I agree it is very tough for the Axis to win...especially if they only have average rolling. I played a game recently and lost as the Allies, but our rolling was RIDICULOUS ("OK, 12 infantry, 2 or less to hit....1 hit, 6 dice, 3 or less to hit....no hits...)

And we still made a game of it!

Unless the Axis can crush the Russians by Turn 2 or 3, with solid play by the Allies, it's only a matter of time.

Still, a fun game when you are a kid!

I haven't played this edition in many many years, as the newer editions are far superior in terms of balance and interesting strategies.

You can get the Axis & Allies 1942 (second edition) very cheap, so upgrading shouldn't be a problem.

That being said, I can give a few advice for the old MB edition:

1) Don't underestimate the IPC swing an Axis offensive in Africa can give. The Allies may be able to "liberate" Africa later on, but the loss of IPC's in the meantime can really be game breaking.

2) If the Allies are focussing on Germany, make sure the Japanese put a factory on the mainland and start cranking out tanks ASAP. These tanks should head straight for Moscow. Alternatively they go through India, which is also a prime location for a second factory. This will increase the pressure on the Russians significantly.

3) If you still feel the game is very unbalanced, make a bid for the side that is percieved to be stronger. The looser of the "auction" will get the highest bid amount as additional IPC's worth of troops to place on the board before the initial round. This is also standard procedure in A&A tournaments.

Germany's job is survival. Germany is the anvil, Japan is the hammer. Countering a 'Germany First' strategy the best thing the German player can do is over defend Western Europe to try to get the allies into making a one front war (Eastern Front). Germany can defend successfully with an inferior force because no one allied army will be stronger than the German army.

The Germans conduct a sits-kreig on the East building up their forces until Japan shows up on the gates of Moscow. At that point the allies will have to move substantial forces from Karelia to Moscow to deal with the threat. Germany then attacks Karelia either to take it or to reduce allied troops available to reinforce Moscow. Moscow falls to Japan giving Japan a 8 build factory to support Germany.


The game still holds up well all these years later. Play for free online at http://gamesbyemail.com/Games/WW2

The Axis can win if it doesn't squander its intial arms advantage in futile attacks (like Hitler did in reality). The Germans can commit to taking ground in Africa to even up the econmic situation. Above all they must preserve their air force. The threat of it is just as useful as actually using it. Japan must make big moves into the Asian mainland. They can pretty much ignore the U S in the Pacific for a long time. This is my standard strategy for the Axis and it is more often than not very successful.

I'd just like to chime in. We used to play this game (with the same four people) every Sunday evening for an entire summer, and more often than not the Axis would win. We usually had to call the game for time, but there were several instances of Economic Victory or the London being captured. It's definitely possible for the Axis to win.

While I agree that the Allies do have a very good chance of winning with Global Domination because of how long it takes and the money advantage usually wins out, here is how I win with the Axis.

One, use Germany to attack the British and American fleet at all costs. I do a full out attack on the Allies Navy with Germany and will use all resources to do so. With out a navy, the Allies are severely limited on their multi-front approach. I also do buy a small German fleet which includes an aircraft carrier. The ability to use planes that can attack both Africa, Southern Europe, and the Middles east in crucial. This takes the allies many turns to finally destroy and allows you to take Africa for the IPC and produce planes and infantry.

Two, sure wipe out the American fleet, but Japan needs a complex on the main land as soon as possible. Take the American holding in Asia so they cannot produce there and it is the Russians and Great Brittan against the horde. Pull your men off those crappy little one point islands and bring them on land.

Three, use Germany to hold Russia at her doorstep but don't invade. Take as much land as possible for IPC. Then, use Japan to take Asia and and Drive on Russia. If your lucky, you can attack with Germany and Japan on the same turn before Russia can produce.

It's the best chance... IMO.

I'd like to thank everyone for the replies! I’m not dissuaded from me belief in my Allied strategy being a near lock yet. I’m hoping to find someone who has played against such a strategy with a tail on how it was brought down. Many of the Axis techniques discussed are strong and ones I’ve used against Allies that played strategies less effective than the one I laid out. I’ve never seen anyone else play the opening turn as brutally committed to Allied Atlantic naval supremacy against me when I’m the Axis. I’ve never seen the Axis overcome it when I play the Allies. I may check out some online play to try to prove me wrong.

In my playgroup the Axis have taken the last 4 out of 5 games. The strategy the Axis implements is essentially based on Don Rae's exhaustive A&A essays -- so I can't really take any sort of credit.

The whole Axis strategy hinges on delaying America's ability to project force into Europe, and cashing out for higher IPC amounts each turn (where possible). The Axis are hoping to win via economic superiority right around the time the USA and UK are ready to start landing troops in Europe.

What's sorta novel (well, to me at the time I read them) about Don's "advanced axis strategy" is moving the Japanese pacific fleet into the Panama Canal area. That "rogue" fleet plus German fighters/bombers can really hamper the Allies ability to start machining troops into Europe. Of course it will ultimately be crushed, but it buys the Axis precious turns. On the other side of the globe, Japan is trying to threaten Moscow as quickly as possible. Germany should seek to grab as many IPCs in Africa, for as cheaply as possible. And, of course, Germany is building as much infantry as is deemed prudent. The mountains of infantry are a tough nut to crack for the Allies, as it basically forces them into building their own mountains of infantry..... which require transport, thus hopefully delaying a landing.

It's basically a race, and when it works, it makes for some relatively short games of A&A. My personal feeling is that against advanced Allied play, if the Axis don't win by economic victory, and relatively quickly, they're doomed to lose.

Is this using any kind of bid or maybe Russia Restricted from first turn attack/2 hit battleships/axis advantage rulesets? I'm assuming so since Germany is able to gobble up Africa. If Russia can attack first turn, then German units in Africa just go to make the fall of Germany faster.