Basic Placement Principles
Level: Basic
Mix edges, center, and orientation to create placements that can't be read.
Center cells have high probability density because many ships could pass through them both horizontally and vertically. That's why placing ships only in the center makes them easy targets for an opponent's opening shots.
On the other hand, hugging every ship to the edges creates an easily-read 'always in the corner' pattern against human opponents. Mix edges and center, and use both horizontal and vertical orientations evenly.
Changing your placement every game is the strongest defense of all. Using Auto Place removes unconscious human habits and gives you a different arrangement every time.
Related Tactics
Spreading Out Your Fleet
Keep ships apart so a single track can't catch multiple ships at once.
AdvancedAvoiding Predictable Placements
Drop unconscious human habits and use a different arrangement every time.