Austria-Turkey is easier to maintain than many think. I was the Austria in one that cleared the continent (England was still standing). They have a big disadvantage in not being able to get fleets to the north though.

The most uneasy relationship is either I/T or the Germany and Russia. Although at first glance they only really fight over Sweden. If either of them come out of their spheres in a two person alliance they will obliged to attack the other almost every time.
Italy and Austria alliances, although almost necessary in the early game, stab eachother often. Also any alliance with England and one of his neighbours. Turkey likes to stab Russia if they form juggernaughts. Austria likes to stab Russia after a couple of years.

Basically, the only real secure alliance of neighbours is Germany and France. Its just too easy to stalemate their borders. Germany and Austria maybe too.

Italy-Turkey isn't hard, if there's a lot of mutual faith between the leaders of those countries. I've much enjoyed this game of mine:

http://www.phpdiplomacy.net/board.php?gameID=6324

Ah yes, but with "a lot of mutual faith between the leaders" any alliance can be made secure - what matters is the ones that can still work when that trust is gone!

I just read my post over and I basically said that Russia can make no secure alliances.

Russia-France or Russia-Italy can both be very effective, although each requires both players to have assistance in the early game.

Germany/England? What's hard about that?

Ahh yes. Correct. Nevermind. I was just thinking about Russias neighbours

Well England sort of encircles Germany and builds behind him.

I don't think any long term alliance can still work when the trust is gone :)

As long as England and Germany are not complete idiots (admittedly a big "if"), why not?

Here is a perfect E/G alliance as shown by Gryncat and Darwyn in this Group D matchup:
http://www.phpdiplomacy.net/board.php?gameID=5696

Except that if it were an ordinary game many would have just taken the win as England.

My favorite is the turkey-england alliance. The beauty of it is that you can go the entire game without anyone ever noticing it...

I'd like to see a good example of Austria/Turkey or Germany/Russia working through to the end game.

The Swiss-Icelandic-Montenegrin alliance dominates. Especially if the Irish join.

no, Andorran-Luxembourgish-Monacon [sic?] alliance. You never see it coming

The Monegasque army couldn't beat an egg.

they could if they got France to do it for them!

But the French need America to break the shell!

The problem with the standard German-English alliance is as Centurian says, England usually ends up circling around Germany both through Scandanavia and France. Germany will have too many SD bordering N. Sea and England often won't agree to make it a DMZ. The best chance for success is having England only go one direction either France or Russia.

i find france with england to be a difficult alliance. eastern alliances just seem easier to keep, more secure and have less reasons to break. germany and england being a close second.