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More of declaration than a question: I just returned to PBEM++ play after a long, involuntary hiatus. Yesterday someone ( I name no names, but you know who you are) took up one of my open challenges. I was playing Axis and I managed to conquer Poland on the first turn. My challenger resigned, leaving a message accusing me of cheating. Grrr. Naturally this doesn't sit well with me.
In my experience, it's possible to take out Poland in one turn in about half the games you play. The key is to use the swap positions function to move your Medium bomber near Danzig and the Tac bomber in the south one hex each so they are within range of Warsaw, but still have the ability to attack. It doesn't always work--sometimes you take Warsaw but there are enough Polish units surviving so that it doesn't surrender, or sometimes you whittle down the Warsaw garrison to one SP and sit there cursing as the Poles continue their futile resistance for another turn--but it's a fair strategy and doesn't involve any modification or cheating.
I don't want to make a big deal of this, but if any veteran (or newbie) would care to weigh in, I'd be grateful. Hoping my erstwhile opponent reads this.

Taking Warsaw on t1 is possible 10/10 times. There are many different ways to do it, including using bombers, but you can also do it without bombers, or without tanks. Though some of those ways are riskier and don’t have a 100% success rate, though there are usually plan B’s. I explained some ways here: https://forums.matrixgames.com/viewtopic.php?t=412635

But yes, taking Warsaw is not a guarantee of surrender. There is a small chance, I’d say it’s like 10-20%? The real formula is in the manual, that Poland does not surrender despite losing Warsaw.

Looks like you were playing a sore loser...

You get a better quality of opponent if you advertise for a game on here rather than just going random.

petedalby wrote: Fri Sep 26, 2025 12:45 pm Looks like you were playing a sore loser...

You get a better quality of opponent if you advertise for a game on here rather than just going random.

Definitely being a snowflake if they quit after the first turn of the game. Definitely new, if they've never seen Poland fall in one turn. But I was surprised by the remark on swapping positions with air units; I have not been able to use that feature in a while. I was under the impression it was removed as an option from the game for air units.

Isn't there also a huge drawback as the USSR mobilization doesn't decrease since they don't get to invade eastern Poland?

I have not been able to use that feature in a while. I was under the impression it was removed as an option from the game for air units.

If the air unit starts its move adjacent to another unit, you can still swap them. If the air unit moves it can't be swapped.

wirkey wrote: Wed Oct 01, 2025 9:58 am Isn't there also a huge drawback as the USSR mobilization doesn't decrease since they don't get to invade eastern Poland?

I was not aware of this! May need to re-think my strategy. I generally try to take Poland in one turn in order to invade the Low Countries (or at least Belgium and Lux) as early as possible, in Fall '39 if I can.

All the top players have stopped taking Poland in one turn.

It's a tactical success but a strategic blunder as it allows Russia to avoid a mobilization penalty.

You also want to move your tanks and some other units to the west on the very first turn.

Cpuncher wrote: Wed Oct 08, 2025 2:41 pm All the top players have stopped taking Poland in one turn.

It's a tactical success but a strategic blunder as it allows Russia to avoid a mobilization penalty.

You also want to move your tanks and some other units to the west on the very first turn.

You can take Warsaw turn1 without using tanks anyway.

The difference is like 300mpp, gradually. Russia’s war prep will be a bit smoother, and they can squeeze in one more unit or tech, but it’s not really as decisive as US mobilization.

How well Russia is prepared for the war is almost completely down to RNG imo. Get breakthroughs on infantry and/or tank weapons, you are good. Industrial & CnC is ok too. If you roll low on these and infantry weapons two is late, then you’re screwed.

If your strategy is focused on Russia, then I guess Poland t1 can be considered a strategical blunder, but I still like it as I think that North Africa / Middle East is a more important theatre. Taking Poland t1 generally speeds up fall of France by at least one turn. This means Germany can turn up in NA 1 turn earlier, and speed makes all the difference there, especially now that the UK force there doesn't arrive until April.