At the Crossroads - Critical Hit 53
I got Critical Hit Vol.3 No.1 in the mail today (fortunately my day off) just as I was going around to my brother's place (he's sick!!) for a game. This must be some kind of record, I got the pack at 11 a.m. and was set up to play by noon. Anybody taken the cherry off a pack that quick??

First one up was CH 53 "At the Crossroads". Poles vs. Russians in 1920. It had to be. The poles only get 3 squad equivalents and an MMG of Axis Minors to start, reinforced by 2.5 squads on Turn 3. Plus, the Elite units are first line and the 1st Line are Green. The Russians get 10 Chinese 1st Line squads lead by a Commissar. I didn't understand why the Chinese troops and not partisans until I suffered ELR. The Russians must clear the crossroads and adjacent hexes. I was the Russians.

My plan was to use a Human wave to swamp the defenders, and to this end the Russians moved as a clump. The Poles simply slunk back behind the trees, and bythe start of Turn 3 I still couldn't see a Human Wave target, although there was one 9 (Damn. damn, damn) hexes away. At this stage a decided the wave was not going to happen, and split my men up to go around the limited defenders. The Commissar and his 3 squads doubletimed around the flank, and despite pinning were in time to blitz the Polish reinforcements, with the sole exception of the HS. In the meantime the Poles were shooting it out, with one 3-4-7 in particular showing some buttock-baring brazenness by defying two 2MC and a couple on NMC.

By Turn 5, the reinforcement HS was locked in Melee with a 3-3-7; a Polish 3-4-7 had just slaughtered another 3-3-7 in Melee, and the 3-4-7 in the frontline was still holding out. It was time to charge! Three 3-3-7 set out to pass one 3-4-7 and destroy the other in CC, whilst the Commissar stopped chasing brokies to reinforce the Melee against the HS. Bodies piled up around the house besides the crossroads, but one 3-3-7 was left to advance. Down to the final CCPh, the Poles Ambush the 3-3-7 and withdraw to the crossroads. Game over. Just to see, we finish the Melee against the 2-4-7 HS. He wipes out the 3-3-7 and Commissar without loss. Figures. All over in just 2 hours.**** (4 stars)

Mark McGilchrist