You're not making an enemy as much as sending a message to other players. If, for example, G sees T open to Armenia, R is going to be pressured in the south and will likely not get Rumania. Bouncing in Sweden gives Russia no builds and lets G build a second fleet and grab Sweden in 1902. E can easily grab St Pete, and R is finished. It's not as much making an enemy in R as it is G using leverage over the Sweden situation.

It's not about angering Russia, I guess the move can be made because it's something Russia did that angered Germany. I'm a big fan of the Lapland Lurch to woo Germany by the way.

Plus, there isn't much Russia can do to retaliate for getting bounced in Sweden. Even if Russia gets Rumania, Germany can still take Sweden in 1902 and has the resources to hold off any Russian attack. Letting Russia into Sweden is really Germany doing Russia a favor.

But Germany gets that second fleet regardless of whether he moves to Sweden or not. It seems to me that the move to Sweden in Autumn sacrifices Germany's chance to use Russia against England.

I think Germany can only fight on one boarder. So, if he chooses to bounce Russia, he has to concentrate eastern.

Depends on the type of game being played. In gunboat, the bounce is sensible, because E&F often fight and Russia is usually weak, meaning Germany can easily and effectively take Sweden for itself. In full press I almost never bounce Russia in 1901, though.

How does Germany's bounce sacrifice the chance to use Russia against England? I think it's a given that Russia should expect the bounce. There is not a great deal of early cooperation between the two, and in the event there is, they will cooperate and not bounce. I don't see Russia as an early threat to Germany *typically*, and I'd rather try to befriend England and convince him to help against France then worry about Russia, who already has problems of his own.

You bounce because Russia has a high win percentage, and you want to stop the give-away build.

I thought it was common practice that Russia has to "earn" Sweden by performing small chores for Germany such as making some jokes on Global and calling Turkey's mother names before he gets it.

"Plus, there isn't much Russia can do to retaliate for getting bounced in Sweden."

This is all of it here.

I would only ever do it if I saw that Russia had entanglements in the south.