[Wardad]

STALL the enemy! It is a tactic that is not talked about often enough. Every newbie should learn it.
In business Time is money, but in war and comedy timing is everthing.

It was still early in the game, I had just over-expanded into the #1 spot. The AIs were all out to get me. Could I hold the choke point to three juicy systems from from my center? Can I tie up that huge battle fleet until help could be built and arrive?
It was a hard fight. Some planets were glassed. But the enemy could never recover from the losses and delays.Help was just next door now.

STALL the enemy.
1. Mines, with five mines I made them take five turns to reach my planet. I layed one per sector.
Why let them go back for fuel and repairs unharrassed? I got a cloaked mine layer in there and shotgunned more mines around.
2. I had transports in nearby systems and refinforced my populations to take a pounding and repell troops.
3.Build WPs as quickly as possible. Also send or build troops to pacify your population. Just try to hold out and make it cost!
3. Use Engine damage weapons, even in WPs. Maybe you can't kill it, but it will take a long time to limp home.
4. Kill or damage the straglers. Pick them off one by one if you can. Stealth helps.