The Battle of the Bulge comes close to being a balanced game. The edge lies with the German player due to the generous length of time in which he has to cross the Meuse. The common opinion is that the American side is the more difficult one to play. Historically, however. the German player is presented with the greater challenge. For the Germans to meet their timetable, the Meuse was to have been breached by approximately the fourth day. Each day of delay meant more enemy forces to oppose them and the less decisive their victory.

The restrictions placed on the Germans during the campaign were considerably more stringent than those dictated in the present Avalon Hill rules. One such major restriction was that corps and division commanders were ordered to stay within the confines of their allocated advance routes, with violations resulting in severe repercussions. To reasonably reflect this, the 6th Panzer Army should make its drive in the North via the Losheim gap. The original plan called for the infantry and volksgrenadiers to open holes in the enemy line so that armor could advance. The same desired results can be achieved in our game by tieing down enemy forces. The U.S. units extending from Elsenborn to Monschau must be engaged and contained so as to allow a chance of attaining a breakthrough.

The following opening move will make it possible for the German player to adhere to the timetable and restrictions imposed by the German high command. The plan contains no gimmicks or attempts at reading between the rules. Its success is dependent upon only one die roll, with a four out of six chance of working. Should the German player be unsuccessful, he is left in a position no worse off than any other opening move proposed thus far.

The best American reaction will be to place the only available unit in the North, 106/424, at PP15 and a unit from the South at NN20. The following turn. the German player should place at least one regiment of 116 Panzer at MM18. With the destruction of the U.S. unit at NN20 and the destruction or retreat towards Stavelot of 106/424, the Germans will have quickly siezed the Houffalize and Vielsalm roads. The American player will be hard put to stop the German advance with so few units at his disposal. It is, in fact, he who will find himself in a traffic jam as he attempts to bring his northern reinforcements into play.

U.S. 2/38 must remain on the road and retreat away from the enemy. The automatic advance of 9SS blocks the escape route of 99/361 and the entire 2nd division. The 2-1 attack against 99/393 and 99/395 is the key. Anything but a D back results in the containment of the Elsenborn- Monschau line. AC/14 will remain within the fortress due to its inability to attack at odds of worse than 1-6.