Did you know that 0.7 = 1.0 in BKN mathematics? It's stated in Rule 22.4, but somehow this important fact doesn't get much attention. It means the Allies can win the one-week scenario by controlling only six relatively-easy-to-conquer Areas, provided they hold the Advantage at the end of the game and also contest Areas worth 13 Victory Points. Getting control of bocage Areas is usually hard to do, much harder than merely contesting them, so this strategy is worthy of serious consideration. Here's a way to implement this plan of attack.

First, the Allies must gain 6 VPs by controlling the five 'easy' Areas: Bayeux (2), Ste. Mère-Église (1), Isigny (1), Catz (1) and Merville (1). Of course, these Areas are not always easy to take. For example, if the Germans snatch the 'magic bridge' on June 6, the Allies may never find the means to conquer Ste. Mère Église. However, in that event the Allies will probably be directing much more force and using many more impulses in the vicinity of Omaha Beach -- there are always compensations. In most games though, it should be quite feasible to take control of the five Areas just mentioned.

The Allies need to control one more Area and it might be any one of Tilly (1), Villars-Bocage (1), Pont l'Abbé (1), Caumont (1), St. Vaast-la-Hougue (1), Forest de Cerisy(1) or Valognes (1). These Areas are all rather difficult to wrench from the Germans, but usually fortune will open one of them to successful assault. This brings the VP total up to 7.

Retaining the advantage at game's end -- again not necessarily an easy thing to do, but one that is quite feasible in a good percentage of games -- gets the Allies up to 8 VPs.

Now, to gain the remaining 1.6 VPs the Allies must contest Areas worth 13 VPs. The big VP Areas Caen (4), St. Lo(2) and Carentan (2) will almost certainly be on the list. They are to tough to get control of, but not so tough to contest. In addition, Pont l'Abbe (1) is contested by the paratroops on D-Day and with luck will continue to be contested by them at game's end. Forest de Cerisy (1) is a good candidate to be contested, or possibly even controlled, since it can be surrounded. That leaves three more VPs to be contested and they can be gained in Villars-Bocage (1), Caumont (1), St. Vaast-la-Hougue (1), Tilly (1) or Valognes (1). Bourguebus (1) and Potigny (1) may be candidates as well, in some games, although the prudent Allied player usually steers clear of them. Aunay sur Odon (2) may also be a possibility if Villars-bocage is under control.

This strategy strikes me as quite a good one. Its great advantage is that the Allies need to control only 6 Areas. Achieving control of that 9th VP is what's difficult in this game, since an experienced German will certainly use an attrition strategy to hang on to the bocage Areas, Caen and Carentan quite tenaciously. Contesting 1.6 VPs is a more realistic strategy, especially since 0.7 = 1.0 in the mathematics of BKN.