http://www.diplom.org/~diparch/resources/strategy/articles/basics_turkey.htm

^What fortknox said, I didn't actually read my own suggestion just sort of scanned it

Steps to playing Turkey:

1. Take Bulgaria
2. Bounce in the Black Sea
3. Fuck around for a while
4. Break out once Austria dies and win game.

Most important part is to communicate with everyone, even England and France all the way on the other side of the board. I'm playing Turkey right now, and I'm about to end up with a 3 way draw even though Russia, Austria, and Italy all tried to attack me. I kept communicating with everyone, and I outlasted Austria and Italy and ended up allies with Russia.

link?

gameID=80488

Oh no pemster, I meant that at patizcool

The Juggernaut is your friend. If you and Russia stay firmly committed to it, you're all but guaranteed to be part of a draw no matter what.

^^Unless Russia stabs you.

Look, the thing to do is talk to everyone and don't be set on any one alliance. I've seen Turkey and Italy ally successfully for a while, and I've even seen Turkey and Austria work together (briefly) to both of their success. The key is talking to everyone and keeping an open mind in terms of alliances. You won't gain much in the first couple of years, but that's cool. Turkey can hang around indefinitely and still be able to come back strong

Yes, goldie, thats why I said If both stay committed.

Opening strategies? Heheh, I remember some Dip scholar saying their vision of hell would be writing 1000 pages on Turkish Opening moves. Honestly, the *only* opening you should make is:
A Con -> Bul
A Smy -> Con
F Ank -> BLA

regardless of any alliances you set up. That being said, you need to open a dialogue with EVERYONE. Russia is a natural ally, and try your best to talk Italy out of his beloved Lepanto. There's a decent chance you'll survive it anyway, but in Diplomacy you're racing against every other power, and you can't afford to waste time with Italy taking a Syrian holiday.

I disagree Trisk. The anti-Russian opening can and should be used if you feel A and I won't screw you.

You're absolutely right, and my fondness for hyperbole can come to haunt me from time to time. And in this instance, we can see that A/I are definitely NOT going for a Lepanto. But considering how often they do, and how few options Turkey usually has I think exaggeration was called for.

However, for the Anti-Russian opening to work, you need more than that army in Armenia, and so either Austria or Turkey needs to get to Rumania for the fall turn.

I'm pretty much with Triskelli, and in the hundreds of times I've played Turkey the anti-Russian opening has pretty slim benefits

The standard opening (mentioned above) is always solid and fairly utilitarian. The Russian Attack works if you think Russia will order Sev-Rum in Spring '01, but if you're not confident of getting into BLA right away, I'm a fan of the Turkish Hedgehog (Con-Bul, Ank-Con, Smy-Arm).

Sending the fleet to Con right away gives you the flexibility to get out into the Med and fend off the Italian if Russia is on your side while the move to Arm can be pointed out to Italy as an olive branch to prevent a Lepanto. If Russia is the target, he'll most likely be scared into covering Sev, which can get you into BLA in the fall and possibly bounce him out of Rum from Bul at the same time.

As always it's the Diplomacy that should influence your choices.

Because of my "philosophy" on Russian strategy, if Turkey opens
with what has been called the hedgehog opening
army Con to Bulgaria, army Smryna to either Armenia or even better for Russia,
army Smryna to Ankara and most importantly fleet to Con and not Black sea,
I will immediately negotiate a "peace" deal with Turkey & keep it
Why ? because it allows Russia to go much harder in the north and centre
(attack Germany )
The thing when playing Turkey is to remember that as big and strong as Russia looks,
Russia has to consider 3 fronts, North, South and Centre,
so Turkey has the choice of being Russia's greatest nightmare or best ally.

ank-con will get the whole board to attack you and russia due to the fear of the juggernaut. The only way you can prevent this is smy-arm, but even then, it is a setup for a slingshot juggernaut. If I was austria and you moved ank-con, I'd be EXTREMELY upset until I saw you force yourself into the black sea the next year...
Ank-Con is the fastest way to get turkey heavily into the med which is very pro russia.

I'm personally a fan of the following:
A CON-BUL (a given in all Turkish openings)
A SMY-ARM (looks like you're attacking Turkey)
F ANK-CON (gives you flexibility into the Mediterranean).

Russia will usually order to the Black Sea, and a good (safe) defense against that is to bounce yourself in Ankara... in the unlikely situation that he will attempt to take the SC at all. If you want to stab him, go for the Black Sea and/or Sevastopol. If you don't, just go for the Aegean and position yourself well for Greece in 1902.

wow, those are nice moves pemster. strong, if not very strong moves. Yes, you do screw Russia over big time, but nice moves (won't be commenting more, could be seen as meta-gaming)

Guys, please no talking about ongoing games. Reread your rules (help->rules of webdiplomacy).