I saw the way you used it in the game you won, that you would have only drawn if England had been halfway competent. That is really the only way that move can be advantageous to you and it really only works when England is willing to work with you and France is willing to leave England alone for a time. In other words, yes, you are the only person who uses that move, I would also take care to avoid that move in your next few non anonymous games that you draw Russia or you will find yourself blitzed by Germany in the first year.

I believe it has merit in some circumstances. I wouldn't use it often, but when you know that you will be bounced in Sweden and have a clear target in GER is it a logical move.

@diplomancer

I think that move would almost always be coupled with an army to St.Pete, you leave yourself waaay to open too the Brits if you don't (whom i never really seem to trust as much as my southern ally).

Obviously you would only do this if you trust your man in the south, but that can be said for a lot of things

@jmo
haha, I always try to play anon anyway
It was the first time i've ever used it; I had a bad feeling about Germany anyway


I also kinda like swapping Sweden for Norway with the Brit, but i can see how that's not always the best of moves

"I also kinda like swapping Sweden for Norway with the Brit, but i can see how that's not always the best of moves" This is, in my opinion an underrated move, that more E/R alliances should consider

@Tom

It really is

It gives Russia more security that the Brit won't swipe St.Pete from him, and puts England in great position to hit Germany from the North, which he isn't expecting all too often.
If you combine that with a Russian fleet in the Baltic (and some degree of success in the Balkans), you have an ER alliance that has driven a railroad spike down the center of the stalemate line

"Or is the possible build in Sweden too tempting?"

You can't build in Sweden. You can only build in your starting SCs.

He means the build you would get for taking Sweden.

It's a great move if you wish to invade germany. Especially if germany moves den-swe, so now he's open at ber, kie, and den. If you have an army in sile, you already have him in a very bad spot.

And if you can convince the english to convoy from his main island to denmark in the fall... the german is already dead.

@Jamie

I know that, but you gain a build by going there

You can set it up so it looks like you're doing the two north/two south to prevent Eng getting Norway and instead convoy StP to Sweden, that's sort of fun.

the problem with that one is that you're up shit's creek if the German bounces you, more so than usual

Generally, if I show two north two south to the German, he's not going to bounce. Even if he is with E, it's to his benefit to let you think he isn't.

You think so?

I would think of it as more of an incentive to bounce. In doing so, he completely stalls a front of yours where you commited 50% of your forces. I find myself bouncing the Northern Open quite a bit

@ Fortknox: "If you have an army in sile, you already have him in a very bad spot."

How on earth could England get an army into Silesia by 1902?

Sorry. I'm an idiot. You're Russia in this example not England.

Ignore me.

The Northern Open can crash down on you pretty quickly if you bounce.

Jamie: If the army is actually played by chuck norris.... ;)

Had someone who apparently read this topic lastnight. And i can tell you, this move in a Gunboat is a killer for Russia and Germany both, also because Russia did not moved his army to st. p