I enjoy the diplomatic skill of playing Italy, love a fast rolling Russia and never complain when given France, but if you really want to make me happy give me the Turks every time. Turkey is strong in attack without appearing that threatening, its corner position makes it incredibly powerful in defence — the best on the board — and, as the odd man out in the east, he is usually the automatic best friend of the Western Powers.

Turkey has three points of attack to consider: Russia (usually via the Black Sea and Armenia), Austria (usually via Bulgaria) and Italy (usually via the Ionian).

• Russia: If Turkey has a reasonably free hand in the Balkans and Mediterranean then it takes a good Russian player to keep Sevastapol from a determined Turk. Russia usually has too many fronts to worry about early in the game to be able to commit enough forces to defend the South successfully without a good Austrian friend. Also, England doesn't take a lot of convincing to take St Petersburg which gives Russia the unenviable choice of a north or south disband. Either one will help you.
  
  
• Austria: A much harder country to begin an attack on than Russia because the only way to get armies into the Balkans without a convoy is via the Constantinople-Bulgaria land bridge, but the rewards are much greater than the northern attack. This may be slow but you can usually talk another power into joining the party (party in Austria, everybody's invited. Bring your own units) because of the yummy Austrian position.
  
  
• Italy: A slow attack going through the Mediterranean but once the Ionian is cracked the Italian has too many guesses to keep you out for ever and even if they are good at mind reading (or lip reading or just reading your orders over your shoulder) sooner or later they'll have to face some fleets from the west and you'll get your share of the spoils.

This is the fun part. The only thing you can say as a Turk under attack is "Bring it on!" And say it with a smile because if you're going to be under the pump as a country then Turkey is the place to be. It takes all three of the other eastern powers to bring down a competent Turk, and let's face it: even if the West leaves them alone long enough for them to do the job, a good diplomat should be able to find something to force a wedge between your attackers.

I find that it helps to point out to Italy that they'll probably only get Smyrna from all their hard work and they should at least get Trieste to keep the alliance equal and fair. This can start some interesting Austria/Italy conversations. Tell Russia how you overheard Italy and Austria discussing the next stage of their expansion and that only included Russia's centres and not Russia. As for Austria, just play on its paranoia by pointing out how they can easily become the meat in the Italian/Russian sandwich.

But, interesting as this mischief is, it doesn't really matter that much as long as you have a good rapport with the western powers. I have seen Turkeys in this position tell the east to get stuffed and only talk to the west, and at the end of the game still be a strong player in a respectable draw. I personally wouldn't recommend this as a tactic, but it does go to show how strong Turkey is in defence.

Turkey can ally with any country comfortably by virtue of its strong defensive position. The other country has to either move away from Turkey to fight or is on the other half of the board and can't stab until the end game. I will give a quick critique of the basic pairings:

• Turkey / Russia: Probably the one alliance where Turkey doesn't always hold the whip, because of Russia's ability to grow and build quickly, and to lose centres in a southern stab while compensating easily by northern gains. Having said that, it has become common practice for the whole world to jump on Russia at the first sign of the Juggernaut. This means Turkey can use Russia to help smash Austria; and then when the board screams "Steamroller" and goes for Russia, the Turk can change sides and enter the midgame with two crippled or dead neighbours and a tidy eight or nine centres under his (or her) belt. Or Turkey can stick with Russia and sweep the board. Just keep your wits about you.
  
  
• Turkey / Italy: A surprisingly powerful alliance that can catch the board with its pants down. Turkey builds armies and Italy fleets to get over the main stalemate line before most people notice the alliance is on. If Italy is on the ball and clearly outlines DMZ's and the axis of attack, the alliance can be a happy game-length one that benefits both sides. If Italy can't or won't do that, then any Turk who can count to 18 should be a happy little vegemite.
  
  
• Turkey / Austria: Probably the most powerful alliance in the whole game. Austria is the land power and Turkey ruling the sea. When this works well it is almost impossible to stop. Once again, the onus is on Austria to keep the Turk honest, as he is always building behind them while Austria's units are pushing into and through Germany. As the Austrian I can be talked into this as long as I know the Turk is the sort of player who will only stab for great gains; if I let that happen, it's my fault. As the Turk I will take this alliance from any but congenital idiots, because I know that the worst that is going to happen is that I will finish on eight or so, and that the solo is mine to stuff up if all goes well.
  
  
• Turkey / England: This is a particularly nice alliance when used in conjunction with the Austria / Turkey pairing. England can help bring down Russia early on, and the keep the French from propping up Italy. Once the Germans and Austrians are fighting in the middle of the board and England stabs Germany, Turkey can choose to stab Austria and become the game's land power, or to stick with them in an alliance that England can't possibly stop by itself. Even if Austria is not involved, the Witch's collusion in attacking Russia gives both countries a couple of easy builds and a safe flank to give them some peace of mind.
  
  
• Turkey / France: It's possible to work this alliance, but it can be prickly; especially when Italy is being divided up, and again afterwards when both sides have units sitting next to one another. To work this France and Turkey must have a good understanding of each other's motives and ambitions, and both must be very trusting of the other at the DMZ'ing stage.
  
  
• Turkey / Germany: Germany can be a great friend to the Turkish. Bordering Russia and Austria, and a stone's throw away from Italy, it can influence much of what goes on in the east, such as allowing or denying the Russians Sweden in 1901 (depending on the Turk's plans). In the midgame the alliance can blossom from the occasional mutual help and diplomatic pressure to a full military pact.

This is my favourite part.

Sometimes, the eastern gang of three decide the world would be a nicer place without the spider in the corner, and have taken off their size 11 shoes in preparation for a great big squash fest. The Italians have Lepantoed, the Russkies have opened and built south, and the Austrians are always too busy with the others to talk to you.

Now, you've got a great country to fight a defensive war with; but barring a miracle you're gonna die. Spring 1903 moves are read and, lo and behold, here comes the miracle: England moves on St Petersburg, France moves into the Mediterranean, and Germany throws everything it has east. What do you do?

Wait until everybody runs up to the stalemate line, stab everybody you can reach, and then laugh like a mad man as your eastern enemies collapse one after the other? Tempting, but you'll probably end up in the corner on 4 or 5 centres as at least 2 of the western powers clean the board.

Far better to go cap in hand to the eastern powers and promise them that you will do anything you can to help them, lend them any unit they need to hold a line and that your other units will sit still and be good doggies while the line is holding. All you want from them is survival once the western 3-way falls apart. Don't forget to be pathetic when asking if you can help, and be pathetically grateful when they (as they will) take you up on your offer. Now you get an army into Galicia or the Ukraine and a fleet into the Ionian where they can support the line. You must also give good tactical advice on how to hold it, and work hard diplomatically to keep the faith amongst the eastern powers, but most of all you must be seen by your eastern allies to be the hardest worker on that side of the line.

The whole time you are doing this you are also working on England to stab Germany or France (or both). If the stab doesn't come then you've lost nothing. The game stalemates and you survive. If the stab does come then now you can stab everybody you can reach and laugh like a mad man as your eastern enemies collapse one after the other. The difference is that this time, double figures should be the lowest you should settle for.

When playing Turkey, and things look bleak, don't despair: every turn you survive is a turn that an alliance can break down; that an attacker can get bored and move elsewhere; or the western powers sort their differences out and come and rescue you.

Nil desperandum; and patience, my spider in the corner!

Rohan Keane (maintenance.director@frhc.org.au)

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