Hey Crew–Taamvan from Kansas City here
My favorite version is also, G40, though I have every edition save AA50 and BoB. Enjoy all wargames, role playing games, strategy games, and eurogames.
Played Classic to completion about 4 times in college, never alotted enough time to really get into it back in the day.
Starting in about 2014, my best friend Maphead Dave and I play head to head about twice a month, often G40 (mod’d) but in 2016, 42.2, and 2018, AAZ. Our next game will be Game 187.
We also have a local KC club with about 15 members, they play G40 in one live sitting, about twice a month and at local cons

I have attended Gencon for the last 3 years, and consider myself to have many friends from this site–people I keep in contact by phone and DM regularly; YG, Dave Jensen, Argothair, Black Elk, Hambone, plus the regulars from Gencon. I enjoy playing in the tournament games and being a booster for the game, in general. I’m not as into customizing as some of the others, but look forward to a chance to meet these guys live, so they can whoop me.

The game itself is great, but the community and friends are what its all about, to me, if this were just another video game with a vast audience, it wouldn’t have this kind of grassroots following, that’s what makes the effort worth it.

Hey crew!

I think we are still trading around some great ideas. To throw in my two cents

Going all Atlantic or all pacific isn’t historical, but its much more effective than splitting
Going KJF is much more satisfying in some ways than KGF–with KJF you stand a better chance of toppling or surprising and seriously disrupting Japan than Germany.
However, you can’t defeat Japan and while you’re suppressing Japan: Germany takes the game and so we need to prepare USA for a KGF regardless of what the Axis do or what their plan is
This dynamic means that the everything the Allies do should flow towards moscow and be in place before the culminating battle

ANZAC 3 planes to java (dont forget many players think you cannot land on dutch islands without capturing them that is incorrect) and then all 6 of those allied planes go to persia, then russia

You cant lose on the pac board, so ANZAC should turtle after the intial 3–includes infantry because of limited production then protect sydney. Same Hawaii–guys dumped here early count for alot and can be supplemented by fighters even if you never buy fleet over there
Taranto must be done, but that costs you alot of fighters–so UK must be garrisoned starting from turn 1 and continuing all game, no exceptions (and no factories, airbases, or tank SA buys until its clearly safe and Germany is headed elsewhere). Not doing taranto makes Italy rage which is way worse over time for the UK than just dealing with them from game start
UK East wants sumatra and ethiopia and yunnan but you should take persia turn 1 and do what you need to do to keep egypt safe all game (tobruk? turtle? up to you)

The best KGF I’ve seen has the USA transition directly from SZ 91 to norway, then finland, building bases as we go–so at some point you’ll want to destroy the German fleet to ensure they can’t do anything about it. If Germany wastes time or flinches you will be able to go over the top and take back leningrad thats 3 factories pouring out tanks

A combination of US north and UK south rescue forces is the only thing that can prevent the income flop whether moscow dies or not
for russia, more fighters is better than armor or mech or tacticals because they dissuade the crippling stratbombings
for UK, more fighters is better than more men and ships because you go after the US and can support a US landing
realistically, USA only gets 1 wave of ground troops before the russia game is decided–do not waste 1 man

Finally, USSR is too weak and Germany too rich–your patch/set bid should address this, not alter the overall game dynamics vis UK/USA v Axis (insert pitch for Taamvan Mod v3.0 here)*

I emphatically agree that large bids are not needed for anything short of league/master’s play–12-20 is plenty and the allies consistently win games of mixed skill

good luck have fun boys

Russia needs every piece, and the other allies need all those factory nodes. There may be some more breathing room with a bid placed in favor of Russia, but plans that vary from the extremely vanilla (stack moscow) seem like temptations…and nothing more.

The game is still dynamic and changing because player perception about what is optimal still has some room to move. I contend that having a vast experience and playbook is key so that you don’t go into the game with a rigid strategy that is easy to sniff out. A year or two ago leaving UK with a fleet was taboo but other players have left me with a fleet on turn 1 and then dealt with the rest later.

All why I like weddingsinger’s plan of a Play Option Sea Lion–you only commit to sea lion once you see what UK buys turn 1. Placing or leaving the necessary units West does cost a turn (or turn and a half) of russian advance if you decline the Sea Lion, but its much harder to discern what the German player is trying to do than if he buys CV or TT on turn 1 or steps out into SZ 112. Even the best UK players are tempted to spend money away from the Home Islands starting turn 1–the crazy part is that Germany can conquer UK in the later game if its poorly and inconsitently garrisoned, and especially if all the fighters left/tarantod/died.

Sea Lion is still a poor move–even when this gambit worked and I took UK with a fair number of units left, it doesn’t give you that much money, you need to add men and planes to defend it, it doesnt count towards 1 of Mark Movel’s VCs, and America knows what it has to do.

Thats also why 2 SB is the ultimate Germany buy–it doesn’t telegraph a specific strategy, not even dark skies, but 4 SB can be used to accomplish any germany objective and you can decide on G3 what the actual plan is.

Welcome to the Allied Playbook v1.0

This article is a compilation of the best Allied strategies, as proposed by Crockett36. These ideas are gambits and strategems that the community developed for the original ruleset, though most of them are useful for modified games. I present the moves and buys and an overall plan. Then, I briefly lay out the problems with that plan.

These are not “how to win the game/beat the axis” plans—that would be too complex and conditional. When plans were developed by others, I’ve tried to give credit, and most of the plans have been fleshed out by the Axa.org community. My version of another contributor’s plan may depart from theirs, for the sake of simplicity.

Russia Armored Mobility

Buy/Moves: R1 Buy 6 armor. R2 Buy more armor, and mechs. Move everything to Bryansk/Belarus so that it threatens any German Stacks.

Plan: Instead of building a bastion of infantry, this plan uses mobility troops to threaten the Germans as they approach. If Germany declares war early, the Russians force them to stack up in East Poland and stick together, slowing the offensive down. If Germany doesn’t declare war on G1-2 and doesnt move everything east, these units can stack up on the border along with everything else the Russians have and force Germany into a risky early battle. Infantry and artillery produce too little threat and so this plan gives Russia more options.

Problems; Without a giant mass of infantry to protect them, the tanks and factories are vulnerable. Germany has so many infantry, armor, and air units that even if you put everything Russia has in the West onto one territory, they can still destroy it.

Russia NO Gambit;

Moves; Keep the 1 Armor and 1 Mech from Stalingrad in Caucasus. When Russia enters the war, liberate NW Persia. Build 1-3 more mechs and 1 armor. R 3-5 Liberate Persia and Iraq. R 6+ Liberate Ethiopia and Somalia. R 8+ Liberate Sicily and Sardina using friendly allied transports.

Plan: Russia exploits its special NO for taking Axis and Pro Axis territory, gaining more income.

Problems; This diverts crucial Russian mobility pieces away from the defense of the homeland. UK can’t take out the Italians in Ethiopia if Russia wants it. Russia can’t afford IC and units in Iraq and Persia and so the opportunity to build there with the richer Allies is lost. This plan is complex and takes a long time to execute so Russia may die in the meantime.

Spanish Beachhead

Moves; US 1-4 plenty of transports and fighters. UK same.

Plan; Violate Spanish neutrality to establish a beachhead early in the game. Build a factory in Spain, then use Gibraltar port to move back and forth from the US East coast in a shuck-shuck. This is the best way to attack Axis-held France directly on land.

Problems; Germany can take advantage of neutrality breach to get a boost in troops and income, especially if UK doesn’t demolish Turkey the same turn US takes Spain. Germany can also build at the French factories to block you, and if they see your plan, potentially overwhelm the Allies before they can build in force and take the factory away from you.

Allied Dark Skies

Buys/Moves; US 1-5 build primarily strategic bombers.

Plan; Strategic bombers are the only US unit with enough mobility to get over to the center of the map before the Axis own most of that territory. Fly the bombers to UK, then onto Moscow. Use the massive threat of the bombers to demolish any German fleet hiding in the Baltic or Med. Use their mobility to zap whichever land or sea units that are exposed. Fly the bombers to Moscow to act as casualties or alpha-strike Axis blockers and exposed units.

Problems; The US cant build much else when it is spending its money on bombers, and planes cannot take or hold territory. Many of the potential attacks will be made without other US units, so only high-value bombers can be taken as casualties. Germany has access to so many factories (2 major, 5 minor by G4) it is difficult to suppress them all. Allied units in Russia ruin a Russian NO.

Northlock

Moves; R1 Move 20 Russian units to Sahka. R 2-4 Move 20 Russian Units to Amur. US 1-3 Buy 4-5 Strategic bombers. US 4-6 more bombers and fleet.

Plan; The US can threaten SZ 6 with newly built strategic bombers and land in Amur. Along with a threatening US fleet, SZ 6 isn’t safe and Japan must protect it or lose its ability to place new units. The Japanese will often attack Russian units left on the coast, but as they move south to take the money territories, the Russians step up and the US has a safe landing zone. Once the Bombers are safe in Amur, they can Stratbomb Japan proper.

Problems; The Russian troops can’t help in the defense of Moscow. Since Russia goes before Japan, the Allies would have to guess about when Japan intends to declare war and step up to the coast. The Strategic bombers don’t add defense and Amur is too far away for US fighters to help.

Southlock

Moves; UK1 Transport with 2 units + 3 planes land on Java. Z1 Transport with 2 units + 3 planes land on Java.

Plan: Block the spice islands bonus for as long as possible, and fly away to safety if Japan comes at this node in force. This is a way to get the planes to India without the threat of destruction. With 3 sacrificial allied ships, this node can be screened out (37, 43, 44) even when Japan has control of a port.

Problems: You cant use the planes and ships to do other useful things, and the UK cant take Sumatra and/or Persia.

Northlock and Southlock can be used as a combined strategy.

US “Over the Top”

Moves; US 1-4 Build transports and a fleet with at least 14 hits. US 4-6 Liberate Norway. US 5-8 Liberate Finland and build Industrial complexes in both Norway and Finland. Liberate Leningrad. Uk builds fighters.

Plan; Once the US enters the war, the US takes Norway. It can attack from SZ 91, though that leaves it in the more vulnerable SZ 112. It can approach from above, landing in SZ 125. This ruins a German Bonus. Once the Germany Baltic fleet is dead, there isn’t anything they can do to recover the lost income or stop these factories pouring out aid to Russia.

Problems; The US fleet and ground forces are vulnerable to interdiction as long as the German navy is hiding in the Baltic and the German Luftwaffe is on West Germany. This plan takes a long time to come to fruition. UK and Russia can’t liberate either territory and still have the USA build factories there.

Yunnan Stack

Moves; R1 Declare war on Japan. Move 1 Fig and 1 TB from Moscow to Yunnan, and 1 Armor and 1 Mech to Sikang. Use Russian pieces to keep China alive.

Plan; Make it harder for Japan to cut the Burma Road bonus and smash China.

Problems: This diverts crucial Russian mobility pieces away from the defense of the homeland. Without extra China bid infantry, the Japanese can still easily crush Yunnan. The stack is difficult to move forward because Russia goes before Japan and the other Allies, after Japan. This plan does cause Japan some headaches, but doesn’t help Russia survive.

The Berlin Bank Job

Moves: US takes Denmark. UK transits Danish Straits to capture Germany.

Plan: The Allies take advantage of a German player who leaves Denmark and Germany lightly (or un-) defended. In a one-two punch, the US captures Denmark, opening the door for the UK to sail into the Baltic and amphibious assault into Germany, capturing Berlin and stealing Germany’s money. Executed at the right time, this move can save Moscow by preventing Germany from purchasing new units for at least one turn. Also, the UK gets a huge one-time income boost.

Problems: In order to keep the German player from becoming alarmed and reinforcing Denmark and Germany, the Allies can’t have a huge troop buildup in advance of the operation. This means that minimal force must be used, which means that those units committed to Denmark and Germany are essentially on a suicide mission. This includes any British naval units which enter the Baltic, as they’ll be trapped there until Denmark is again liberated or they’re killed by the Luftwaffe, whichever comes first. This plan forces the Germans to try and defend 3 separate territories (Denmark, W. Germany, Germany) which can leave them vulnerable.

Taranto Raid

Moves; UK 1 SB 2-3 Fig 1 TB 1 CV 1 CA 1 DD attack the Italian 1 BB 1 CA 1 TT (3 Fig) SZ 97.

Plan; Destroy most of Italy’s transports before they rage. Italy is obligated to counterattack the survivors, leaving Italy with virtually nothing left on I2. Helps ensure the survival of Egypt and keeps Italy away from the Oil money.

Problems; The UK fleet is lost and the Med is ripe to be cleared. If the CA in SZ 91 is dead, a ship has to be diverted to kill the Italian 1 DD 1 TT in SZ 95.

Tobruk Raid

Moves; Use the UK units in Alexandria and the UK Transport to smash the 6 Italian units in Tobruk.

Plan: Eliminate the land threat to Egypt

Problems; The Italian units are stuck there and can be whittled down with less risk over time. May divert forces from Taranto, which destroys more TUV and Italy’s best units.

Taranto and Tobruk Raids can be combined in to one strategy, though the risk increases since every UK unit in the region has a job to do and is on the line.

The Gibbastion

Moves; UK 1 buy an airbase for Gibraltar. Move 3 fighters to Gibraltar. UK destroys the Italian blockers in SZ 95, then moves everything it can into SZ 92 1 CV 2 Fig (1 TB, +2 Fig) 2 CA 1-2 DD etc.

Plan; Keep a powerful UK fleet alive, that can form the nucleus of a new Home Fleet even when SZ 110/111 were annihilated. Block the Italian clear med bonus. Keep Gibraltar safe all game. Fly fighters direct to Egypt.

Problems; This is an alternative to Taranto and you can’t do both. The Italians can attack SZ 92 with everything they have if Southern France was taken by Germany, and potentially destroy the fleet. Spending on the airbase and moving the fighters to Gibraltar means UK Home Islands are vulnerable to a Sea Lion.

“Middle Earth”

Moves: UK1 Liberate Persia. UK2 Build IC in Persia and Liberate Iraq UK3 Build IC in Iraq

Plan; This is the most powerful way to bring UK Atl’s resources to aid UK Pac and Russia. Persia is the only space where you can fly newly built fighters direct to Moscow. Mechanized units can help UK Pac survive.

Problems; UK can’t take Sumatra and UK Pac has less income. UK Atl has to be careful that it doesnt overspend in the ME and leave the Home Islands vulnerable. Best paired with Taranto to ensure Italy doesnt threaten the factories before they can produce enough units to defend themselves. Entering Russia with Allied units ruins one of their national objectives.

The Sneaky Karl

Moves; UK 2-3 move a DD among the Japanese fleet at peace in SZ 36, then declare war on Japan with ANZAC.

Plan; Japan can’t load their transports in a hostile SZ. They will often set up for DoW by placing a big pile of ships and men on Kwangsi. This prevents them from taking the spice islands and ruins their war plans.

Problems; Can’t be used during J1 DoW. Decouples the US declaration of war from the other Allies, so the US sits out with minimum income for the maximum time. Japan can prevent the entire plan by leaving its ground units on the transports during the interturn.

UK/ANZAC Pre-emtive Declaration of War

Moves: Z1 take Dutch New Guinea, UK 1 take Sumatra. UK 2-3 declare war with UK/ANZAC before Japan does.

Plan; Get the NO for Hong Kong, and both NO for ANZAC, giving them maximum early income.

Problems; Can’t be used during J1 DoW. Decouples the US declaration of war from the other Allies, so the US sits out with minimum income for the maximum time.

ANZAC on Deck

Moves: Z 1-2 build 1 fighter. Z 3-5 build more fighters, and/or subs.

Plan: The US will use its might to provide 2-3 extra empty CV at SZ 26 to accomodate up to 6 extra fighters from ANZAC. This increases the sea defense of the US fleet so that the US concentrates on subs or airplanes that increase striking power. Because US and Z both go after Japan, the US can initiate a strike and then ANZAC can use its fighters and subs to finish off any survivors.

Problems; The ANZAC fighters cant help India or Moscow. The Fighters are stuck on allied carriers in some situations and take up space that could be used to get US fighters/TB in position.

Credits;
Overall Concept: Crockett36
Northlock, Southlock, ANZAC on Deck: Taamvan and Maphead
Spanish Beachead: Young Grasshopper
Russian Mobility: Gargantua/Weddingsinger
Middle Earth: General Hand Grenade
Allied Dark Skies: Cow
Sneaky Karl; Karl

Hey Team,

There are certain cities and areas that have a more organized following than others. Finding live players can be difficult; training and retaining them can be a challenge if they haven’t played in a while. Bob Roby and I play in some of the national tournaments, and over time we’ve grown to have about 10 local regular members, that play twice a month.

I don’t use a social internet resource, just this website, an old-school email reply to all list, flyers, and word of mouth. Bob plays at both nationals and 4-5 local cons and highschools, churches, so hes a huge booster too. I also try to socialize with the guys that play; if AxA is a passion for you, you will find like-minded people at GENCON (and here). That is where we congregate, and where these relationships get started. GENCON has many details and mysteries that you can only learn from someone who has been–parking, food, scheduling and accommodations all require some planning. But that is my first suggestion; if you want to build local support (and personal excitement about our hobby), go national also. You’re just going to find the most enthusiastic and sportsmanlike players that way and may satisfy your own desire to play. I found 4 players at GENCON who are from the KC area, that I’d never met before. Then, they found me here, then at our local shop.

I play fairly often now, so if a game gets canceled or missed, I’m not disappointed. I also dont attend every game, just when I can.

Attend nationally
Meet people on the Forums
Post locally–find your following

Probably one of the most difficult considerations isn’t who to play with or how to find them–its how to AVOID players who will deep-six your game. People who play wargames are nerdy, some of us have issues–still gossiping, inappropriate humor, distractions, racism, cheating, slopping, talking incessantly until its your turn, arguing about the rules, long whispering asides, 2 hour smoke break powwows…these will demoralize your club. Invite people who are genial and cooperative, be that sportsman–people who undermine these principles can’t have a long-term place in your group, or you wont have one.

Thanks again DJ and crew, for all the work here. Go AxA!

Merry Christmas to all plastic soldiers and generals

really appreciate all you have done to improve this, the save draft and free edit features alone…the fluid chat…huge improvement. Jon

Tirano and I discussed this at Gencon, I remain skeptical regarding how all the J1 primary goals can be completed WITH pearl harbor on the table as well. YG has a video where he lays out both gambits, but goes on to demonstrate what has to be taken away from the J1 in Asia to fulfill the PH attack, and declines PH in order to safely complete the J1.

Without the airbase, how can the air come to kill India? You only have 3 carriers, they’re needed to support both the east and west parts of your plan? You also need Yunnan, which will either cost you your invasion troops, or be left to China.
Crush India sounds nice, but after casualties are taken during J1-J2, how can we even fill most of those transports, if anything went into China? J1 doesnt leave time for a trip back so its 1 packet of troops that diminish turn after turn.
Why can’t USA step into SZ26? How much threat can we express against him when you have already allocated your planes and heavy ships to the southern push? I see that you can shuttle planes from japan into that fight–but what im not sure of is once you PH, why won’t he respond to that by spending 100% of his 10 factory money to stop what you’re doing, and before you can screen him out. Wont he do-or die defend Hawaii, since that’s what’s at stake?
How can we get 4 TT’s worth of troops without budgeting for those? Strip asia forces?
Italy and Germany’s contribution to your plan aren’t game changers when you consider that SZ 91 is likely blocked and that G/Ital have plenty to do on turn 1. It would be worth it to blow your chances of success on one board to ensure them on the other, but a much better plan is to play the game more conservatively and switch your focus from winning on the Pac board to the Atl board, then back to the Pac board…this makes the allies have to take bigger and bigger risks to stop your victory as you switch targets.

The plan sounds awesome, but in my experience, J1 leaves Japan thin and quite vulnerable to the US. To account for blockers, carrier-shuttling, bombardments, and all your planes being in the right place to attack both targets–Japan despite its “Airplane Sprinkles” cannot do everything at once or in 1 turn. Planes that can strike the US cant strike India, sometimes they are 2 turns away from being able to switch goals.

To choose sides, whoever can rip a phone book in half first gets to pick.

A fine point, which I tested out in our last 40 game. Italy raged all over the UK’s money–while the UK had a bunch of planes that kept it nice and safe from Germany’s roaming 3 ship fleet. A few planes might have made it to Leningrad for a showdown but the Russia player didn’t garrision it properly anyway at that juncture.

Takeway? Do it every single time. It’s the difference between a 12 income Italy and a 40 income italy. And, if you lose, it doesn’t lose London.

@wanguskhan

They may reprint it again, preserving all the errors and the illogicially ordered setup charts.

Comp for WW1 is $350-600 now.

@superbattleshipyamato

Only UK can move to stop it, and most players will assume that when Germany goes to gibraltar they have some plan to attack UK, not pin down the USA. Most of the setup occurs at peace so there is nothing the Allies can do about it unless they fortify the canal. Italy can indeed help, they take gibraltar on I1 and follow the Germans.

There is actually another completely different way to stymy the US with the Axis va a northern route. Neither of these plans are foolproof and requires perfect coordination as only 1-2 things going wrong cause the whole gambit to collapse.

And both are good ways to lose the game to Russia Rampaunt.

Keep in mind the OP was “Japan Attack America How” not “How to win by conquering the US first”

@superbattleshipyamato

You’re wrong, Japan’s allies can help. They open the canal and japan can move through. It’s not a game winning move, but it does work and its difficult to stop.

@thefriendlypatisan

You pass through the American fleet at peace, then take the canal. Then you join the Germans on the other board.

Then you go on to lose in a blaze of glory.

@thefriendlypatisan

Put an AB and or NB on it to start, accomplish your aim.

@andrewaagamer

That is true, but what is more or less guaranteed is that the UK will lose their fleet, whereas gibastion they are likely to keep it.

Not all games are open bid. There are many situations where is no convoy damage (as the planes fly elsewhere like syria or cyprus), it seems pretty rare in our games. The italians may attack what air lands but after the retaliation they don’t have much left, which is good for the allies.

Italy having money is bad, Italy being broke and having no navy is really good. In that basic dynamic, gibastion may or may not cost them the navy, but it will stop them from getting the money they need. And if the UK navy is there, then it doesnt really matter what the Italian built when the USA arrives, they can smash it.

Both plans are good, so if you get a bid of subs, Taranto is probably better, but if not, gibbastion.

@simon33

You’re definitely right, and while the bastion can be destroyed, it forces the Italians to take the risk of screwing up the battle (and moving away from their safe zone) which I like. It also messes up 2 of their bonuses, which makes attacking you at close odds more enticing.

@bryzz

There is one viable point made here, which is that russia lacks troops to defend the south. What is not mentioned is the factory you already have (Volgograd Stalingrad). Later in the game, Russia often lacks the troops needed just to block. They could walk all the way from moscow or be waiting down south all game, but if you failed to do that, building some more units in the south in the mid game might be a good idea to get some blockers in place.

For all the talk about how powerful Germany is and how imbalanced the game is, its odd that no one suggests making Germany or the Axis weaker, rather than the allies stronger. Or both.

Removing an air pair from japan or germany makes a big difference.
And to repeat, why does germany get 70-80$? That’s what makes it too easy. The bonuses are too easy to get and are easily nerfed (leningrad volgograd moscow shouldn’t be worth 5, you could make them 2-4 and lowering the bonuses doesn’t alter Germany’s setup or first turns. Moreover, interfering with Germany and Japan money and production is way too difficult in comparison to how easily they can smash the UK or USSR economy (except in anniversary). By midgame, Germany has 2 greater and 5 lesser factories, we’ve tried partisan type rules to limit their vast choices.

@docfav

building with the usa on the lower japanese islands is very popular

@puns_and_ships

There are alot of good videos. The “Middle Earth” video on yt lays out some interesting ideas for building a South Africa Shuck + Persia Factory early. However, if you committ to this kind of plan 100% you leave UK vulnerable.

Germany (buy 2 bombers save 6. Attack Russia on G2. You can take UK even in the face of a strong build by killing his navy, and stratbombing him starting on turn 1, however, this allows the USA and Russia to run wild and keeps your money low.)

Russia (buy more tanks than would seem prudent. force germany to stack east poland until its forces are able to get together by projecting threat onto his backfield areas. avoid having allies units enter your zone before your bonus SZ is lost)

Japan (if you committ everything, and build air base, you can destroy India on J3, but this is a low money option. Taking Sri Lanka gives you a floating aircraft carrier. Attacking early gives the alies much more income, attacking later keeps the US waiting. The most flexible strategy is to take the money islands, carefully conquest china, and chip away at russian money as they retreat. Attempting to strike early (JDOW J1) used to be very popular and every unit is pretty much accounted for so thats a pat opener–however, attacking early gives the allies maximum money while japan is still trying to align all its forces and value territories. If you use the diplomacy to the maximum by concentrating only on china and russia that is conservative and safe but Germany is likely to have to face a gigantic threat as the USA player builds up turn after turn waiting for war…

USA Buy 2 CV to start. You will need a BB in the Atlantic to ensure control of key SZ 98. The temptation is to focus entirely on one axis or the other, but that plan allows the other axis to run wild and reach 70+ IPC. Japan is the weaker target, which is easier to overwhelm, but taking his money entirely out is difficult. Germany is a more desirable target to reduce pressure on Russia, but the lack of a clean shuck 3 spaces across the atlantic means that you’ll be stuck on the southern path. Germany has factories close to the front, so killing him piecemeal is impossible. Dont waste your precious landing troops on half-measures–built until turn 8 and then execute your plan (enter med, boggle germany, take norway, rescue leningrad–pick one)

UK build 6 inf 1 fighter first turn on UK. Any less risks a capital take. Attack Taranto with everything that can come–note that both fighters and the bomber from london can reach. If anything survives, form a bastion on malta, or syria. The UK is pretty weak but it has the advantage of being able to build a strong rescue force in the center of the board, which could save russia, prevent egypt from ever falling, and block japan. An early persia factory is nice, an iraq backup factory is even better–however your max income is only 40 so you wont be able to power all that and protect your base. Don’t leave the UK bare of figthers, or stop turtling–Germany can kill russia then use the money to build 10 transports to smash the fortified and isolated units you left in UK)

Italy is more of a liability for germany than a help. The best plan is to pull the armor from africa, add the 2 you start with, build 1 more first turn with a mech, and then have that lance of troops hide among the germans, can opening against blockers, striking where necessary. That’s a 1 shot, though. If italy can get some bonuses and keep part of fleet, that’s good–but once the USA arrives, you have to spend more german resources protecting italy than its worth and its income can be rapidly torn to shreds once control of the med is lost. This also means keeping plenty of italitan units on rome, and alive—the USA can attack you with 20+ units and air, with the ability to follow on with UK forces that will also have a substantial air force and navy by turn UK6

Anzac There are mulitple approaches, but the best one is to build extra carriers with the USA and use those to host ANZAC fighters. Keeping 1 or 2 transports alive, alone with UK units, can lead to a situation where japan has to eat 3 consecutive allied turns of rage and leapfroggoing as the minor allies take advantage of the opening USA makes. Its also easy for Japan to kill this capital and end the game by VC if you are unwary and you can only build 3 units so adding a few units each turn and saving your money to see what happens isnt a bad idea. Japan does have to step far out of position to do this, however.

China try to stay alive. all you can really do is slow japan down, without help. in an unbid game, that isn’t wise.

Among strong players, a bid of 40+ is needed to prevent the barbarossa strategy from kiling russia in 60-80% of games.

Among moderate players, I usually suggest a bid of 12, 16, or 20.

There is also a G42 setup that is more balanced and a faster start.