Strategy In
Monty's Gamble: Market Garden

Overall Situation

by Michael Rinella



Overall Situation

MONTY'S GAMBLE: MARKET-GARDEN depicts the largest airborne landing in history. In contrast to other military campaigns, the airborne forces will capture many of the campaign's most important objectives either immediately or by the end of the first day.

The Allied player's primary goal is achieving "linkup" between XXX Corps and his three airborne divisions, while at the same time maintaining a supply line back to Neerpelt and keeping the Germans from threatening the Airborne Operational Sectors he seizes during and after the initial landings.

This article provides an overall summary of player strategy and how the initial landings in each airborne division's Drop Areas interact with the rest of the game. These comments concentrate on strategy for playing the four turn Basic Game.

Needing 10 Victory Points to win, the Allied player can reach this figure in a variety of ways, but the easiest path is probably by controlling the following: Eerde (1), Veghel (1), Mook (1), Groesbeek (1), Nijmegen (2), Oosterhout (1), an isolated Arnhem (2), and the Advantage (1). Best (1) or Wyler (1) can be captured during the Basic Game giving the Allies a margin of error should they lose the Advantage. In addition, a bonus VP is available if a unit of XXX Corps either contests or controls Eindhoven on September 17th. The Allies lose a VP if the Germans finish the game contesting 6 VP worth of Allied controlled VP Areas (Note: Arnhem counts as 4 VP in this regard, even if isolated).

Although Arnhem is easy for the Allies to capture, it will be challenging to hold the city for the duration of the game without help from XXX Corps. If the Germans recapture Arnhem, the Allies will have to control nearly every VP space south of the Rhine to win.

Strategy In Monty's Gamble: Market Garden

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