[Graham]

Everyone knows what you're doing if you jump into australia.

I tend to go for what i call the "loose africa" or loose europe strategy, as oppposed to the tight australia or tight S america. ie, don't aim to control any continent too early; nobody lets you get away with it anyway - rightly so.

I fill up most of africa usually and just tool around for several moves - pick up the cards and let others butt heads, while i sit there innocuously. Then I pounce once I can cash cards for a a goodly amount, sometimes waiting til I'm forced to cash. The snake in the grass approach.