1. Adaptability. You can't win without expanding your strategy according to the board. The trick is to not change your plan too often - wasting tempo and time - but not be too rigid either - so you aren't lulled into a protracted conflict that gets you stabbed.
2. Being a friend. Treat others with respect and formality, and they'll do the same. But there's a difference between being a friend and being a pushover.
3. Take yourself inside your opponent's mind. It can help, even if you don't have all the information you need. Think about their tactics and specific moves; think about their personality and goals, and find new bargaining chips.
4. Don't be a a narcissist, even when the game ends. Be fair and reasonable. Don't let your ego get in the way of your thinking. Your emotions can cloud your judgment.

Basically, I've found it great to send opening press with a PLAN, not the usual wishy-washy "let's be friends". Give a plan of attack, and why that makes sense for you both. Be engaging, and you'll find a lot of people wanting to be your ally.

Slow and steady often wins the race, but risk is needed sometimes.

Turkey-France is <3

Smother chocolate spread and whipped cream over your naked chest, and then send a picture to the guy you want to ally with.

Tell them if they stab you, you'll send the same picture from the waist down.

Works for me most games.

I live the Sev/Con Shuffle. Russia opens to Bla, Tur to Armenia. In Fall 1901, Tur takes Sev from Arm, Russia takes Con. It appears Rus and Tur are at war but in reality, Russia can move her fleet to Aeg to help Turkey and Tur can move A Sev to Ukr or Rum to assist Russia.

^ I like that one, I don't think I've ever actually seen it.

Captainmeme

I had a great trick i played in an f2f game.

these two girls were ganging up on me: France and Russia, I was England. germany was being an idiot with a stalemate against France only support holding himself, and going after Austria.

Also... these two girls HATED me.

so the natural position i was in: I'm not going to survive. Instead, I told the girl playing as France, I was pissed off at Russia, and that at least she hadn't betrayed me and lied (The game had been going on for a while) so i would give her all my centers for free I got super animated at the board, REALLY making Russia feels scared, and i PERFECTLY predicted their moves.

I had an easy pair of bounces with France, while also Russia made a defensive move into Norwegian sea, i was able to retake north sea off of a failed non-supported move. at the same time, I defeated a double bounce in another area, and i also managed to get Brest.

Although it was by no way a long-term fix, it SCREWED up Russia, as She was expecting builds and Turkey stabbed her. TrPrado and I were in the same game for that one, it was so exciting. I managed to stay alive long enough, they realized there were more efficient places to fight in.

I managed to survive a 4-5 years going steady but i got ran over.

England isn't my forte, although the way i played two people off one another was perfect. pretending to be giving up, with a swift cold stab: you won't make friends, but it can keep you alive.

In almost every game i play, i get NEARLY run over, and i always play on the comeback. it depends on whether or not you can survive a siege, and playing people off one another is one of the greatest arts of this game

Get to 17 and then have Marx misorder.

Pretending to be Australian and being mean to France seems to work too.

Okay a little explanation about that FtF game Yanik is talking about:
I was Austria. He attacked France literally from the beginning for the longest time. I was trying to play Turkey and Russia against each other. Eventually they just decided they weren't going to fight, so I yelled Jug, and Yanik freaked out and wanted to stop the Russian solo, so he handed over his centers to France, and France won.

I found it best to have a general plan in the beginning, usually during the first season when everyone is making offers, or for late comers, when you first get on.

The plan should be where you will generally advance, who you will look to as an ally, and continue it to a win. For example: if you are playing as England your general plan may be to ally with Germany against France, then turn into the Med. and attack Italy while beating on Russia for 18 supply centers. But it is important to note to take offers from others into consideration.

After that, I continue with my plan and make adjustments as needed, but sticking to the general plan unless a major opportunity come up. To use the example from before, if Italy or Russia attacks Germany while attacking France, you may need to immediately switch focus on Russia, or finish off Germany with Italy.

All the little stuff like negotiating and recognizing a future betrayal is skill that you will eventually pick up if you make an effort to learn from your defeats.

Humility, respect, good sportsmanship, and a little bit of trust also goes a long way

Also(I know im going on a lot) take a page from Machiavelli: "If an injury has to be done to a man it should be so severe that his vengeance need not be feared."
^ Always remember this if you are going to backstab someone, especially an ally.

Also, this German opening: gameID=185810

Nuff said.

How about the Russian version of the opening?
gameID=181268

DMZ black sea

I hear that if you don't send any press your opponents will forget you exist and won't attack you.

Tricks for success, eh?

1) Before starting a live game spend a penny.
2) When in doubt, attack the irritating one.
3) If stabbing is unlikely to increase your chance of a solo, don't do it.

Tip #1 from Octavious is a very good piece of advice.

Here is my advice:

1) Collect underpants
2) ??
3) Solo!

@TrPrado

you were TRYING TO PLAY PEOPLE? you were getting pummeled from round one.

yes i was attacking France but I played them against each other perfectly that round. Yeah in the end I let France move in, but that was after a few years of survival. I remember you on the early exit though...

@Jamiet

south park reference +1

No, I occasionally got them to take each other's centers. It worked for a bit.

If I didn't ever have to worry about players being absent and working on subs keeping previous deals, that game would've been so much easier for me.

1) Send press to everyone, especially people who you are at odds with.
2) Don't be afraid to work with someone who has stabbed you (but be on your guard).
3) Don't be too much of a carebear (my personal Achilles Heel)

1) communicate
2) be open to new ideas
3) smallpox bkankets