’s a good idea to buy some additional mech/tanks on Russia 1 and take NW Persia on R2, Iraq on R3, and so on.