Gentlemen, I offer an objective analysis of the openings using the
interactive library. Communication between countries has not been considered for this analysis. This is simply a look at the moves and what they might indicate.
AUSTRIA commanded by Hortlund-
Orders:
Army Budapest to Rumania (bounce)
Army Vienna to Galicia
Fleet Trieste Hold
ROADHOG
Any Austrian opening that orders Trieste to HOLD and Budapest to Rumania. ENGLAND commanded by SOB-
Orders:
Fleet Edinburgh to Norwegian Sea
Fleet London to North Sea
Army Liverpool - Yorkshire
NORTHERN OPENING (THE YORKSHIRE OPENING)
Richard Sharp's name for the opening F Lon-NTH and F Edi-NWG. There are four named variations:
the Yorkshire Opening (the pure Northern Opening),
the Churchill Opening,
the Wales variant, and
the Clyde variant,
In his book, "The Game of Diplomacy," Richard Sharp applied the term "Yorkshire Opening" to the pure Northern Opening (A Lvp-Yor). Although the offensive role of the English army is limited, this opening is the only move to guarantee England a build in 1901, since Yorkshire can guard London against a sneaky French assault through the Channel, and one fleet can support the other into Norway if Russia opens with A Mos-StP. The opening vies in popularity with the "Churchill Opening." Note that it may be important which England supports himself into Norway. If Russia orders A Mos-StP in Spring of 1901 and A StP-Nor in Fall of 1901 then to achieve Norway, the English will need to support a move by the fleet in the North Sea, in case Germany orders an attack on the North Sea to cut support. FRANCE commanded by GtoRA2-
Orders:
Fleet Brest to Mid-Atlantic Ocean
Army Marseilles to Spain
Army Paris to Burgundy
ATLANTIC OPENING, BURGUNDY VARIANT
In this very common Atlantic opening (better known as the Burgundy Opening), there may be an arranged standoff in Burgundy, which guards Burgundy, permits both Iberian centres to be taken, and still gives France some say in Belgium. However, if A Par-Bur succeeds, Brest is less protected. If Par-Bur fails and Italy enters Piedmont, France has a guessing game to play in deciding whether to protect Marseilles or guarantee himself Spain.
The Gamer's Guide to Diplomacy calls this opening "essentially defensive. If A Par-Bur succeeds, France can try for Belgium, threaten Munich, or protect Marseilles." GERMANY commanded by SikBoy-
Orders:
Fleet Kiel to Holland
Army Berlin to Kiel
Army Munich to Ruhr
BLITZKRIEG OPENING, DUTCH VARIATION
This is the second most popular German opening. Compared to the Danish Blitzkrieg, this trades German influence in Scandinavia for a stronger hand in Belgium, plus a slightly stronger defensive position.
This is the basic opening where England is an ally, Russia is neutral, and France is the objective. Even so, nothing has yet been done to antagonize France directly. Ruhr can go to Begiuml with Holland's support, or can defend Munich if the French entered Burgundy. In the latter event, F Hol-Bel still denies the center to France. F Hol could also support an English unit into Belgium. ITALY commanded by Tarmac-
Orders:
Fleet Naples to Ionian Sea
Army Rome to Apulia
Army Venice Hold
LEPANTO
Lepanto openings in general feature the Spring 1901 moves F Nap-ION and A Rom-Nap, followed by F ION C Nap-Tun in autumn, to secure a build of F Nap). The full Lepanto would then be pursued with the moves F Nap-ION, F ION-EAS and then F EAS C Tun-Syr (or Smy), thus embodying a four season strategy directed against Turkey (Italy's traditional rival for naval supremacy in the Mediterranean). Indeed, the Lepanto takes its name from the Sixteenth Century Battle of Lepanto in which an Austro-Italian fleet defeated the Turks. In practice, however, the Lepanto is rarely pursued beyond Autumn 1901, after which Italian players usually prefer to develop a more flexible strategy. As an answer to the Juggernaut, the Lepanto may be the best Italian opening, assuming as it does no grave threat from Austria.
Alliance with Austria is essential, with a standoff in the Black Sea in Spring 1901 very desirable. Devised and popularized by Edi Birsan read the original article on the subject), it is probably the best-known named opening. The Lepanto can be turned from anti-Turk to anti-Austrian in 1902 using the Illyrian Opening.
The Lepanto is designed to carry Italian power into the east rapidly. This was the first opening ever to be discussed in depth in an article. Edi Birsan's work on the subject is still considered a model effort.
This attack on Turkey in alliance with Austria, is often enormously effective. Turkey can block it by building F Smy and ordering F Smy-EAS. However, Italy can order F ION-AEG instead, threatening a convoy into Bul, Con, or Smy.
There are a number of variants to the Lepanto Opening:
Classical Lepanto (A Ven H)
Tyrolian Lepanto (A Ven-Tyr)
Key Lepanto (A Ven-Tri)
Swiss Lepanto (A Ven-Tyr)
Neopolitan Lepanto (A Rom-Nap)
Anti-Hedgehog Lepanto (A Ven-Apu, A Rom-Ven)
The Classical Lepanto is often considered too passive, indicative of a distrust of Austria; it does, however, have the advantage that A Ven H, A Apu S A Ven, F ION-Tun in Fall 1901 saves Venice and still allows Italy to build if Austria puts two units against Venice. RUSSIA commanded by Flyboy-
Orders:
Army Warsaw Hold
Army Moscow to Ukraine
Fleet Sevastopol to Rumania [bounce)
Fleet St. Petersburg to Gulf of Bothnia
UKRAINE SYSTEM
Richard Sharp's name for any Russian opening involving the moves F StP/sc-Fin/BOT, A Mos-Ukr. There are five named variations:
the Austrian Attack (A War-Gal, F Sev-Rum)
the Livonia Variation (A War-Lvn)
the German Attack Variation (A War-Sil)
the Southern Defence (A War-Gal, F Sev-BLA)
the Southern Houseboat Variation (A War-Gal, F Sev H)
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TURKEY commanded by banana-
Orders:
Fleet Ankara to Black Sea
Army Constantinople to Bulgaria
Army Smyrna to Constantinople
BALKAN CONCENTRATION
Named by Manus Hand, this opening sends all the Turkish units toward the center-rich Balkans. Especially if the fleet move succeeds, Turkey has a nice position for fall, able to exert pressure on Serbia, Greece, and Rumania while defending his Bulgaria acquisition.
Turkey can employ this opening when she is unsure of Russia but does not want to move to Armenia. It may be that she has at least a neutrality pact with Russia which includes a pre-arranged stand-off in the Black Sea. Among other things, this can be used to deceive players in believing Russia and Turkey are at war, even though they are allied. Current Map
