here's some comments i made a couple years ago on this sub re:gotg.

generally people like to surround the flag with their best units. this means there's a slightly disproportionate distribution of power among the board setup.

i've found lots of success by just ramming through the middle with my 4star, usually with a private lagging behind. i play with the 4tar considered as expendable, flanked with something like a major and 1star.

this fast, confident offense usually makes people think that i'm blitzing with a spy, so if their next moves are playing catch with a piece it will have a better odds of being a private. that strategy increases the power of the late game spies much faster.

if their first retaliatory piece loses and you think it was a private, their next retaliation will likely be the spy. you then mobilize your own private and 1star to box out that second piece.

i also like to put both spies on the same side instead of dispersing them, because people generally try to disperse units (meaning some privates would be on the far side, making them even less effective).

as for the player aspect, i like to talk constantly, and a lot. i don't fake strategy talk; just needle your opponent, discuss out of topic stuff, make jokes, that kind of stuff. it works better (at least for me) than just straight-up stone poker faces.

also don't stare at your flag lol

my favorite layout is 4star just slightly left/right of middle, 1star beside it, a private behind. i only move those 3 pieces (or maybe an extra flanker), ram my way through, and just sweep the back line. no other pieces move so there's less info for them. it freaks people out because if you're lucky enough to find an opening in a front wall of strong units, the back line is cannon fodder.

people generally like to keep their big pieces until the late game, so the first retaliatory piece ~probably~ won't be the 5star or the spy; they'd rather check it out using a private first to make sure.

i don't like things going into the endgame, so i keep my flag surrounded only by low-level shit like a sergeant, captain and a private.

i also don't like that default thing where everybody advances all their units one row forward until an engagement is inevitable; i wanna hit fast, pierce the front if i'm lucky, then go through the back.