The rule for holding VC’s is that at teh end of the US’s move (the complete turn of play) X number of VC’s are controlled by one side or the other.
8 VC’s is basically an Axis win (except in very special cases like a 2 turn limit test game where Russia goes suicidal in defense of the Allied VC’s)
Instead of 8, play for 9 for victory.
When one side or the other controls 9 VC’s at the end of a turn, then there is basically no doubt as to what side won.