THE BALTIC OPENING
The Germans are often tempted to make a play for all three nearby centers of Holland, Belgium and Denmark. However, often one can avoid being a target by taking only 2 centers at the start. The Baltic Opening is also designed to be used as part of a Western Triple Alliance where France goes south putting both armies in the Iberia and shifting Fleet Brest through the Mid Atlantic and into the Western Med in Fall of 01. England goes to Norway with an Army and then shifts Fleet Norwegian into the Barents. The German agrees not to take Belgium and to support England into Sweden in Spring/Fall 02 so that the west all have 5 centers. Germany open develops as follows:
Spring 1901:
Fleet Kiel to Baltic, Army Berlin to Kiel, Army Munich to Ruhr
Fall 1901:
Fleet Baltic to Sweden, Army Kiel to Denmark, Army Ruhr to Holland
Winter 1901:
Build Army Munch, Army Berlin
Spring 1902:
Army Denmark to Livonia Convoyed by Fleet Baltic, Army Berlin to Prussia, Army Munich to Silesia
The above sequence assumes that the Germans will stand out in Sweden. If they play down to the Baltic then the German gets three builds which can include a fleet to blow the Russians out in the Spring. You also note that Denmark is vacated in favor of the move to Livonia, this is a gamble that the Russian will not go for Sweden in the Spring and let the English have it. Most less than experienced players never see the convoy into Livonia and thus this presents a massive German Army invasion of Russia that spells the end.