by “Hippie”
I have put together a series of notes on openings.
Based on the format developed by Vincent Mous for his excellent Modern Variant, the theory of all these notes is that others will build on the bare bones by chipping in with their thoughts. These will be added periodically and attributed as often as I can .
Hopefully people can put some appropriate and original names to the openings, add their own openings or point me towards already published work to ensure a comprehensive source of information for everyone.
Many people on looking at the board ,decide that if they have the choice, they`d rather not be France…… fate smiles on them and they get Turkey (oh bugger !!)…. Turkey shares much in common with France. They Both only have 3 Supply centres and they both rely on the gift of the gab to survive the early rounds. If that can be achieved then things begin to look nicer than a full box of Turkish delight on Christmas morning!!
Turkeys position is such that he is the only thing standing between the large Empires of the Russians and the British. No wonder the Ottoman Empire was called the sick man of Europe…. he probably needed Prozac by the ton just to get up in the morning.
It is not unreasonable for Turkey to persuade both the British and The Russians that a buffer between the two countries would be beneficial. There is always the chance of a friendly China putting extra pressure on (especially if China and Russia are in cahoots against the Japanese). Both the British and Russians will be aware that their forces might be needed in some far off corner of the empire rather than defending in the west. A suitably neutral policeman might be just what they need.
The problem with all these carefully laid plans is that both Britain and Russia know that for Turkey to expand, he must attack one of them. Turkeys trick is to convince both that it will be the other. If he fails then he`ll be taking an early bath (and not Turkish)
How Turkey goes about the increase in dominion is split between 3 opening strategies
1). Quietly expand into the negotiated supply centres and wait to see which power gets hit first in the east. The likely first candidate will be the Russian. However, with the TSR this might be a slow grinding campaign. It might prove wiser to await the strains to show in the British colonies before deciding on a course of attack.
2) Alternatively, take the bull by the horns and go straight for the Jugular of the power you`ve decided to take on. Fortune often favours the underdog and if you can bounce a few supply centres and reduce their initial builds to a few, others might see it as the opportunity they need to challenge the big boys in the east (this can be especially effective in alliance with China with some bouncing of Supply centres in the middle east and the India/Asia border having quite fatal effects on both Russia and Britain.)
3) Go on the defensive. Stonewall both sides as much as possible straight from the start and hope for survival long enough for Britain and Russia to fall out with each other and offer you the help that’s needed. Although this is very negative in approach, it might well be the only course of action if your sweet talking ambassadors have failed in their mission to stop Russia and Britain allying against you.
Opening strategies
F Con – Rum
A Ang – Arm
F Bag – Shi
Any attempt by Turkey to lay claims to Rumania are bound to be seen by Russia as antagonistic. Although much hard bargaining is still necessary to ensure such things as a DMZ in the Black Sea and Rumania and Constantinople later on. Banking on this, a surprise move by Turkey may be enough to take the initiative away from Russia. A move the following year to Baku will force the Russian onto the back foot leaving The Sultan to put the rest of the Persian Gulf under his rightful influence and then with the option of heading North through Persia and Tashkent.
If Britain is happy to see the Russian in difficulties and the Chinese/Japanese take advantage in the east, it could prove to be happy times in the Sultans harem
The Golden Horn
F Con – Rum
A Ang – Con
F Bag – Shi
Here, the Russian has been persuaded to keep the Black sea and Rumania DMZed the first year with Russia laying claim to Rumania in 1874. This after all is one of the usual trade-offs that the Sultan and Czar make in initial diplomatic dialogue.
The Rumanian grab the first year is then supported by the move to Constantinople by the Army. This leaves the Sultan free to build another Fleet in angora in the build phase and force the Black Sea ,pressure Odessa and safeguard Rumania in forth coming years.
Meanwhile the Fleet in Shiraz bounces any Russian attempts to establish a presence in Persia while adding another build to the Ottoman arsenal.
F Con – BlaS
A Ang – Con
F Bag – Shi
again this follows a similar theory of putting the Russian on the back foot from the start. This time by pressuring Rumania after having negotiated it to the Russians earlier. The Russian is left wondering whether he`ll be forced back out of Rumania or whether The Sultan might make an even more audacious grab of Odessa
The Sultans Swat (Miles3M)
F Con – BlaS
A Ang – Arm
F Bag – PG
A double bluff of the russian and some firm commitments from the British sees this more risky attempt at bopping the Czar on the nose come to fruition.Again the Czar has been convinced of non action in the Black Sea for the promise of Rumania in the following year.The fleet in the Persian gulf is open to stopping the Russians gaining Persia or going for the sure build in Shiraz.On the downside,Britain will no doubt take the opportunity to take early control of Egypt and the Suez but this may be no bad thing if they have to concentrate on life in the East.
Should the russian decide that Rumania is an early conquest,then this house of cards the sultan has made could come tumbling down very quickly indeed! Either way,some careful manouvering will be needed to hang onto the gains in the following years but the lack of Russian builds may just be enough to see the Czar always fighting on the back foot
F Con – Med
A Ang – Syr
F Bag – PG
A firm set of reassurances from the Czar and this move gets the Sultans armies heading straight towards the upstart British. The Army in Syria is provocative and leaves the Brit in a quandary. His Fleet in the Red Sea could try and bounce the move to Egypt but with that Armies support it fails and he`s lost a build to boot. If he lets it go and gets the sure build in the Sudan, the Sultan could pull a fast one and have an army in Mecca and knocking on Adens door. With an Army built in Baghdad quickly moving down into Arabia, Britains influence in the west could be over very quickly.
The Fleet in the Persian Gulf is the insurance policy. It can give the Sultan the more risky move of bouncing the British in Karachi and sacrificing a build or take the certain build in Shiraz. This decision is best left until all diplomatic envoys have returned and a better idea of how Russia, Holland and other interested parties have reacted.
F Con – Med
A Ang – Arm
F Bag – PG
On the whole, this is quite a neutral opening except for the move to the Persian Gulf. This move should be always considered first rather than to Shiraz as it keeps Turkeys options open while reminding the Brit that he cant just expect to swan into Karachi without first at least discussing it.
F Con – Med
A Ang – Arm
F Bag – Shi
the most friendly of openings reassuring both the Russian and the British that Turkey does not have them in his sights yet. At the same time, it maximises the Sultans chances of doubling his forces and moving nearer to ensuring his survival.
F Con hold
A Ang – Arm
F Bag – Shi
again a neutral opening but this ensures that the Russian does not get the wrong idea about his rights in the Balkans. Meanwhile it allows the chance of 2 safe builds in Shiraz and Tabriz
In conclusion, the Sultan must play the cards he is dealt strongly, both diplomatically and military. The stalemate line that the Ottoman Empire lies over is one reason for both Russia and Britain to fear each other but also the Turk as well. If he can hang around for the rest of the world to pick on Britain and Russia, then things can really start to look good for the Ottomans!!