The Diplomatic Pouch Shortcuts


Austrian Openings

F TriA BudA VieGamesOpening Name
-Alb -Ser -Bud 80 Balkan Gambit, Bud Variation, Player's Guide, Opening 1, FALL=Kendall Key Opening?
-Alb -Ser -Tri 73 Players Guide, Opening 1b, Balkan Gambit, Tri Variation, FALL=Ionian Gauntlet?
-Alb -Ser -Gal 56 Player's Guide, Opening 1a, Balkan Gambit, Gal Variation
HOLD -Ser -Bud 10 Houseboat Hungarian Variation, Roadhog, FALL=Kendall Key Opening?
-Alb -Ser HOLD 10 Player's Guide, Opening 1c, Balkan Gambit
-Alb -Ser -Tyr 8 Balkan Gambit, Tyrolia Variation
-Alb -Ser -Boh 6 Player's Guide, Opening 1-Variant, Balkan Gambit, Bohemia Variation
-Ven -Ser -Gal 5 The Southern Hedgehog
-Ven -Ser -Bud 5 Unnamed, FALL=Kendall Key Opening?
-Alb -Rum -Gal 5 Warthog, Russian Frolic, Rumanian Gambit Balkan Roadhog Variation
HOLD -Ser -Gal 4 Houseboat: Southern Hedgehog Variation, Roadhog
HOLD -Ser -Tyr 4 Houseboat, Roadhog
-Ven -Ser -Tyr 3 Unnamed
-Alb S Vie-Gal -Gal 3 Unnamed
-Alb -Rum -Tri 3 Rumanian Gambit, Hop, Step and Jump Opening
-ADR -Tri -Tyr 3 Player's Guide, Opening 2, Von Metzke Opening, Blue Water Opening Italian Attack Variatition, Italian Attack
-ADR -Rum -Tri 3 Hop, Step and Jump Opening, Blue Water Opening
HOLD -Ser HOLD 3 Houseboat; Crichton's Variation, Paranoia Defence Variation, Roadhog
-Alb -Tri -Gal 2 Unnamed
-ADR -Ser -Tyr 2 Blue Water Opening
HOLD -Rum -Bud 2 Houseboat, Roadhog, Hop, Step and Jump Opening
-Alb -Rum -Bud 2 Rumanian Gambit; McGivern's Variation, Hop, Step and Jump Opening
-Ven -Ser HOLD 2 Unnamed
HOLD HOLD HOLD 2 Unnamed
-Alb -Gal -Tri 2 Galician Gambit
HOLD -Rum -Gal 2 Houseboat; True Hedgehog Variation, Roadhog, Russian Frolic, Hop, Step and Jump Opening
-ADR -Rum -Gal 2 Russian Frolic, Hop, Step and Jump Opening, Blue Water Opening
-ADR -Ser -Bud 2 Blue Water Opening, FALL=Kendall Key Opening?
-Rum -Tyr -Alb 1 Rumanian Gambit; Tyroleses Variation, Hop, Step and Jump Opening
-ADR -Ser -Tri 1 Blue Water Opening
-Alb -Ser S Ven-Tyr 1 Balkan Gambit; Vienna Lemming Variation
HOLD -Ser -Boh 1 Houseboat, Roadhog
-ADR -Rum -Bud 1 Blue Water Opening, Hop, Step and Jump Opening
-Ven -Rum -Boh 1 Hop, Step and Jump Opening, Hedgehog; Fisher's Folly Variation
-ADR -Rum -Tyr 1 Blue Water Opening, Hop, Step and Jump Opening
-ADR HOLD -Gal 1 Blue Water Opening, Houseboat, Roadhog
-Ven -Gal -Boh 1 Unnamed
-ADR -Ser -Gal 1 Blue Water Opening
-Ven -Rum -Gal 0 Hedgehog (True Variation)
-Alb -Gal -Gal 0 Head-on Galician
-Ven -Gal -Tyr 0 Hedgehog; Alpine Variation
-Ven -Gal S Bud-Gal 0 Hedgehog; Dead Porcupine Variation
-Ven S Vie-Gal -Gal 0 Hedgehog, Porcupine Variation
-Alb -Tri -Tyr 0 Tyrolese Gambit

Excerpts from Diplomacy A-Z

BALKAN GAMBIT
(1) The family of openings F Tri-Alb, A Bud-Ser. This is a true gambit, since the player is giving up much of his ability to defend his home centres against Italy (and, to a lesser extent, giving up some Austrian influence in Rum) in exchange for the virtual assurance of gaining both Gre and Ser.

(2) A name given, like most, by Richard Sharp, to a particular group of Austrian opening moves in Spring 1901, all of which share in common the order A Bud-Ser (and usually F Tri-Alb). The name explains it all: a "Gambit" is a move that risks loss in one area for a hopefully better chance of gain elsewhere, in this case the Balkans. It is a commitment by Austria to taking up two centres in the south (Serbia and Greece) and is thus generally regarded as anti-Turkish. There are several variations, mostly involving A Vie, of which the Trieste, Budapest and Galicia versions traditionally account for a significant proportion of Austrian opening moves - indeed, Balkan Gambits are widely regarded as the only "sensible" alternative to the "Southern Hedgehog"). Notice should also be taken of the so called "Houseboat" variation of the Balkan Gambit, in which F Tri- Holds instead of moving to Albania.

The Balkan Gambit is most commonly defined as *any* Austrian opening which includes the moves A Bud-Ser & F Tri-Alb. In the 1960's it was common to see the Budapest variation (A Vie-Bud), an attempt to take three centres. In the early 1970's Italy often opened A Ven-Tri and accordingly the Budapest variation lost favour with the Trieste variation gaining in popularity (A Vie-Tri). The Balkan Gambit is a risky opening: if both Italy and Russia attack Austria in Spring 1901 it is unlikely that Austria will live to tell the tale. A commonly seen variation is the Galician (A Vie-Gal) which offers Austria some defense against most hostile openings. In the 1980's Italy has moved towards opening A Ven-Tyr, A Rom-Ven. Accordingly some Austrian players have used the rarely-seen Tyrolian variant A Vie-Tyr which, if Russia is friendly, gives Austria a strong position provided Italy has opened to Tyr and not Tri. Postal play has, on occasion, seen the Bohemian variant but this has nothing to commend it to Austrian players; even if England/France/Italy & Russia have all agreed to attack Germany. Finally in the early 1970's the A Vie H option attracted support from Don Turnbull, I presume as a result of FTF experience as this opening has not (to my knowledge) been played in a British postal game.

BOHEMIA ABBERATION
Richard Sharp's name for the opening F Tri-Alb, A Bud-Ser, A Vie-Boh. Also known as Fisher's Folly.
BUDAPEST VARIATION
The Balkan Gambit with A Vie-Bud. Austria thus takes no defensive measures against Italy or Russia. In return, he has two pieces adjacent to Rum. He can also accept Russian support into Bul and still have A Bud-Ser. See Ionian Gauntlet and Key Opening.
GALICIAN VARIATION
The Balkan Gambit with A Vie-Gal. When it succeeds, you have two units on Rum, plus the threat to War which may well distract A Ukr away from Rum -- but risks Tri. If it fails, you have shielded two home centres from attack, and are in a decent position to limit further mischief from any Italian A Tri.
TRIESTE VARIATION
The Balkan Gambit with A Vie-Tri, designed to defend against Italy. The paradox is that an Italian attack is more likely to begin with A Ven-Tyr rather than A Ven-Tri. If there is a A Tyr, A Ven you can still force Italy to guess (Vie or supported attack on Tri), being able to divert A Ser to defend Tri. This is the single most popular Austrian opening.
TYROLIAN VARIATION
Richard Sharp's name for the opening: F Tri-Alb, A Bud-Ser, A Vie-Tyr. Useful if you suspect that Italy will open with the Tyrolian attack and if you can trust Russia.
VIENNA LEMMING VARIATION
Richard Sharp's name for the opening: F Tri-Alb, A Bud-Ser, A Vie S A Ven-Tyr. That this opening has been named means that someone has used it.
BLUE WATER OPENING
Richard Sharp's name for any Austrian opening using F Tri-ADR.
ITALIAN ATTACK VARIATION
Richard Sharp's name for the opening: F Tri-ADR, A Vie-Tyr, A Bud-Tri. Known in the States as the von Metzke blitz or von Metzke opening.
GALICIAN GAMBIT
Richard Sharp's name for the opening: F Tri-Alb, A Vie-Tri and A Bud-Gal. I used it in the first two face-to-face games I played, but how come I got Austria both times?
HEAD-ON GALICIAN
Richard Sharp's name for the opening: F Tri-Alb, A Vie-Gal and A Bud-Gal.
HEDGEHOG
(1) A Vie-Gal, F Tri-Ven & A Bud-Ser/Rum. This is designed to deal with the I-R attack, and generally bespeaks an alliance with Turkey. With the Serbia option, barring German intervention, Austria is certain of a build, although he has a greatly reduced chance of two. As such it is the reverse of the all-or-nothing approach of the Balkan Gambit.

(2) Name coined in 1975 by Richard Sharp for the Austrian opening, F Tri-Ven; A Vie-Gal; A Bud-Rum -- perhaps the most famous Diplomacy opening. Through his subsequent book, "The Game Of Diplomacy", Sharp popularized the now classic A Bud-Ser variation, dubbed "The Southern Hedgehog," which has since become one of the two most common openings for Austria. The aim is to afford Austria, so often the first player eliminated from the game, complete protection against early attacks by Italy and Russia, whilst the Southern version also ensures a fourth supply centre, in Serbia, with the possibility of supporting A Gal-Rum in Autumn. The moves to Gal and Ven, through superficially speculative, are of largely defensive intent, standing off the likes of A War-Gal and A Ven-Tri (or, still worse, A Rom-Ven, following up A Ven-Tyr) -- like the hedgehog, says Sharp, this opening is "ferocious in appearance but cowardly at heart, hence the name."

ALPINE VARIATION
Richard Sharp's name for the opening: F Tri-Ven, A Vie-Tyr and A Bud-Gal.
DEAD PORCUPINE VARIATION
Richard Sharp's name for the opening: F Tri-Ven, A Vie S Bud-Gal.
FISHER'S FOLLY VARIATION
Richard Sharp's name for the opening: F Tri-Ven, A Bud-Rum, A Vie-Boh.
PORCUPINE VARIATION
Richard Sharp's name for the opening: F Tri-Ven, A Bud S Vie-Gal.
SOUTHERN VARIATION
Better known as the Southern Hedgehog. The opening: F Tri-Ven, A Bud-Ser and A Vie-Gal. Named and popularised by Richard Sharp.
TRUE VARIATION
Or simply The Hedgehog. Richard Sharp's name for the opening: F Tri-Ven, A Vie-Gal and A Bud-Rum.
HOP, STEP AND JUMP OPENING
Named by Iain Forsyth, this has A Bud-Rum followed in the fall by a Russian convoy of A Rum-Ank. He suggests A War-Gal as camouflage in the spring.
HOUSEBOAT OPENING
Richard Sharp's name for any Austria opening which features the move F Tri H. Not one of Austria's best choices for that unit. Sometimes known as the Roadhog Opening.
CRICHTON'S VARIATION
Richard Sharp's name for the opening used by David Crichton in a game in Dolchstoss (DS19): F Tri H, A Bud-Ser, A Vie H.
HUNGARIAN VARIATION
Or the Hungarian Houseboat. Richard Sharp's name for the opening: F Tri H, A Bud-Ser, A Vie-Bud.
PARANOIA DEFENCE
Richard Sharp's name for the opening: A Vie S F Tri, A Bud-Ser.
SOUTHERN HEDGEHOG VARIATION
Richard Sharp's name for the opening F Tri H, A Vie-Gal, A Bud-Ser.
TRUE HEDGEHOG VARIATION
Richard Sharp's name for the opening: F Tri H, A Vie-Gal, A Bud-Rum.
IONIAN GAUNTLET
Edi Birsan's take-charge opening for Austria: F01 A Ser-Gre, A Tri/Bud-Ser, F Alb-ION. This gives Austria a more forward position for S02, at the risk of losing Gre.
ITALIAN ATTACK
One example of the many fully committal attacks that can be launched in Spring 1901, in this case by Austria on Italy. As such it is a suitable contrast with the Hedgehog opening, involving F Tri-ADR, A Bud-Tri and A Vie-Tyr. If Italy opens with A Rom-Nap, he's lost Venice -- though the Balkans are for Russia and Turkey to carve up. This opening is invariably popular with Turkey, Italy's perennial rival in the Med, but is usually regarded as one of the more "bizarre" openings. Still more "bizarre" are the likes of the "Beaujolais Nouveau" mentioned in a very early Vienna but never used (it's a French opening: all three units are ordered to Gascony in Spring 1901), and Denis Jones' "Yorkshire Pudding" opening for England along similar lines (F Lon-Yor, A Lvp-Yor, F Edi-Yor). I believe that Denis has excelled by actually using this opening once or twice.
KENDALL KEY OPENING
A variation on the Key in which Austria orders A Bud S A Ser-Rum in F01. Thus, the Aus attack on Russia is delayed until F01 to allow a R-T war to develop. (Alan Wells, see Dot Happy #6.)
RUMANIAN GAMBIT
A series of Austrian openings named by Richard Sharp involving the moves F Tri-Alb and A Bud-Rum. There are three named variations: The Balkan Roadhog (A Vie-Gal), McGivern's Gambit (A Vie-Bud) and the Tyroleses Variation (A Vie-Tyr).
RUSSIAN FROLIC
Allen Wells' name for the A/T opening based on A Vie-Gal, A Bud-Rum, A Con H, A Smy-Arm, F Ank-Bla. The key here is A Con H which, by eliminating Turkey's 1901 risk to Serbia, permits Austria to move safely to Rum. See DW #29.
TYROLESE GAMBIT
Richard Sharp's name for the opening: F Tri-Alb, A Bud-Tri, A Vie-Tyr.
VON METZKE OPENING
Conrad Minshall's favourite: A Vie-Tyr, F Tri-ADR, A Bud-Tri. Some claim that the poor statistics for Austria in the early days of the hobby are due in part for Conrad's penchant for both Austria and this opening.
WARTHOG
Richard Sharp's name for the rarely used Austrian opening (0.87%): F Tri-Alb, A Vie-Gal and A Bud-Rum. Richard writes that it is "a new name for something resembling a Hedgehog but not as pretty."

Excerpts from the Player's Guide

OPENING 1: [A Bud-Ser, A Vie-Bud, F Tri-Alb]
No annotation.
OPENING 1a: [A Bud-Ser, A Vie-Gal, F Tri-Alb]
Here the object of distrust is Russia. The moves defends against (A War-Gal) which would threaten Vienna and Budapest. If (A Vie-Gal) succeeds, it may still defend Vienna or Budapest (if Italy slips into Trieste). More importantly, it offer the anti-Russian option of (A Gal-Rum, A Ser S A Gal-Rum). If Turkey is friendly (F Alb-Gre) may still succeed. Austria thus has the possibility of 3 builds! The Fall 1901 moves (A Gal-Ukr) is also possible. It's devastating for 1902.
OPENING 1b: [A Bud-Ser, A Vie-Tri, F Tri-Alb]
This is virtually the opening for Austria. It is followed by F Alb-Gre, A Ser S Alb-Gre gaining two centers. Austria should make no other opening without sound and sufficient reason. Here the burden of defense is left mostly to A Vie. What the Austrian player does with that unit depends on whom he distrusts most.

Here the object of distrust is Italy. A Tri can still defend against Russia if she moves to Galicia. As in Opening 1a, however, the defense is primarily a guessing game.

OPENING 1c: [A Bud-Ser, A Vie H, F Tri-Alb]
"This non-move may keep everybody happy, but it is very passive and not recommended. It allows the defense of A Vie-Bud, A Ser-Bud if Russia has ordered A War-Gal. (However, if Russia then orders A Gal S Ser-Bud the result could be only 1 build or none in 1901!)
OPENING 1-Variant: [A Bud-Ser, A Vie-Boh, F Tri-Alb]
"A Vie-Boh is marginal: if Russia is absolutely friendly, and if there is definitely an Anglo-German alliance against France, it provides good options. It will help preserve the Balance of power in the west."
OPENING 2: [A Bud-Tri, A Vie-Tyr, F Tri-ADR]
"This seemingly suicidal set of orders has on rare occasions given good results. If it succeeds, Venice falls and Italy is crippled. (Italy's A Ven-Tyr, A Rom-Ven would save Venice however.) These orders might be used in the special circumstance that Austria is allied with Russia and Turkey. The alliance strategy would call for the rapid destruction of Italy in order to hit France and break into the Atlantic. Even so, Austria is usually foolish to give up Serbia.

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