Averescu had orders to defend a line which would stop the Germans from entering the passes that led into central Romania.

[1] The Central Powers forces in the area consisted in the XXXIX Corps, under the command of General Hermann von Staabs.

On 20 October, the Central Powers attempted an outflanking attack to the west of the Romanian positions, which failed completely.

[7] On 3 November, the Romanians were again on Transylvanian soil, after thrusting back the Austro-Hungarians in the Tabla Buții Pass [ro].

By 10 November, the Romanians were forced to withdraw to a point not far from Tabla Buții, but nonetheless they were holding their ground, in addition to making slight gains in the Prahova Valley.

[9] On 22 November, the Russian General Staff proclaimed Falkenhayn's failure at Predeal, stating that he could only overrun Wallachia, instead of cutting it off in a pincer movement.

[13] In order for Falkenhyan to win a complete victory at the earliest possible moment, it was necessary to force the passes in the center of the Carpathian arc.