"Cause of Tension or Cause of Alliance?"

ITALY AND AUSTRIA:

One of the first things noticed on the diplomacy board by a new player are two things. One is that england is separated by water, and two is that italy and austria hungary are right beside each other. I am going to speak of the latter.

There have been many articles written concerning the terrible tension between austria and italy that can basically never go away. Italy is in a somewhat more stable situation seeing as it is very easily defended and austria is not. In the last few games I have been in I have noticed that Italy has tried to get russia and turkey to work together to kill austria. It is my theory that this is very short termed thinking and will inevitably result in italy's death. The reasoning is thus: If Italy gets russia and turkey working together he is propagating the juggernaut which will shortly kill austria then turkey will have nowhere to go but towards italy. Sorry to say but turkey will be in a better situation to get ahold of the balkans and tear into italy. So by this logic the italian player should be trying to cause tension between russia and turkey.

How should this be accomplished? Already turkey and russia will have some tension with the black sea. If Italy can get either support against the other he could get them to start working against each other. Mostly though it is pretty hard. So what should the italian do? basically he needs the austrian to stay alive. How should he do this? Well he can choose not to attack austria; but that will only delay the inevitable. The best strategy in face of a russian turkish juggernaut is probably the lepanto. this is where italy sets up a convoy across over onto turkey's territory. What this comes down to is this. I think that it is in the best interests of both italy and austria to not fight. If they do the vultures will start swooping down to prey on their remains. So with some insight on future thinking it is pretty important to work together.

Finally, if austria is strong and working with either russia or turkey I would recommend going after france with either germany's or england's support (or both). To conclude the austrian attack is setting oneself up for destruction and should only be done if working together with one of the juggernauters (R or T) for a stab, and there must be alot of trust. So begginer players playing italy and austria please try to work together.

-Banning Symington