The Original Tourney Scenario: An Eight Turn Slugfest

History: This is probably the most played 'version' of Bitter Woods. It is the staple of both the PBEM and FTF tournaments and has been thoroughly analyzed. Available since the first edition, it is a good introduction to the game and should be played several times before moving on to the campaign game.

Play Balance: At this point, most expert level players believe the Allies have a slight edge. I'm one of those experienced players who believe the Allied player has a tremendous edge in PBEM play. For FTF play, time constraints prohibit the US analysis needed to produce an optimal move every turn.

Victory Conditions: The Germans win if they get 4 or more Victory Points (VPs).

	Eliminating US units and preventing elimination of German mech units (2 possible VPs)
	Capturing a fuel dump (1 VP)
	Capturing and occupying at game's end one or more VP towns. (8 possible)

I consider these VP objectives unreachable against experienced US players: Neufchateau, Eupen, Spa, Bastogne, Stoumont, and the Samree fuel dump.

This objective is a 'must have' for the German player: Less than 4 German mechanized units eliminated.

Here is an assessment of the likelihood of capture based on a totally subjective review of my own 20+ games. At some point I plan on going back and reviewing all my games and doing actual statistical counts.

	Ourthe Bridgehed (70%)
	Francorchamp fuel dump (50%)
	Trois Pont (50%)
	Parker's Cross Roads (40%)
	Eliminate 18 US units (70%)

What can you do with this information? I'm not sure but I think it clearly tells you I try to kill US units and push hard in the south.

German Opening:

I use an opening German setup that I originally got from Randy Heller. Key themes:

	7th Army tries to Engage or FF US units while making sure units are in place to surround any US units that are ENG.
	5th Panzer Army tries to rebuild the bridge to Clervaux but needs to win a 50-50 battle to do so. The Lehr Panzer division and some infantry are thrown at the 14th Armored Cavalry blocking the Losheim gap; success here can cut off US units on either flank.
	6th Panzer Army goes head on at the US forces in the woods. Pushing them back is good, FF is better. ENG isn't so bad either. All in all, with no mechanized units in action, this army can't do much.

US Opening:

Randy Heller and John Grant have come up with some scripted responses for the US that vary based on German opening results. I'm comfortable using them but have to be careful about not being lulled into complacency because the 16PM turn can be the turn the US gives the game away.

Key defensive themes include:

	The Triangle Defense - Stop Peiper!
	Thwarting 7th Army - Allow the 10 Armored to reach Bastogne
	The Eupen Racoon Trap - Tease 1st SS Panzer Corps
	Using the 82nd and 101st Airborne - Threaten the flank, solidify the center
	The Ourthe Gambit - A VP hex that the US can take back.
	Bridge sacrifices - Which bridges are worth sacrificing a unit for?

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