When I originally set up my Russians, I thought I had a pretty good chance of winning. But after reading the setup conditions again I realised that most of my men were in violation of them and I had to re-do it from scratch. I had set up a series of fronts for Legion to overcome the full length of the board. But the setup conditions state I had to start up "forward" near where the Finns start.

So having scratched my first plan, I went to plan B. I started up a link to see what ideas other people had. But I also knew Legion would be aware of it so I wasn't sure which info or tips I would or wouldn't use. I guess the idea of my thread was just to see what options where out there.

My plans & thoughts were:

1. Have dummies set up forward and AM them back if able. Then he would have to determine which were dummies and which weren't, and hopefully he would waste some time doing that and I wouldn't loose too many squads. The best lie is one that has at least some truth in it. So I did have a squad set up (Z8) amongst the dummies that I hoped would be bypassed once Legion thought they were all dummies and I would either get a -2 shot on one of his squads or I could use this squad behind his lines to eliminate anyone for failure to rout. Dummies around this concealed squad were found and Legion did try and NAM through OG, meaning I had a choice to make. To shoot at him -2 or to keep concealment and try and do more damage later??? I decided I had a good opportunity here and it was better for me to take this -2 shot rather than hope for any better options later. In the end I missed the shot, but it was pleasing to have the opportunity present itself.
2. A big part of this game was going to be my ability to move rather than prep fire. So I set up my real squads as far back as allowed so I might get some free movement in without taking too much fire. I wanted to try and stay 5 - 6 hexes in front of his guys so they could never quite overrun me. Also, from the second turn onwards I wanted to leave behind a squad or two on the western and eastern flanks in stone buildings (+3TEM) so that he would have to spend some time prep firing because of the speed bumps. Legion's machine gun stack (CC8 I think it was) was able to get some fire on my units where I didn't think he had LOS, but he had some height advantage and almost caught me out a few times when I moved NAM and OG.
3. I set up a HIP in G7 (I figured there was a lot of OG around this hex he would need to pass by (I wanted -2 fire) and he was set back enough that he could exit if required). In the end this guy got PBF on a squad and a half I think. 16FP -2!!! . My other HIP was in D6. I had him here as an exit man. It never occurred to me he was close enough to the fire to get smoked out (the turn after I revealed & moved him the hex flamed but didn't blaze). Also, it never occurred to me that a better place for him was to guard against the West edge board creep. For both my HIPs, I had them set back so that for the whole game Legion would be worried about where they might appear, and from a functional point of view they could both exit if required. HIPs were allowed to set up back from the forward heavy front line set up.
4. For most players, especially newbies, Prep fire is just too tempting! Its easy to Prep fire away and then not be able to move or react. So I was determined not to Prep fire unless absolutely necessary. Even knowing this, it was hard not to Prep fire. And Legion was always tempting me with HS bait (or more!). Movement was so much more valuable to me. I will need to carry this mindset over into future games (Move move move!!!). This was one of the big tips I picked up from my thread. I had heard this said before, but playing this scenario really brought it home to me that movement is king.
5. I had a lot of guys in the Central building (+3TEM) because I thought he would move his men through the cemetery. In the end there were only a few that tried it, instead most of the guys did the Westboard edge creep and I was really found wanting. I couldn't bring fire onto them and I also couldn't move because of the blazes going on behind me! I was trapped!
6. I will need to pay more attention to board edge creeps. I was pretty exposed in this game.

            I cant believe Legion said I put on a clinic! I had a couple of gamey things go my way, but really I wasn't as in control as he makes out. But I did learn a lot from this game and am now looking forward to the next one (winnings like that!).