#4: Assuming Italy and Austria can perfectly cooperate there are 4 possible attacks on Turkey. (Supported attack on Smyrna or Constantinoples, both from 2 directions). How can Turkey defend against 3 out of these 4 attacks for 100%?

difficulty: beginner

The solution:

If Turkey holds either Smyrna or Constantinoples from Ankara it results, the other territory can be taken by 2 attacks out of the 4.
- If Ankara holds Smyrna and Eastern attacks Smyrna, then noone holds Constantinoples, resulting both Aegean and Bulgaria can take it with support)
- If Ankara holds Constantinoples, then Bulgaria attacks Constantinoples and Smyrna will be lost either by Aegean or Eastern)

This results holding units is not a solution here, it leads to 50% chance of losing a territory. What Turkey can do is to support Smyrna to Contantinoples with Ankara and Contantinoples attacks Aegean. This protects Constantinoples for 100% and Smyrna in that case if Aegean is supporting Eastern. Therefore the only successful attack against Turkey can be Aegean->Smyrna with Eastern support.

Conclusion: In most cases active defense (attacking instead of holding) is much more effective.

The game:

http://www.webdiplomacy.net/board.php?gameID=89103#gamePanel
Autumn, 1903