This message is for all those who suck at 1v1
DO NOT ATTACK 2 neutrals with 1 to make them 1 and capture them later,PLEASE.
(this applies to all the 0-16% luck SR game with normal killrates of 60/70)

But why?

On straight round it's unwise to lower a 2 to a 1. You lose 1 army in both cases, if you kill a 1 and if you kill a 2. So you lose one army by lowering a neutral from 2 to 1. In teamgames it might make sense, if you can't take a bonus otherwise. Else just wait one turn and attack with 3 then

Edited 10/8/2015 09:42:13

You lose 1 army in both cases, if you kill a 1 and if you kill a 2. So you lose one army by lowering a neutral from 2 to 1.
and you also lose 1 more army whe nyou actually capture the territory
also you lose order delays
also,you are very likely to reveal your position
also,you are going to have no backup armies in case you want to move them somewhere else or forfeit the expansion
also your opponent realizes you are a noob and keeps expanding like crazy until you realize you've lost
also,if you don't realize how you lagged behind so much in expansion,and you do this,this is the main reason why...

It's ok in SR when it allows you to complete one more bonus that turn.
I've done it when completing an area on an obscure end of the map, in order to be able to add 1 more army where I'm actually fighting someone.

Generally though, it's a bad idea. Never, ever, ever attack a 2 with 1 if you aren't going to take the neutral with two later that same turn.

It's ok in SR when it allows you to complete one more bonus that turn.
I've done it when completing an area on an obscure end of the map, in order to be able to add 1 more army where I'm actually fighting someone.

true dat

I sometimes attack a 4 with 2 1s and a 3. Typically, you'd attack a 4 with a 6, but in this strategy:

1 + 1 + 3 = 5

5 < 6

Basic maths lesson!

But not all territories border 3 other territories that I currently own, so this is not always put into practice. I often use this in Caucasus.

Also, if you employ this tactic, do not do it over the span of multiple turns. Enemies can see you through the fog if you whittle down a 4 in more than 1 turn, and then attack you with a stack when you're not expecting it.

It can also (very rarely) be useful as order delay. There was one game where I had a stack of 3 armies in one territory in a 2-bonus, bordering only the other 2 territories in that bonus and another territory of mine. That turn I had to use all my income elsewhere so could not take the 2-bonus, but I needed order delay to break an enemy bonus. I didn't want to retreat my 3 armies to my territory since I wanted to take the 2-bonus next turn (after I broke the enemy bonus), so I hit each of the neutrals with 1 (so I can still take it with +4 deployment next turn), watched as my opponent suicided all his armies attacking me, and then attacked back and broke his bonus. Well worth 2 armies I would say :)

The problems with straight round...

Attack a 5 with 4 1s and a 2. You used 6 armies instead of 8.

It's common sense.. But we all learn from mistakes.. so wait till they realise it is a mistake and stop making it.