Some strategy before we start our true game:
A basic concept east/west division of the board:

I've colored the map as follows:
- Bluish areas are the Western half
- Reddish areas are the eastern half
- Grey areas are the badlands that separate both halves
- Yellow areas are normally played as eastern teritories with a strong western potential, basically Italy and central Russia.
The early game normally starts ebing played along these lines: a
western triangle and an eastern square (unless Italy or Russia follow a
western strategy, what obviously would break the scheme). So we have
E-F-G and A-R-T, with Italy as the odd man that most commonly plays in
the east (see above for the Italian western strategy) and Russia that
normally takes one or two units to the Scandinavian area (there is a
Northern opening for Russia that again would change all the scheme, but
it isn't the most common) but plays mostly in the south.
Now let's take a look at the various powers:
Austria-Hungary: the
German alliance is a must and this is almost a never written rule in
Standard Diplomacy. The central powers must fight back with back at
least till one of the two half-scenarios have been solved and most
commonly till the end-game. A succesful Austria usually means a
succesful Germany and vice versa.
France and England aren't a direct Austrian concern
but all the others are. Probably Austria's best bet as ally is Italy
but the Ven-Tri friction plays against their cooperation. Ideally
Russia is the area where Austria should look for a piece of board-edge.
Turkey is almost impossible to conquer for Austria alone but an active
Turkey can be a pain in the ass for the Habsburgs, for that reason
Austria often supports Russia against Turkey (or vice versa too) and
seeks to involve Italy against Turkey in
Lepanto-like strategies.
Austria faces a dificult start. It can take two
centers (in theory even three but this is very rare) but if attacked
coordinatedly it can be denied everything and placed in a very dificult
position. For this reason too the German alliance, beyond just the
non-agression pact, influencing the actions of Russia and/or Italy can
be a great help. Early coopertion with Turkey can also be a relief (but
a too powerful Turkey is not Austrian interest either). While the war
with Russia may not be easy to avoid, hopefully Italy can be persuaded
to help against Turkey or head west. After surviving the first turn
Austria has become surely a great power but still must dance among many
confliting interests, preventing the R-T alliance while expanding
mostly in the Balcans. When the occasion is adequate, Austria sould
look to invade Russia and becoming an edge power. Turkey can be spared
but not allowed to get out of its corner.
England: Having a
rather poor start most normally, the strategy of England is usually to
confront Germany and France and meddle at the expense of either one.
Unlike in real history, the E-F friction is usually greater than the
E-G one. This is because England is mid-term interested in controlling
the SW and France can't accept it.
Friction with Russia is likely also in Scandinavia
but invading St. Petersburg is often a dead end for Britain.
England is interested in having her continental
allies building only armies, and Germany also fits better in that
scheme than France.
While in the early game, England can well play only
with fleets, in the mid-game, she must build armies and convoy them to
the continent to secure superiority. In the end-game control of the
West Mediterranean can be decisive for an English victory.
France: A very
versatile power, France can do almost anything and its winning empires
have all kind of shapes. Hopefully Italy will play eastern strategies
and France will be happy with that. Now, the question is to prevent an
E-G alliance and some well-calculated generosity on Belgium can hold
the key. If allied with England, France will most likely be suggested
to build only armies, if allied with Germany to build only fleets but
actually France must have a little of each. A 3rd army is a must for
defensive reasons but a 2nd and even a 3rd fleet if possible are also
recommended.
Russia's well doing is often good for France but
closer cooperation is only occasionaly achieved. Turkey and Austria are
only counterwights against Italy but actually, as each wants Italy to
head in the opposite direction, active alliance is not very common.
Germany: As said above
the alliance with Austria is a must. But Germany has much greater
possibilities: to start with is the only power that hope seriously to
get 3 builds in 1901. But this is not all: the natural E-F friction for
the Atlantic waters and the also natural E-R friction in the north can
help Germany to be the lord of the board, with the necessary ehlp of a
good diplomatic effort. Germany actually can avoid frictions with all
its neghbours and still be strong but some well picked wars will give
him greater power and security.
One of the most strategical areas for Germany is
probably Scandinavia, where she must masterfully confront Russia and
England in German benefit. Russia can also benefit from an
Austro-Russian war but there is more likely that Austria gets the share
of the lion, so it's not a too interesting scenario unless well
calculated. And of course Germany must stir the pot between England and
France, some generosity in Belgium may help. If at war with England the
North Sea is the main objective, if at war with France, Burgundy is the
one. A fleet in Denmark can be most helpful.
Regarding the always delicate matter of
Austro-Russian relations, Germany can play an early role denying Sweden
to Russia if the Tzar is too anti-Austrian (but allowing him in if he's
more moderate).
Italy is only a secondary concern for Germany and
again this rotates in relation with Austria. Germany is totally
uninterested in I-A war but instead can be interested in A-I
cooperation or at least peace. A westward oriented Italy (the nightmare
of France) can be a good thing for Germany, therefore the Triple
Alliance (A-G-I) is quite desirable.
Turkey is just there. Unless at war with Russia or
Italy, the Kaiser doesn't seem to have much to negotiate with the
Sultan.
Italy: The big problem of Italy is what to do apart of taking Tunis. The options are basically three:
- Alliance with Austria against Turkey (see Lepanto openings in a previous post).
- Triple alliance with A-G and head westward against France (just
don't leave Venice open... too tempting). It has some good critics but
I haven't seen it often.
- The classical atatck on Austria. The main problem here is that
Austria fulfills an important role in containing Russia and Turkey and
that Germany will probably oppose it from Munich. Typically Italy has
to retreat under A-G pressure or (if Austria actually falls) under
Russian one. The biggest danger here is the R-T alliance, against which
Italy has nothing to do.
Russia: Russia seems
big and it has a lot of potential but also a lot of dangers. It is the
most common winner but also one of the most commonly eliminated early
(after Austria, I believe). Russia and France have the unique ability
of being able to build fleets in the Atlantic and the Mediterranean
basin, though the French position is much more propitious for naval
strategies. Russia's best bet is no doubt the R-T, also known as the
juggernaut.
The problem with this feared alliance is (a) what to do with the
Russian Black Sea fleet (so it doesn't threatens Turkey)?; and (b) how
to decieve the rest of players so they don't automatically unite
against it. A common solution is to neutralize the Black Sea via an
eternal naval bounce. Still other problems may arise as the
alliance succeeds: the Balcans are propitious for a stab in any
direction and France may be gaining too much from the general panic.
Destroying Austria is the most common mid-term
objective of Russia but also invading Turkey is an interesting
possibility... if succesful (Turkey may be a slow starter but it is a
good survivor), specially because it would allow for an exit to the
Med.
Italy is a natural Russian ally but once they start
succeding against either Austria or Turkey (or both), frictions are
more than likely. Obviously Italy won't want Russia to substitute
Turkey as Eastern Mediterranean power, while Russia may want more of
its agreed share in the Danub.
The relations with Germany, if not a function of
those with Austria, should be related to the northern triangle, aka
Scandinavia. Eventually Russia can get easier gains from Germany then
from England but taking Norway or at least preventing a British
invasion of northern Russia is something that the Tzar should consider
too. R-E is not necessarily a path of roses either.
Normally Russia will try to secure Rumania and
Sweden while preventing a Turk attack to Sevastopol and therefore it
will play in the south, looking at Turkey or Austria as her objectives
but there is an alternative: the Northern opening that may change it
all. This could be the only case when Russia and A-G can cooperate
rather well, as the Russian objective is Scandinavia and even maybe
Scotland (after building F StP/nc). In this case Russia accepts to play
only a secondary role in the Balcans, at least initially.
Turkey: Ottoman main
objective is to get out of its corner. Normally Turkey can be pretty
sure of getting Bulgaria... but what then? If A-R can't be pushed to
war and Italy is being nasty... how to go farther or even retain
Bulgaria? Patience. Turkey is a strong survivor and the
wicked witch of the south that can hope to have a slid game even if the starts are difficult.
Hopefully this stoicist strategy won't be necessary
and Turkey will manage to get their neighbours to fight each other and
reap some benefits from that. As it grows, building new fleets,
particularly in the Med, will be necesary. If in 1901 Greece can be out
of reach, in 1902 it can be the main objective. Naturally this requires
an alliance with Russia. And will cause concern in Italy.
But Russian cooperation has some problems: the Black
Sea. Under no circumstances Turkey should allow Russia to control it
and, if possible, the Russian fleet should be forced to disband.
Declaring the Black Sea a demilitarized zone seems promising but it can
be tricky.
In the end-game, if succesful, Turkey has another
problem: its home centers are far away from the frontlines. For this
reason good convoying lines (and control of the Med) are a must.

Triangular dialectics in Diplomacy: red lines are applying tensions.
Black lines are (normally) non-applying ones. See how almost all the
board can be concieved in terms of dialectic triangles, with some
exceptions caused by impassable Switzerland and the special A-G
relation.