Diplomacy terminology.

The North {Edi, Norway, Sweden, StP, Denmark}

The West {England, France, Germany, the Low Countries, Spain, Portugal}

The South {Italy, Tunis, Marsailles, Smyrna, Greece}

The East {Moscow, Warsaw, Sevastopol, Ank, Con, Bul, Rum, Austria}


The Northern Triangle is Russia/Germany/England.
Often Russia holds StP and Sweden while only sending one unit to the North. Leaving them very vulnerable while they focus on holding the East.

The Southern Triangle is Italy/Turkey/Austria.
Lepanto is the one move which opens up Turkey for invasion by Italy, but it has become so well known that it is almost expected. Southern Triple Alliances are rare, mainly due to Turkey being stuck in the corner, even with if the Turk can conquer Russia, without Northern fleets he can't hold onto StP or beyond.

The Western Triangle is France/England/Germany.
Often seen as the stronger countries, a Western Triple Alliance is fairly common. It typically strengthens Turkey by attacking all his neighbours but in the end can be fatal. The Western Power more often fight amongst themselves, ignoring Russia until the Bear comes down on smashes their lovely balance.

The Eastern Triangle is Russia/Austria/Turkey.
Again, Russia often focuses all their early attention here, but i feel this triangle is far less stable. Austria often doesn't make it past 1903 (though performs fairly well when they do) And this leaves Turkey ready to fight Italy, And Russia ready to flatten the North.