JohnnyD144 wrote:
Sad story, but quite good session report.
Now that had all quick USSR win elements there. No 4OPs in 2 hands for US (means USSR probably has a lot). 3 scoring cards in 2nd turn. 2nd turn is in my opinion worse turn to draw a plenty of scorings (especilly after a poor 1st round) since opponent has already had time to grab countries. In first turn its easier to dump them. Good USSR coup rolls is obviously bad also. Then what makes games quick is that scorings come again turn 3. If they get buried in the deck, US has a fighting chance in 3rd world (& evening a bit in the earlier regions). All in all there would have had to be hugely better US player than USSR here to cope (in fact USSR would have had to be a noob really). I don't usually blaim luck for results, but sometimes it just happens so (here you have a good case). My advice is not to look too deeply in this game as assuming always the worst will probably just weaken your game.
Now couping Vietnam has a disadvantage that USSR can coup back with +1OPs. I see it as decent idea, but can lead to bigger OPs deficit.