Shake your tactics

Here are some of my (and others) thoughts around tactics.
Tactics will differ between a five point fight and a fifteen point fight as there is more room for the advantage to sway between fencers in the longer bout. However, tactics do not just apply during the match, they also apply before the match so I'll deal with this first.
Before you step foot on a piste it is recommended that you do your research. By this I mean checking out your opponent for strengths and weaknesses, checking yourself out for the right mindset and also observing the person likely to be presiding. The first point is reasonably obvious; by viewing your prospective opponents as they fence you should be able to spot little indicators of their particular style. Do they parry or attack in the same way every time? Do they favour attack or defence? Are they left handed?!?
Checking yourself out should include a little mental audit; are you in a positive mood? Do you feel confident? How do you intend to approach the fight? Have you mentally practiced the sorts of techniques you are going to do for real?
Checking out the prospective president should include whether they are experienced? Do they seem confident? Do they 'see' certain attacks better? i.e. if you notice that they seem unable to spot a right of way it might be a good idea to use definite beat attacks etc to emphasise the right of way to them. Are they swayed by a fencer's behaviour?
All these things add up to good pre-match tactical awareness.
During the fight there are several situations that may alter your tactics. If you have a substantial lead there is no need to attack recklessly and risk being picked off with parry ripostes, especially if time is running short. If you are in control, stay in control. When you are 5 or 6 points ahead it is time to be calm and collected as it is your opponent's problem to get points of you. Use the clock to your advantage. Conversely if you are behind it is not the time for inaction or hesitation. You must devise a strategy to get points quickly. In situations where your opponent is in-experienced and you have the measure of them, use simple attacks to finish them off. There is no point in doing anything complicated like compound attacks as your opponent may simply not have the experience to react to your feints etc.
I also asked my friend Anna Bentley for a few hints on tactics from the international level and she had the following tips:
"If you’re winning, never take your foot off the gas – even at 14-1 up". (I would add, as soon as you think you've won, you've probably lost)
"If you’re hit for hit then be unbelievably patient, wait for opponent to make mistakes whilst still being threatening and taking the initiative".
"If you’re getting caned then change it"!
Pretty practical advice there I think!
For a historical perspective check out the wide variety of tactics detailed by Musashi in the Fire Scroll chapter of the Book Of Five Rings. For any of my students reading this, ff you can't find it I'll lend you a copy! They might be 400 years old but they are still very relevant to the modern fencer.