try to win and score the most points possible

Here's some guidelines, but pretty much just do what is most fun gameplay for you or helps you win:
http://kdice.wikispaces.com/Winning+Gracefully

copy/paste:

"When your first place finish is safe, it becomes especially important to pay attention to Kdice etiquette. Most importantly you should not kill off other players in an unfair order. If you can, allow other players to remain connected to each other. This will allow them to fight for the finishing order. When that is not possible, dispatch the players in this order:

1. truce breakers
2. away players
3. players who refuse to flag
4. players who you believe played well
5. alliance and truce partners


If you truced with a very weak player and near the end of the game, this player is still very weak and the other players are flagged, don't feel obligated to give him second place. Feel free to request flags and allow worthy opponents to get the place they deserve."

Nice summary.

I especially agree with the last point. Just because you are allied with someone, doesn't mean you *owe* them 2nd place, if they are still weak near the end of the game. Encourage them to flag, if others who are opponents have played a better game (or maybe just been luckier). To a certain extent, Dom points try to make sure that everyone "gets what they deserve".

Another etiquette point that I'd like to make is that flagging absolutely does NOT guarantee that you will no longer be attacked, and that is as it should be. Sometimes you have to go through a flagger to keep playing. That's just bad positioning for the flagger. Can't be helped. Other times you just don't trust them, or you need some of their countries to avoid being cuttable yourself.

I tend to trust flaggers who I have completely encircled, if I also get verbal confirmation that they're gonna be cool. But I have had it backfire on me many times, where they suddenly attack after building up large reserves. Therefore, a flag is only worth as much as the person waving it. The most prudent strategy would be to simply ignore flags (regardless of what JDizzle says), and play the best game you can, regardless of who is flagged and who is not.

I tend to cut flaggers some slack if they announce it, but it's always going to come down to judgment. If you attack me 5 times, lose every time, then flag... what do you think I'm gonna do... hmmmm??? Doesn't take a genius to figure that one out.

"Another etiquette point that I'd like to make is that flagging absolutely does NOT guarantee that you will no longer be attacked, and that is as it should be."

Totally agree. People abuse the idea of flagging and ofter un-flag and try to screw other players.

Thanks, this is exactly what I was looking for. I agree with all of these and will try. Also, I've learned not to be last place from this.

If I am in first and in control:
1) If I have an ally who worked hard, but ended up weak, I will make sure they get second no matter what.
2) In my opinion, trucebreakers always must lose as many points as possible, no matter who they broke a truce with, so I cut them down to one territory and let them sit there so they lose dominance.
3) After those two rules are taken care of, I finish off anyone who talked trash in the chat window, unless it was clearly in good fun, and not meant to be hostile.
4) Then I demand flags and demand no attacks on anyone, killing whoever doesn't flag or attacks another player to unfairly move up in the rankings.

If I am not in first, I do what I can to maximize my position within reason, but flag and announce it so that if number one wants to be merciful, I won't get crushed. However, it is totally up to number one, and I don't beg for number one to leave me alone. I hate that nonsense. People who grovel and beg are suckers who deserve to be crushed.

sweet, ghostlee knows what I'm all about!. I'm now afraid that there's another JD running around with a penguin avatar. I'm just sayin', I'M THE ORIG! nice to meet you!