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- Study the map at the start of the game and determine how your placement on the map will affect your next moves.
- Cover your flanks. Germany, for example is surrounded on three sides (four if you count England, who will almost certainly threaten a move from the sea). If Germany wishes to move into Belgium and France, they might ally themselves with England to the north, Austria-Hungary in hopes of protecting Germany's southern flank, and Russia to cover the eastern flank.
- Request support from your allies. If you just can't seem to dislodge that pesky French unit from Picardy, and you have no other units in the vicinity, try requesting support from the German army next to you.
- Support your units, even if they aren't moving. If an army is sitting in Munich and is staring at a couple of armies across the boarder, bolster your defensive strength by ordering a nearby unit to support the one in Munich.
- Watch for backroom alliances. You might feel safe with only one Italian unit and one Austrian-Hungarian unit sitting next to your army. After all, each is only one unit, right? Unfortunately you can find yourself in trouble when Italy decides to support Austria-Hungary's move into your province.
- Work nations against each other. With a smile on your face, swear allegiance to, say, Germany and Russia, then turn on them (without their knowledge) and request separately that each attacks the other. It doesn't always work, but it might distract them enough to buy you a turn or two.
- Keep your home supply centers clear of units. If you have army units sitting in Paris, Brest, and Marseilles (supply center provinces in France), and have captured a foreign supply center at the end of the fall turn, you will not be allowed to build any additional units. You can only build units when you home supply centers are unoccupied.
- Keep your promises. Even if you intend to stab an ally in the back sometime later in the game, keeping up the appearance that you are friends will take some heat off of your forces as you concentrate on attacking someone else. If an ally asks you to support them, or to move somewhere, agree to it and follow through if the move doesn't seriously alter your plans.
- Be wary of suspicious requests. If you find yourself surrounded by Russian units, and the Russian diplomat is requesting that you move your one defending unit far from the battlefield, you can pretty much count on what his intentions are. Even if you've been on friendly terms with Russia throughout the game, expect the relationship to turn sour at a moment's notice.
- Avoid a two-front war. Concentrate your invasion efforts in one direction, while covering your weak flank with negotiations. Once your invasion has succeeded, you'll be in a better position to turn around and take a stab at invading in the other direction.
- Build units according to your nation's needs. This might seem obvious, but each nation has the opportunity to take to the sea. The mobility of the sea is tempting, but fleet units can only hold coastal provinces. Instead, fleet units would better serve you as a sort of cavalry, swooping in from the enemies flank and attacking where they are weakest. Commit your army units to be the spearhead of your invasion.
- Always check your boarders. Make sure your units have the support they need, and that you're not moving a lone unit into an area where multiple foreign units can threaten it. Remember, a unit can only support another that is holding, or is moving into an adjacent province.
- Be patient. Let your negotiations work for you. Give your opponents time to make you offers. Jumping into the Issue Orders phase too early can isolate you from the others, leaving you surrounded by greedy and powerful foes.
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