s1901: moving VIE to GAL is better. GAL is very crucial for austria safety
w1901: hold BUD makes only sense if you want to build a fleet in TRI at year end, otherwise it is a mistake. i think i would prefer to defend TRI. so i am neutral to russia (should not like it if i go for RUM and most likely i only get a bounce) and turkey. next year i have all options to collect VEN if italy is not on board and to attack turkey or russia, while russia and turkey most likely will fight each other.
s1902: i think i would have moved GRE to ALB to prevent italy moving to it, hoping for a bounce. italys moves doesnt make much sense (first moving to TRI then instant moving back).
s1903: showing turkey friendship and taking next year BUL doesnt look right to me as he cant defend it anyway. this way you only dimish the value of such friendly supports (you should know in the spring what you will most likely do in autumn).
b1903: building a fleet is critical for your friendship with italy as this fleet will have to work in the mediterranean, which is italy's sphere of influence. you shouldnt be surprised if italy doesnt like it.

without looking at every move in detail the rest looks very natural to me.

Thanks for the feedback!
w1901: Wasn't a strict hold in Bud; it was A Bud S UKR-RUM! I did't like the Turkish moves, so I tried to gain an ally in Russia. With seconds left on the clock I did try to change that to A BUD-TRI, but I was too late. So I do agree with you.

s1902: Interesting. That does indeed seem better, thanks.

s1903: I guess you're right. The Turkish moves were so alien to me at that point, I was bound to take BUL.

b1903: Yes, I was fully aware the Fleet would upset Italy. I expected him to take Trieste, which is why I moved A GAL-BUD. I felt like I might need the Fleet in the future though, and Austria can only build 1 per year.

Thanks for the tips!

"w1901: Wasn't a strict hold in Bud; it was A Bud S UKR-RUM! I did't like the Turkish moves, so I tried to gain an ally in Russia. With seconds left on the clock I did try to change that to A BUD-TRI, but I was too late. So I do agree with you."

ok, was to sloppy. so at least BUD was doing something. anyway I would have prefered defending TRI to giving your support (if i dont want to build a fleet). while russia and turkey are fighting your job is to watch and decide when and how to join the party. this is a very favourable situation and i dont want to give it away for free. if i join the wrong side (and russia has far easier gains for you) and you have to switch it is not good for your image and you can easily end with two weak enemys who are working together prevent you from further (easy) gains.

Why were you handing Italy lots of builds from 1905 onwards? He'd already stabbed you twice, and I think you passed up at least one or two opportunities to make an effective stab (fall1905 and fall1908). Sure, both one dot, but I think you were in good position to actually fight successfully on both fronts.

Thank you for your comments.
I don't see where I handed Italy a single build from 1905 onwards, other than by not attacking him.
These stabs, I presume, are moving F TRI-VEN in Spring 1905 to have a ~50% (estimated chance that he moves back to defend VEN) of a successful 1-centre stab (and A TYR-VEN in Spring 1908 in a similar situation). I do agree with you that I had to stab Italy at some point in order to win solo, but I'm not a big fan of either move you suggest. That may be a flaw in my tactics.

You supported him into Con in F1908M... :-)

To be clear, I'm not *certain* that either of those stabs would have been brilliant - but one was necessary if you wanted to solo. If you had already set your sights on a draw, then I guess that's more understandable. I personally would have taken the shot - I don't think either would have resulted in a clear solo opportunity for anyone else on the board...

Ah, yes, I missed that one :-)

I did consider riding solo at various points, but I guess I didn't ponder on it nearly enough. I do sometimes get stuck in a train of thought and I must've been too set on a draw.
I received some excellent suggestions via PM as well and combined with your thoughts I now see where my options were. Thanks for investing your time into helping me become a better player!
I do love this game..

One thing to consider is that the A08 stab would also have involved letting Russia keep part of Turkey. This dramatically increases your chances of being able to take it later. You would have gotten one build, Italy would be denied two builds, the peninsula would have been undefended. I think it's much more than a one-center stab.

yes, A08 you have to stab italy in VEN. it is a free try for a solo. maybe it is not enough, but you dont risk anything.

Incidentally--can someone explain S04? I would have thought Gre and Tri bouncing in Alb was the play since Italy had no need of support to AEG and no reason to go to AEG, but maybe there's some diplomatic signaling I'm missing, because Italy subsequently backed out *and* wasted his time going to Turkey after all.

It was a shitty game with tons of NMRs due to my internet fucking up. I hated that game lol

(I say 'wasted' but somehow he ended up getting it? So, not such a waste after all.)