The rules of "Fauna" are much more simple than those of Chess; in fact, you can explain them to a novice in under five minutes. However, the game offers more alternatives to the player at any given juncture. In an average Chess position, a player can choose between some thirty or forty moves; "Fauna" triples this number. I'm tempted to compare decision-making in "Fauna" to that in real life...
And then, of course, there's the fundamental issue of the amount of information available to both players. They share complete information about the board position and about the cards that have already been played, but both are blissfully ignorant of the order in which the remaining cards will come into play, and who will get them. In addition, while both know their own hands, they are left to speculate about their opponent's.
This means that there is a lot of strategy (position play in particular), some bluffing thrown in for good measure, but - due to the fuzzy information about the cards - hardly any difficult tactical calculation. Whether that suits you or not is of course a matter of taste; it's certainly tailor-made for players who - like me - prefer to play by intuition rather than razor-sharp analysis.

There is a considerable (and intentional) luck factor involved, arguably similar to the one in the best game ever invented, Backgammon. A beginner can always win a single game against an expert, but in the long run - if a match series is played - superior play will inevitably prevail.

In summary, I'd say that in order to be any good at "Fauna", you'll need to simultaneously keep track of the following factors:

I won't try to explain the strategic and tactical subtleties of the game (and there are many!), because that would be spoiling the fun of gradually finding out for yourself. I'll leave it at a few general tips that I feel I can confidently give after more than a hundred games under my belt:

- Don't set up the initial position of your pieces haphazardly! Even here strategic thinking is called for.
- Don't play the opening too casually! The first dozen or so moves may not be decisive for the eventual outcome, but they certainly do affect both players' winning chances.
- During the middle game, try to develop a *vision* of HOW you're going to win the game eventually (remember: There are no draws, so if you don't win, you lose!), and play accordingly.
- Be flexible! If your plans don't get the necessary card-support, modify them.
- Be brave! In situations where withdrawal will assure momentary safety but lead to lasting strategic misery, it is often the better bet to "bite the bullet" and go for it in a do-or-die sort of fashion.
- Don't take anything for granted! I've seen many a game go pear-shaped that seemed an easily won no-brainer.
- Inversely: NEVER give up! Once I won a game where I had lost all my animals, while my opponent still had four or five of the blighters. It can be done, and YOU can do it, too!
- Watch your opponent! Her reactions to your moves and to the cards she draws can be telling - but then again, she may just be acting...
- If, after a couple of plays, you're dazed and confused about what on earth you're supposed to do in order to play well, don't despair: We've all been there! This game grows on you; just keep it up and you'll eventually see the light...

Have fun with "Fauna"!