Every once in a while I will play a series against the AI in order to familiarize myself with new equipment and force organizations.
I start with a 500 point quick battle randomizing everything except small map and I pick my forces from a randomly generated nation and TO&E. Start Allied, and move up one points amount after every game. Switch to medium map at 1000 or 1250 points, and large map at 2000+. If you should lose, become the Axis for your next battle.
This generates tons of random scenarios. Infantry assaults on armor. Crazy defenses without artillery, etc..., but you will learn how to use all kind of nutty combos effectively. Plus its fun to have Italian and South African mechanised troops tangling for no particular reason.