Go into the house with your own inner compass as to what's wrong and what's right
It's a game that incentivizes players to influence and persuade to their own advantage, and several players are going to be very good at that. There's a plausible argument to be made for almost every action in the game, and one of them will be used whenever it's most convenient. Don't be blinded by what you want to hear. You can go with the flow of a conversation in the moment, but always take a moment to reassess the conversation and make sure you're not going head first into something that could be detrimental to your game. Pay special attention to the incentives of the influencer. Why would they want you to do this? Why would they encourage you to do this? Ultimately, your decisions should be your own, and based on your own inner compass of what sounds right.
The game is the game
If it's within the rules of the season, then you have to expect that it'll be treated as fair play. Don't be surprised by anything. Whatever comes, look for a way to spin it into your favor. Explore all possibilities.
Respect every player's abilities
One of the worst errors that you can make in this game is underestimating the other players. By default, you should assume that each player is capable of and intends to make the "optimal" move for their game. Chess grandmasters don't typically play the game expecting that their opponents don't know what they're doing. Every move is made to put themselves in the best possible position expecting that their opponent can make the best move on their next turn. Likewise, each move you make should be to put yourself in the best short term and/or long term position, expecting that the other players can and will play the best remaining move for their own game. Better to slightly overestimate a player than to slightly underestimate them.
Respect every player
Treat people as if in any given week, any one of them can become the HOH. Even if it isn't this week, it could be next week, or two weeks from now, or later. But expect that anyone can be HOH at some point, and treat them with a level of respect that reflects that. It will pay dividends in the long run, even with those who never actually do win an HOH competition.
I'll add more over time
It's a game that incentivizes players to influence and persuade to their own advantage, and several players are going to be very good at that. There's a plausible argument to be made for almost every action in the game, and one of them will be used whenever it's most convenient. Don't be blinded by what you want to hear. You can go with the flow of a conversation in the moment, but always take a moment to reassess the conversation and make sure you're not going head first into something that could be detrimental to your game. Pay special attention to the incentives of the influencer. Why would they want you to do this? Why would they encourage you to do this? Ultimately, your decisions should be your own, and based on your own inner compass of what sounds right.
The game is the game
If it's within the rules of the season, then you have to expect that it'll be treated as fair play. Don't be surprised by anything. Whatever comes, look for a way to spin it into your favor. Explore all possibilities.
Respect every player's abilities
One of the worst errors that you can make in this game is underestimating the other players. By default, you should assume that each player is capable of and intends to make the "optimal" move for their game. Chess grandmasters don't typically play the game expecting that their opponents don't know what they're doing. Every move is made to put themselves in the best possible position expecting that their opponent can make the best move on their next turn. Likewise, each move you make should be to put yourself in the best short term and/or long term position, expecting that the other players can and will play the best remaining move for their own game. Better to slightly overestimate a player than to slightly underestimate them.
Respect every player
Treat people as if in any given week, any one of them can become the HOH. Even if it isn't this week, it could be next week, or two weeks from now, or later. But expect that anyone can be HOH at some point, and treat them with a level of respect that reflects that. It will pay dividends in the long run, even with those who never actually do win an HOH competition.
I'll add more over time