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ORIGINAL: Davekhps

I never managed to get a major victory, but I had minor victory down pat.

Turn one begins with air recon and airfield attacks.

I used as few infantry units as possible from as few headquarters as possible to open up the front lines.  Where possible, I used infantry units farthest back leaving the units up front with their maximum in MPs.  I made sure the openings were wide enough to enable my panzers to avoid ZOCs and/or displacing routed units, HQs and airbases I wanted to pocket.

Then I marched as few infantry as possible into positions to block the pocket.  Where possible, I broke down those units to maximize the isolation of the pocket with the minimal investment in units.  The rest of my infantry I marched as far as possible to the east.  You can be really bold here with cordoning off the pocket as in the Minsk scenario the Soviets won't really try to break into, or out of, that pocket as long as it's well-isolated.

FYI, even doing this, I still had to use a mobile unit or two to help close the eastern edge of the big pocket.

Then, I let the panzers fly (I ruthlessly try not to attack with them on turn one if I can avoid it-- the MPs are more valuable for the advance than the attack).  But I did so in a way to come close to Minsk, but not focus on it.  It was more important for me to get those panzers in position for the Day 3 objectives on the eastern edge of the map (Vitebsk, Mogilev, or whatever that objective is in the south, Tobulin or Zhlobin or what-have-you).  Where necessary to form a deep pocket I'd split up the panzer units, but I tried to avoid doing that too much as you want to begin the advance again the next day.

Then finish off with moving up HQs and airbases to secure locations forward.  Make sure you move your Panzer Corps headquarters close by to assist with both supply AND use of support units in any deliberate assaults later you choose to do on Turn 2.  Try to keep your panzer units one hex away from enemy units to avoid attrition over the turn.

On Day 2, after air recon I reverse order and start with the panzers (since the game weights air attacks early in your turn, you don't want to waste air attacks against the Soviet forces trapped in the pocket).  I close around Minsk with as few units as possible, again using breakdowns into regiments where necessary.  With my remaining forces I try to reach positions as deep as possible to get the eastern edge objectives.  I ensure my panzer HQs are close to my deepest units-- any panzers trapping the Minsk pocket don't need to worry about supplies as much as my deep units.  Once the movement is done, I'll use air resupply for those deep units.  Then I'll launch any panzer attacks I need to make, maximizing my surviving airpower.

Once that's done, then I use the infantry to reduce the main pocket.  The infantry that's beyond the pocket tries to establish any secondary pockets where possible further along, with some units joining the panzers around Minsk.

On turn 3, air recon, then panzer attacks against the eastern objectives.  I try to always begin with a deliberate attack at this point-- your best chance of victory is usually on the first turn-- but I'm mindful of my MPs, must keep a reserve to exploit any breakthrough against the urban objectives. 

At this point, I'll know whether I've won the scenario or not-- if my panzers managed to capture those eastern objectives, I'm golden; if not, no amount of success elsewhere will put me over the top.

Either way, once that's done, I'll capture the Minsk pocket, and any others I've formed.  I'll also displace any HQs and routed units I can in order to run up the score.

Anyway, if others see something I'm doing wrong here, please let me know.  I'm pretty bold with my panzers in this scenario, given the early penalties for the Soviets (and that it's just against the AI).  But every time I played it, I was always impressed by the "bridge too far" aspect of the victory conditions.  Both the Road to Minsk and Road to Leningrad scenarios feel like they need just one more desperate turn for the Axis to win easily, but of course, you don't have one more turn.  Great little design that way.

Still, I'd love to learn the trick on how to get those elusive major victories...

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ORIGINAL: GBS

In three tries I have one minor loss and two draws. I not very good yet because it's hard to plan until you understand whats happening and why. But I'm improving. One note...the panzers are so powerful and so mobile that they tend to really out run well everything. Understanding a way to keep them supported and supplied is crucial....just like the real thing. This is the hardest war game I have ever tried to play correctly...and I say that as a good thing.

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Down in Brest Litvosk, I work my infantry units to the point that I can get 5 infantry units in on a deliberate attack. That usually frees that city up.