Ugh, I wouldn't have drawn if I had thought about the fact that England was still around.

Indeed; epic survival on his part. Kudos, man.

Bobby, I wouldn't have drawn if I was you either, with Germany raving like that.

*blush* - but have managed more hair splitting survives lol ;)

oh! ZMAJ used the 'La Split' French opening ;)

Lol yeah, I noticed you guys talking about it, so I'm experimenting with it.

That's my opening! Copyrighted.

Just didn't have another couple of years in me. Nice job zmaj helping Italy back in. I didn't think you guys would be able to coordinate.

Yes, we were just commenting in PMs how shocked we were that it worked.

^^ This. So much this.

bo that opening has been around far longer than you have

see? ... all hail " LA SPLIT " ! ... ;)P''' _ lol

I know, it's my board game opening PE. It made sense… Gascony covers all three centers and I still get the builds to combat anyone that would invade and guess right. That's what I did.

What's so special about that opening, anyway? Looks pretty standard to me.

To cover with Gascony, you sacrifice the build in Spain, though. If you want to cover your centers you're best off trying to do so without sacrificing Iberia if at all possible. I'd think Paris -> Gascony is better for this.

you can still build +3 if all goes well. a most very friendly opening.

Bo - you mean Gascony covers one of three centers,not all of them? What if Germany is in Burgundy? What Gascony covers? Nothing I believe. Not to mention England in the channel or Italy in Piedmont.

or or or those SWISS !!! gawds!

SD, the idea is that you don't get attacked by all three of your neighbors. If you do against the people I played the board game with, you're good as dead, because they don't defend.

PE, France can get Iberia in two years if necessary. I'd rather Germany in Paris anyway. In press I'd just hold in Marseilles until the fall in case of Italy coming with Germany, but in gunboat that's my opening of choice.

Let me rephrase that.. I'd rather Germany in Paris over Italy in Marseilles...

It can, but doing so is almost always suboptimal, and it's definitely preferable to have the same flexibility in Gascony while getting both builds (which the Parisian variant does).

And if we want to talk press, then undoubtedly the best opening is my own ;) I think Sharp called it the 'Belgian Gambit' in his book, so I've taken that name, but I came up with this one on my own and I hadn't seen it used anywhere before me.

Bre -> MAO
Par -> Pic
Mar -> Bur (bounce)

Bounce stops Germany dead and forces Germany to pick between leverage on Sweden or leverage on Belgium; Germany prefers the former to the latter by far. Consequently your chances of getting Belgium are rather high. It's weak to an attack by Italy, but that's easily the rarest of the three possible initial attacks on France, so it's far better to cover against E&G and ensure Iberia.

That's true. I used to bounce Burgundy but found that England didn't take that kindly, evidently guessing that we coordinated it. That was a long time ago though so I might give that one a shot again.

I like Gascony because I can cover any home center in the opening if necessary and France has time, though I see your point.

Munich-Ruhr ;p