[Next_rim]

If you see zerg go fast (like 6-7 min) 3rd, get your own fast third (around 9 min), and put 4-5 cannons there. Protip - first get map control, clear xel'nagas, do a swipe with a phoenix to spot OL's, kill lings that are in front of your ramp and at your 3rd. Don't just send a probe out, it will get denied, and will tip zerg off, causing an attack before cannons warp in. Expect a 140+ food push, likely roach-ling or ling infestor at around 11 min. There are many ways to counter that, but you would normally want some high-tech stuff, like HT, immortals, colossi, etc..

I personally go 11 min mothership simultaneously, and a 3-base zerg will attack right around the time it pops. I also have a voidray and 1-3 carriers around the time they come with 1-1 upgrades. I quickly snipe OS (if it's even there), and zerg has to retreat, because you can't kill a cloaked 3rd base, and a hydra/corruptor ball will likely lose to upgraded carriers, mommaship and cannons.

After failed push, zerg usually grabs 4th and 5th for gas, so I counter with 4-5 carriers right after I clear the push. Half of the time I'm able to snipe their 3rd, or do stupid damage, as no amount of hydra (likely mispositioned), queens and spores can handle 5x carriers at this point, especially if zerg's supply is in lings and roaches. It usually forces a round of corruptors or hydra from zerg, so I safely recall with mothership. I keep doing hit-and runs with recalls if corruptor count is low.

When my carrier count is at 5-7, I add 2x more stargates (up to 5), second core and TC (for lvl 2 shiled). Then I grab a 4th and sometimes 5th with shitload of cannons, and scout zerg. If he is heavy in hydra or infestors, I do more carriers, if he is spamming corruptors, I spam voidrays. By the time zerg gets 200/200, I'm likely at 160-180 food of 3-2-2 air, which a-moves any zerg, even on 5 bases.

[iM yang]

Originally Posted by Next_rim

If you see zerg go fast (like 6-7 min) 3rd, get your own fast third (around 9 min), and put 4-5 cannons there. Protip - first get map control, clear xel'nagas, do a swipe with a phoenix to spot OL's, kill lings that are in front of your ramp and at your 3rd. Don't just send a probe out, it will get denied, and will tip zerg off, causing an attack before cannons warp in. Expect a 140+ food push, likely roach-ling or ling infestor at around 11 min. There are many ways to counter that, but you would normally want some high-tech stuff, like HT, immortals, colossi, etc..

I personally go 11 min mothership simultaneously, and a 3-base zerg will attack right around the time it pops. I also have a voidray and 1-3 carriers around the time they come with 1-1 upgrades. I quickly snipe OS (if it's even there), and zerg has to retreat, because you can't kill a cloaked 3rd base, and a hydra/corruptor ball will likely lose to upgraded carriers, mommaship and cannons.

Couple things, 4-5 cannons at the third is too much static defense, if drops come you'll have a hard time fending it off. I suggest 1-2 cannons at the most likely point they will attack, not directly at your third (your side of the split on antiga or at the base of the mid cliff on shakuras for example).
You will need either a bunch of void rays or immortals in order to not die to a 12 minute roach max.
You also need some form of aoe at ~13 minutes as that is when roach/hydra comes at you, and you need it (collosus and ht also do very well against infestors which is also popular). You won't be able to start a mothership at 11 mins without dieing as it's 700 gas for a mothership and that's a lot of gas (cloak doesnt help as they can just protect their overseers).

Transitioning into mothership before/as you take a 4th base is usually a good time.
Other than that, a ~9 minute third is a good strategy and you can definately defend it if they try to kill it.