FRENCH SLING SHOT
Single country slashing, like the Lepanto above is fairly uncommon because they rely on extensive diplomatic strategic balances to be able to employed with success. One of the most overlooked French openings is one in which the French yield the issue of Belgium as a matter of contention between England and Germany while having an alliance with the Germans. The idea is to keep the French Fleet in the Mid Atlantic and then use it to move to the North Atlantic or Irish in a stab move on England and follow it up with a move that allows the convoy into England of an army while protecting Brest from the English coming in the Channel. It also allows for the movement into the Western Med. if needed to face off against the Italians. A possible dream sequence may look like this:
Spring 1901:
Fleet Brest to the Mid Atlantic, Army Paris to Gascony, Army Marseilles hold or goes for one of the more unusual standoffs with Germany in Burgundy
Fall 1901:
Fleet Mid Atlantic convoys Army Gascony to Portugal, Army Marseilles to Spain
Winter 1901:
Build Fleet Brest, and Army Paris or Fleet Marseilles
Spring 1902:
Fleet Mid-North Atlantic, Fleet Brest to the Mid, Army Spain to Gascony, Army Portugal to Spain
Fall 1902:
Convoy Army Spain to Clyde/Liverpool/Wales depending on your options.