Unconventional yet effective/high IQ openings

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I started this thread to have people discuss some less common openings, completly bizzare openings, high risk high reward openings, etc etc. I please ask everyone to share some thoughts.

[Pengwinja]

I really don’t know meta, and I mainly rely on diplomacy to win games, so I would assume that I don’t know much, But England and Russia together can be powerful if done correctly.

[Spartaculous]

Do you know the Key Lepanto?

[Pengwinja]

Do you know the Key Lepanto?

Oooooh, what’s that?

[Spartaculous]

Do you know the Key Lepanto?

Oooooh, what’s that?

Italy and Austria are allied at the start of the game, but Italy fake-stabs Austria in S01: A Ven-Tri, A Rom-Ven. But then in F01, Italy orders A Tri-Ser. If everything goes well, Russia and Turkey are toast.

https://diplomacyzines.co.uk/strategy-tactics/alliances/playing-the-key-lepanto-and-living-to-tell-the-tale/

[wintergreen]

Do you know the Key Lepanto?

Oooooh, what’s that?

Italy and Austria are allied at the start of the game, but Italy fake-stabs Austria in S01: A Ven-Tri, A Rom-Ven. But then in F01, Italy orders A Tri-Ser. If everything goes well, Russia and Turkey are toast.

https://diplomacyzines.co.uk/strategy-tactics/alliances/playing-the-key-lepanto-and-living-to-tell-the-tale/

"A Rom-Ven"? I thought it was A Rom-Apu.

[Spartaculous]

Oooooh, what’s that?

Italy and Austria are allied at the start of the game, but Italy fake-stabs Austria in S01: A Ven-Tri, A Rom-Ven. But then in F01, Italy orders A Tri-Ser. If everything goes well, Russia and Turkey are toast.

https://diplomacyzines.co.uk/strategy-tactics/alliances/playing-the-key-lepanto-and-living-to-tell-the-tale/

"A Rom-Ven"? I thought it was A Rom-Apu.

A Rom-Apu makes the "stab" less believable.

[Pengwinja]

Italy and Austria are allied at the start of the game, but Italy fake-stabs Austria in S01: A Ven-Tri, A Rom-Ven. But then in F01, Italy orders A Tri-Ser. If everything goes well, Russia and Turkey are toast.

https://diplomacyzines.co.uk/strategy-tactics/alliances/playing-the-key-lepanto-and-living-to-tell-the-tale/

"A Rom-Ven"? I thought it was A Rom-Apu.

A Rom-Apu makes the "stab" less believable.

Oooooooooooooh, nice.

[VirtualBob]

... but A ROM-APU allows for convoying to TUN (while threatening Convoy to ALB)

[modderpoel]

So, at least in the circles I play in, the Key Lepanto is known and is known to fail. Here's an example sandbox of what can go wrong: https://www.backstabbr.com/sandbox/Key-lepanto-vs-normal-moves/6210510404321280

Instead, what I find to be more popular is a Trieste loan, as showcased in this sandbox: https://www.backstabbr.com/sandbox/Trieste-Loan-vs-normal-moves/5162129556897792

This, however isn't exactly what I'd call unconventonial in my circles.

[modderpoel]

If you're looking at unconvential openings which aren't strictly inferior to the more 'traditional' ones, it's probably best to look at French openings, because France can do whatever and get away with it. An example of a moveset that is relatively unpopular, but played by Andrew Goff, who won three world championships, is Bre-Mao, Par-Gas and Spa-Por, which sets you up to watch the game develop from the side while you can sit and wait comfortably.

[wintergreen]

There's the Italian A Rom-Tus, F Nap-Tys, aka "Western Lepanto" which sets up for a convoy into Spain or Marseilles in 1902/03.

[DougJoe]

If you're looking at unconvential openings which aren't strictly inferior to the more 'traditional' ones, it's probably best to look at French openings, because France can do whatever and get away with it. An example of a moveset that is relatively unpopular, but played by Andrew Goff, who won three world championships, is Bre-Mao, Par-Gas and Spa-Por, which sets you up to watch the game develop from the side while you can sit and wait comfortably.

Heh, I was going to mention this opening as well, it's my favorite French opening. My favorite part (assuming that there's nothing else that needs to be immediately dealt with) is playing Spa S Gas-Por C by MAO in the autumn.

[Clark_wilmerding]

I’ve tried before in games with my friends a juggernaut swap.
Turkey immediately sends an army to Armenia and allows Russia to enter the Black Sea. Turkey claims Bulgaria and puts his fleet into con. Then here’s the fun part. You and Russia trade centers russsia takes Constantinople and Armenia takes Sevastopol. Now army that is normally trapped Turkish behind Turkish lines can get out into Ukraine/fight on a Russian front. Russia’s fleet which is normally problematic gets to escape into the Mediterranean. This opening requires a high amount of trust but allows for pretty optimal troop movement and the added benefit, it hides a juggernaut very nicely behind this chaotic set of stabs. Once both units are through the juggernaut is much less likely to betray itself seeing as they both have a stranded unit working for the other player.
It’s definitely unconventional (for the obvious risk involved) but very funny to do.