What if the Soviets realize that their technological limitations mean that something like the N1 is literally just going to end up as a spectacular failure? Instead they opt for the EOR strategy, which theoretically makes the launchers a lot less complex to build, and much more in scope of competence. Instead of one giant launcher, the Soyuz 7K-LOK, the LK lander, and any other components they would need launch separately and dock in earth orbit before making a run at the moon.
But am I right or wrong to think that instead, they're merely going to end up with an entirely different set of problems which they may or may not be able to solve?