I mean how do you avoid them all going "oh crap, X is about to solo, let's all work together guys."

If you did it correctly it won't matter if they all work against you. If you didn't already plan out the end game it's far too late.

Can you elaborate Jmo? You mean in terms of stalemate lines? I don't see how somebody with 13 SC's can "guarantee" beating the other combined players?

I meant after a turn where you gain 2 or 3 centres by the way, not 2/3 of the centres, but close enough. E.g if you go from 8 to 11 centres, that's a pretty scary leap for the other players.

Play gunboats. This isn't a problem.

You don't take that big leap until you can already see exactly where you'll get the last centres for the draw.and how you'll do it. If you just charge in chasing numbers rather specific objectives, then you probably won't solo.

You should always be in front of your primary stalemate line before you go for your solo. Most of the time this is one of either Munich, Berlin, or Tunis.

play against newbs. who don't understand the concept of stopping a solo.

"Play gunboats. This isn't a problem."

This is 100% false. Its an even bigger issue in gunboat because everyone's gut reaction to a 9 or 10 center power is to turn on them to stop the biggest threat. A potential solo can turn into a 4 or 5 way draw way too easily in gunboat.

You know that saying "if you want to find love, stop looking for it"..well, same concept. You'll get more solo's if you stop trying for solos. Why? Because many solo's occur when a player decides to throw you the solo because they really like you or really dislike somebody else. Possible they've just been stabbed and revenge is more important then winning, could be because they're grown apathetic about the game or lost confidence in their chances and want to see the person they feel most deserving win, sometimes it's just because they just had such an enjoyable experience working with you that they decide "screw it..i don't want to join the other guy to get in your way, this was fun enough". This is really the best way.

But that's not always available of course, so it's about how you approach it. I rarely play with a solo mentality, i try to enter a game completely focussed on getting to the end for a two-way. Get an ally who fits a certain mold (not difficult to work with, not the type to push for a three-way the minute you're down to three, friendly, easy going, like-minded) and treat them good, be loyal, and win your victories triumphantly. Work towards the end in good faith while paying heavy attention to ensure your not vulnerable anywhere. Treat is as if worst case you end up with a two-way..but if it falls in your lap then of course you take it. If you're good enough that opportunity comes more often then not.

How do you get a two way draw without your ally stabbing you though?? I almost always work towards a three way because there is very little risk of someone saying screw it, and taking the solo.

Definitely need a degree of risk tolerance and confidence you can beat your competition if and when the opportunity presents itself. If you don't feel you can beat somebody in head to head then of course don't gamble in which case I'd suggest spending some time in gunboat honing your skills on the board without the distraction of the diplomacy side of things.

I suggest stabbing your ally should he get too large too quickly and stab just before your combined interest is defeated. say there are 3 players left on the board: England, Russia, and Turkey. You are playing Russia and your ally is turkey. Lets say Turkey has 16 SC, you have 13 SC and England has 4 SC. Reasoning suggests that Turkey will force the Solo rather than agree to a two way draw. In this moment is the best moment to strike Turkey. Using him to help you gain SC from england and also hitting him somewhere else. putting you in a position to outplay turkey.

play smart not loyal

Problem with that logic is a 16 SC Turkey isn't likely to leave his guard down, closer you get to a solo the more you prepare for the inevitable counter-attack. Loyal and smart don't need to be exclusive traits.

There are two answers to this question. The first is to avoid knocking powers out. It's almost impossible to solo with only 3 or 4 powers left on the board. However, when there are still a bunch of 1-3 center powers on the board, all of a sudden you have people whose interests align with yours- they want you to get close to a solo so they can force their way into the draw. Part of this is keeping on good terms with players you attack. This way they will work with you once their back is broken.

The second way is to be France (or learn from why it works for France). A 12-13 center France with Tunis and Munich has the solo quite literally guaranteed. This is because your opponents inevitably cannot actually get enough units in the north in order to push you back- basically, they don't have enough northern fleets. You can create a similar situation as other powers. For example, if Italy can keep Austria from building fleets, then they can hold the east with minimal units while flowing through MAO. Similarly, Austria can often win a race to Munich and Berlin if Germany is weak (so stab Italy for 12 and 13 in say Venice and Smyrna or something, thus having Turkey and the Italian mainland clinched + Munich and Berlin).

Those 1-3 center powers also are less likely to be as invested in the game as a competing 12-13 center power. When it comes to the final push, it's easier for the leader if there are more defending powers who have to communicate and coordinate within the phase length.