So,
My initial strategy was to establish a foothold in scandinavia, by opening pro French and just focusing on gaining builds. I felt it went really well and that the French de facto DMZ worked well for me. However, England was not performing against France as I had hoped and I could see how France was getting builds - While at the same time laying up for more builds in the coming turns - The iberian Peninsula - It got me really worried and after about 2 years of debate, I realized that France was going to win the game if I didn't do something about that. I had noticed that Turkey was doing well over in the corner and I felt I had the Russian player where I wanted him - BUT, I was putting to much faith in the French guy, And so after two years of uhming and ahing, I decided it was better to strike than to be struck - It was at the time that I felt that the french player was getting ready to move on to his next target - presumably me. In the end however I wasn't able to gain momentum against France, and as Russia rallied, I quickly found myself between a rock and a hard place. That's game for me - at that point I was glad that I was able to stay in the game. Overall I was glad that I attack France, without it he would have gotten 17 no problem, and I probably would do it again - Hopefully better executed this time. If I could do it all over, knowing the players like I feel I do now, I would open Anti-French and pummel him, forfeiting Scandinavia, hoping that the British player would end up fighting the Tzar for Norway, giving me time to regroup and build a fleet.