Fundamental Stalemate Positions, III

John Beshera

These are unusual stalemate positions for the Eastern sphere powers against the West when it is not necessary to hold all of Italy.

Position I

Centers:

Ank, Bud, Bul, Con, Gre, Mos, Nap, Rom, Rum, Ser, Sev, Smy, Tri, Vie, War. (15)

Units:

A Apu, A Boh, A Gal, A Mos, A Nap, A Rom, A Sev, A Sil, A Tri, A Trl, A Ukr, A Vie, A War, F Adr, F Ion. (15)

Orders:

A Sev S Mos; A Ukr S War; A Gal & A Boh S Sil; A Vie & A Tri S Trl; A Apu & A Nap S Rom; F Adr S Ion.

Position II

Centers:

Ank, Ber, Bud, Bul, Con, Gre, Mos, Nap, Rum, Ser, Sev, Smy, Tri, Ven, Vie, War. (16)

Units:

A Ber, A Boh, A Lvn, A Mos, A Nap, A Pru, A Sil, A Tri, A Trl, A Ven, A War, F Aeg, F Apu, F Adr, F Ion. (15)

Orders:

A Mos & A War S Lvn; A Pru & A Sil S Ber; A Boh S Trl; A Tri & F Adr S Ven; F Apu S Nap; F Aeg S Ion.

Position III

Centers:

Ank, Ber, Bud, Bul, Con, Gre, Mos, Mun, Rum, Ser, Sev, Smy, Tri, Ven, Vie, War. (16).

Units:

A Ber, A Boh, A Lvn, A Mos, A Mun, A Pru, A Sil, A Tri, A Trl, A Ven, A War, F Aeg, F Alb, F Adr, F Eas, F Ion. (16)

Orders:

A Mos & A War S Lvn; A Pru S Ber; A Sil & A Boh S Mun; A Trl, A Tri & F Adr S Ven; F Alb, F Aeg & F Eas S Ion.

Position IV

Centers:

Ank, Ber, Bud, Bul, Con, Gre, Mos, Mun, Rum, Ser, Sev, Smy, Tri, Ven, Vie, War. (16)

Units:

A Apu, A Ber, A Boh, A Lvn, A Mos, A Mun, A Pru, A Sil, A Tri, A Trl, A Ven, A War, F Aeg, F Adr, F Eas, F Ion. (16)

Orders:

A Mos & A War S Lvn; A Pru S Ber; A Sil & A Boh S Mun; A Trl & A Tri S Ven; F Adr S Apu; F Aeg & F Eas S Ion.

A significance of stalemate positions, besides the obvious, is the ability of a country to survive. In some of these examples, Germany can sustain existence in Berlin but Russia's difficulties are compounded once Sev is lost. Italy, Germany and Russia, caught in the fringe of the battle, can bargain with both sides, for the decisions they make may determine the outcome of the game.

...Good gaming demands knowledge of stalemate positions. And a bedevilment of Diplomacy is the connivance in avoiding the traps to victory. But pity the player who has to win to be amused. Every position offers challenges, challenges everyone enjoys....

A significant modification of position I appeared in a letter from Karl Pettis which was published in Erehwon #65, 1st March 1972.

The Pettis Position

Centers:

Bud, Tri, Vie, Ank, Con, Smy, Bul, Gre, Rum, Ser, Nap, Ber, War, Mos, Sev, Rom. (16)

Units:

A Apu, A Boh, A Mos, A Sil, A Vie, A War, F Adr, F Eas, F Ion, U Ber, U Lvn, U Nap, U Pru, U Rom, U Tri. (15)

Orders:

A Apu S Rom; A Mos S Lvn; A Sil S Ber; A Vie S Boh; A War S Lvn; F Adr S Tri; F Eas S Ion; U Nap S Rom; U Pru S Ber.

Rod Walker (editor of Erehwon) added "Since this is an expansion pattern by one of the Eastern powers, Austria or Turkey, the unit in Prussia is almost certainly an Army". However in Diplomacy Digest 10-11 (April-May 1978) Mark Berch writes: "I disagree. Russia could easily achieve this position, having done well in the South, progressed in Germany but overrun in Scandinavia, as so often happens to Russia there. Indeed that F Pru could even be German! Stranger things have happened."